Mike's Railroad Crossing Forum

Signal on the left: 6 pairs of Federal Signal 8 inch lights, a Modern Industries mechanical bell, a Safetran gate mechanism, and RECO gate lights.
Signal on the right: 5 pairs of Federal Signal 8 inch Lights, a Modern Industries mechanical bell, a GRS gate mechanism, and RECO LED gate lights.

This was the second train I caught today, and it was completely unexpected, as I was at the next crossing over (which also has a pair of Modern Industries mechanical bells) finishing up getting pictures of it when I heard this guy start blowing his horn for a crossing a bit further up the line. So I raced back over here and managed to get this mixed freight with a huge power move of an ET44AH leading an AC44CW, an SD70MAC, a Dash-8, another SD70MAC, an ex-GP30 Road Slug, a pair of GP40-2s, another Dash-8, and finally, another AC44CW, 10 engines in total and all in YN3/YN3b!

This crossing is probably one of my favorites in Calhoun, GA, as it's absolutely weird. It has a pair of MI mechanical bells, only one of three crossings along this line with a set-up like that, two MI cantilevers with all Federal Signal 8 inch lights, and a mixture of Safetran and GRS gate mechs (though they were probably both originally GRS). What makes it especially cool/weird is that it's an all 8 inch cantilevered crossing still in use on an active CSX main line here in the southeast, especially with how all of the lights are from Federal Signal!

If I had to take a guess, the gate masts were probably much shorter originally. It looks like they retrofitted them with the longer poles so they could add the wind guard. You can see the diameter of the pole is slightly larger just above the gate motor.

Again... merely a guess, but a very nice crossing none-the-less!

cabman701 wrote:If I had to take a guess, the gate masts were probably much shorter originally. It looks like they retrofitted them with the longer poles so they could add the wind guard. You can see the diameter of the pole is slightly larger just above the gate motor.

Again... merely a guess, but a very nice crossing none-the-less!

That's probably what happened. Those pieces are mast extensions, and I believe Safetran (and Invensys Rail and Siemens) offers them. I've seen NS crossings use them, along with some crossings in the UK that have Invensys Rail/Siemens S-60s at them.

freebrickproductions wrote:

cabman701 wrote:If I had to take a guess, the gate masts were probably much shorter originally. It looks like they retrofitted them with the longer poles so they could add the wind guard. You can see the diameter of the pole is slightly larger just above the gate motor.

Again... merely a guess, but a very nice crossing none-the-less!

That's probably what happened. Those pieces are mast extensions, and I believe Safetran (and Invensys Rail and Siemens) offers them. I've seen NS crossings use them, along with some crossings in the UK that have Invensys Rail/Siemens S-60s at them.

I almost forgot that the UK sometimes uses American gate mechanisms!

ToledoRailfan wrote:

freebrickproductions wrote:

cabman701 wrote:If I had to take a guess, the gate masts were probably much shorter originally. It looks like they retrofitted them with the longer poles so they could add the wind guard. You can see the diameter of the pole is slightly larger just above the gate motor.

Again... merely a guess, but a very nice crossing none-the-less!

That's probably what happened. Those pieces are mast extensions, and I believe Safetran (and Invensys Rail and Siemens) offers them. I've seen NS crossings use them, along with some crossings in the UK that have Invensys Rail/Siemens S-60s at them.

I almost forgot that the UK sometimes uses American gate mechanisms!

No they don't... Show me some proof!

NathanFromEngland wrote:

ToledoRailfan wrote:

freebrickproductions wrote:

cabman701 wrote:If I had to take a guess, the gate masts were probably much shorter originally. It looks like they retrofitted them with the longer poles so they could add the wind guard. You can see the diameter of the pole is slightly larger just above the gate motor.

Again... merely a guess, but a very nice crossing none-the-less!

That's probably what happened. Those pieces are mast extensions, and I believe Safetran (and Invensys Rail and Siemens) offers them. I've seen NS crossings use them, along with some crossings in the UK that have Invensys Rail/Siemens S-60s at them.

I almost forgot that the UK sometimes uses American gate mechanisms!

No they don't... Show me some proof!

https://www.google.com/maps/@52.7955335 ... 312!8i6656