Signal on the left: 2 pairs of Safetran 12x20 inch lights, Safetran gate mechanism, GS Type-2 Electronic Bell, NEG gate lights.
Signal on the right: 2 pairs of Safetran 12x20 inch lights, Safetran gate mechanism, Safetran Mechanical Bell, NEG gate lights.
Re: 45th Street, Fort Payne, AL
Posted: Wed Mar 16, 2022 5:10 pm
by freebrickproductions
No changes to these early-70s SOU signals as of 2-5-22, other than some new gate arms and a pair of (relatively) new blue ENS signs.
Signal on the left: 2 pairs of Safetran 12x20 inch lights with GE Uniform Look LEDs, a General Signals Type 3 electronic bell, a Siemens gate mechanism, and NEG LED gate lights.
Signal on the right: 2 pairs of Safetran 12x20 inch lights with GE Uniform Look LEDs, a General Signals Type 3 electronic bell, a Siemens gate mechanism, and NEG gate lights.
After catching 12T for the second time in Collinsville, I continued chasing it north into Fort Payne, to see about getting it at this crossing. However (and somewhat thankfully), the train wound-up having to stop at the siding in Fort Payne to meet a trio of southbounds. After at least an hour or so of waiting here, I was able to get my second train of the day: NS 15T with an AC44C6M leading an ES44DC for power.
As you can see, this crossing looks quite a bit different from when I last visited it back in 2022, and I certainly wasn't entirely expecting to see this upgrade. As you can see, NS has replaced both of the old, early-70s Safetran signals from the SOU here with some brand new Siemens ones, which is a bit of a shame to see. It appears the relay case and the gate lights from the closer signal were reused for the new signals here though, interestingly enough. The bells here also ring until the gates rise now as well, though I don't know if that's entirely intentional as the closer signal's gate mech doesn't seem to lower all the way for some reason. The replacement signals are also definitely quite tall, which makes for quite a change from the shorter SOU ones that had been here.
I will miss the classic SOU equipment here though, especially the 1st Gen Safetran mechanical bell, as that one always sounded rather nice. Apparently the old signals are currently in storage for use as spare equipment, so hopefully they won't go completely to waste, but, either way, it's a shame to see that the AGS North has lost one of its last few mechanical bells though.