McK&H.Aust wrote:
Very interesting list there, I'm surprised how little Harmon equipment was used by CSX. Interesting how they now use NEG bells, haven't heard any in person but they seem a bit quiet to me. I guess it comes down to price, but I've always thought that the Safetran type 3 had a better sound quality compared to GS or NEG bells.
Thanks! It also seems that Harmon equipment may have been briefly used on the mid-1990s installs, but I've only seen one crossing like that (on the P&A Sub in Quincy, FL), so I don't think it was standard. Harmon lights also seem to have been replacement equipment of choice for lights that were damaged and had to be replaced there for a while, as I've seen several crossings with a Harmon light mixed in with the others.
NEG e-bells range from being "okay" and "soft" to being extremely quiet. It appears that Safetran Type 2s also had that issue, which is probably why only three are known to exist on the NS system as a whole. Personally, I prefer Safetran Type 3s as they're louder, plus they don't sound like a quieter knock-off of a General Signals Type 2. I think the reason why CSX (and UP) use NEG e-bells is that they buy their signals through NEG, so they probably get some kind of discount on the bell itself, if I had to guess.
Though, also as a counterpoint to the CSX list, here's Norfolk Southern's list, showing how little their crossings have changed since the 1980s:
1980s/early to mid 1990s installs:
Bases: Safetran
Lights: Safetran 12x24 inch
Bells: Safetran
Gate mechs: Safetran
Cantilevers: Safetran
Cantilever Lights: Safetran 12x24 inch
Mid to Late 1990s:
Bases: Safetran
Lights: Safetran 12x20 inch
Bells: Safetran
Gate mechs: Safetran
Cantilevers: Safetran
Cantilever Lights: Safetran 12x20 inch
Late 1990s/Early 2000s:
Bases: Safetran
Lights: Safetran 12x20 inch
Bells: General Signals Type 1
Gate mechs: Safetran
Cantilevers: Safetran
Cantilever Lights: Safetran 12x20 inch
Mid to Late 2000s/Early 2010s installs:
Bases: Safetran
Lights: Safetran 12x20 inch
Bells: General Signals Type 2/Safetran Type 3
Gate mechs: Safetran
Cantilevers: Safetran
Cantilever Lights: Safetran 12x20 inch
Early 2010s to 2014 installs:
Bases: Safetran
Lights: Safetran 12x20 inch
Bells: General Signals Type 2/Safetran Type 3
Gate mechs: Invensys Rail
Cantilevers: Safetran
Cantilever Lights: Safetran 12x20 inch
LEDs: GE Uniform Look (LED installs from this time period are very rare, due to LEDs only having been adopted in 2014)
2014 to 2016 installs:
Bases: Safetran
Lights: Safetran 12x20 inch
Bells: General Signals Type 2/General Signals Type 3/Safetran Type 3
Gate mechs: Siemens
Cantilevers: Siemens (with RACO logo on the boxes)
Cantilever Lights: Safetran 12x20 inch
LEDs: GE Uniform Look (Incandescent installs from this time period still occurred)
Current installs:
Bases: SSiemens
Lights: Safetran 12x20 inch
Bells: General Signals Type 3/Safetran Type 3
Gate mechs: Siemens
Cantilevers: Siemens (with RACO logo on the boxes)
Cantilever Lights: Safetran 12x20 inch
LEDs: GE Uniform Look (Incandescent installs still occur)
Though, there are also a few weird hiccups in NS's installs, such as the aforementioned Safetran Type 2s. Another weird bell that got installed by NS was the WCH mechanical bell, but as with both bells, if they weren't from the predecessor railroad (especially in the case of WCH mechanical bells), they only appear to have been installed to replace an older mechanical bell from what I've seen. Another interesting thing I've seen NS install are US&S Model 95s, but those seem to only be limited to the Carolinas, where they're an uncommon find, and don't get use outside of that part of the country on NS's system. But probably the weirdest signal I've seen NS install is
this signal in Chattanooga, TN with a WCH base and WCH 12x20 inch lights, while the rest of the equipment is fairly standard NS stuff. The signal was installed between August of 2007 and April of 2011, according to street view, and is the only signal like it installed by NS, as far as I'm aware.
