Mike's Railroad Crossing Forum

*originally recorded on 12-26-18*

Westbound signal: 2 pairs of Modern Industries 12x24 inch lights and a WRRS mechanical bell.
Eastbound signal: 1 pair of Modern Industries 8 inch lights and 2 pairs of Modern Industries 12x24 inch lights.

This crossing was one that I had really wanted to get, yet seems to have been the hardest for me to record. The first couple of times I tried to get it in action, I missed the train here. Then, on my third try, I was able to get a train here but my camera glitched so I wasn't able to record a video. But, I finally was able to get it on the 26th, and for which I'm glad I was able to, as this crossing features the oldest signals left on this part of the former Tennessee Central Beltline. Both signals are some late L&N signals, with one pair of Modern Industries 8 inch lights at them! Both cantilevers are from WCH, and the westbound one appears to be slightly newer as it features a late WCH base for this style of cantilever. The eastbound signal also seems to be the only extendable cantilever left on the NERR. The bell here still sounds pretty decent, but is in obvious need of some maintenance. It also seems to indicate that the current signals had replaced a pair of WRRS cantilevers, likely with all WRRS 8 inch lights. I'm not sure what the original overhead lights were, but based on the age of the cantilevers and the mast lights, I'm guessing that they were older Modern Industries 12x20s. If that's the case though, then it makes me wonder why the NERR decided that they needed replacing years ago. The NERR also calls this crossing "Murfreesboro Road" on the relay case and emergency information signs while Google Maps can't decide if it's called "Murfreesboro Pike" or "Lafayette Street". However, the city of Nashville knows that this road is called "Lafayette Street" and is signed as such on the street blades, so I've gone with that for the name of this crossing as well.