Mike's Railroad Crossing Forum

*originally recorded on 10-18-18*

Signal on the left: 3 pairs of cast-iron WRRS 8 inch lights and a WRRS mechanical bell.
Signal on the right: 2 pairs of cast-iron WRRS 8 inch lights.
The crossing also has a Safetran Type 3 electronic bell mounted to the relay case, for some reason.

This crossing was one that I wanted to record if I could, though I wasn't planning on recording, as this line is far from busy. In fact, it's very much like the NS NA District, in that it only sees two mixed freights a day, plus any locals and rerouted coal trains that happen to be heading over it. However, the line is busier than it was back in 2015, as the two daily mixed freights (NS 186 and NS 187) weren't rerouted onto this line until 2017, IIRC.
The crossing itself is also rather classic, featuring an all WRRS install with cast-iron lights from the Central of Georgia Railroad, who originally owned the line! What's even more surprising to me is the fact that NS has never replaced the mounts for the crossbucks here, meaning that this crossing still features a pair of split crossbucks, a rarity to see on crossings these days! How far apart the signals are also tells me that there was likely once multiple tracks here as well.
One very weird thing about the crossing that I hadn't been expecting when I came here was the Safetran Type 3 mounted on the relay case, which is made even more odd by the fact that both bells are still fully operational! According to street view, the bell was installed sometime between 2014 and 2016, so it's even more weird as to why NS would install the bell, since the WRRS bell still works perfectly fine, and I doubt it was dead in 2016 either! The bell is also an older Safetran Type 3, meaning it was re-used from another crossing as well.
As you can see, I was busy documenting the other side of the crossing when it activated, though fortunately I had already set-up my camera and had it recording, so I was still able to get this video! For some reason, Google calls this crossing Meadow Mills Road and claims it's on CR 77, neither of which appear to be true based on the signage here. US 280/US 431 can also be seen in the background.