Mike's Railroad Crossing Forum

As a train approaches, the crossing signals activate.
When a passenger train stops at the Santa Barbara, CA Amtrak station, the signals de-activate.
Since the grade crossing south of the station is too close to the spot where the train stops, they use sound to re-activate the crossing signals.
The crossing was too close for motion sensing to initiate signals in time.

A microphone was on a pole on the west side of the track. A brief sounding of the horn or ringing the bell would be enough to start the crossing signals.
On Googlearth, I do not see the pole.
Anyone know if th.istill in use?
Thank you.

SouthernPacificLines wrote:As far as I know it is still in use, although its been about a month since I've been to Santa Barbara.

Thanks, SP.
Did they move the microphone?
I no longer see the pole. Years ago I recall it was on a pole.
Does anyonelse do this?

As an OL presenter, I learned about it while riding in the locomotive to L.A. to video driver and pedestrian behavior at grade crossings.
Wondered if yelling or clapping hands near it could exceed the sound threshold level and start the signals.