Norton Avenue #1, Sylacauga, AL
Posted: Sat Feb 02, 2019 4:56 pm
*originally recorded on 1-30-19*
Signal on the left: 4 pairs of Modern Industries 12x20 inch lights with WCH 2nd Generation LEDs and a WCH mechanical bell.
Signal on the right: 5 pairs of WCH 12x24 inch lights with WCH 2nd Generation LEDs and a WCH Type 2 electronic bell.
This crossing is one of only four signalized crossings on the EARY, and has a bit of history to it. Back in the 1970s, when this was still part of the L&N's Mineral Loop, the L&N installed a pair of cantilever signals, one of which was an MI cantilever with an MI bell (which is still in service on the left), and the other was a WCH cantilever. Both cantilevers also had all MI 12x20 inch lights. Why this crossing was chosen to be signalized and not the one on AL 21, despite the CofG having signalized their crossing on AL 21 and not their crossing further up the road, which wouldn't be signalized for several more decades to come, I'm honestly not sure.
The old L&N install would remain pretty much unchanged for several years, even while it changed owners several times, all the way up through April of 2009, according to Google Street View. However, according to some now seemingly-inaccessible Street View images taken later in 2009, the bell was replaced with the WCH mechanical bell that's currently on the signal. The crossing would continue to remain unchanged for several more years though, until the bell-less WCH cantilever (which was on the right) got replaced with the current cantilever, though originally with a General Signals Type 2 (most likely) e-bell. The other signal got an LED upgrade at the same time as well. However, the only recent change was the replacement of the GS e-bell with the current WCH Type 2 sometime between 2016 and 2018. The WCH mechanical bell has surprisingly managed to hang on for these past 10-ish years, but is sounding a bit rough, so I wouldn't be surprised if it's gone within the next few years as well. The lights on both signals also get out of sync with the other signal after a short while, for some reason.
A lone L&N-era split crossbuck can be seen just beyond the crossing. However, how far back it is makes me think that it originally guarded a spur track that no longer exists, so I'm considering it to be part of Norton Avenue #1. There is also the remains of an abandoned second track on the north side of the crossing, though the angling of it makes me think it would've been another spur originally. However, a bit oddly enough, said track was dead by the time the old L&N signals here were installed back in the 1970s, as it appears to have originally run right where the left-hand cantilever stands. Norton Avenue #2 is a couple blocks north of here.