1st Avenue (KY 53), LaGrange, KY

[freebrickproductions]

*originally recorded on 5-27-20*

Signal on the left: 5 pairs of Safetran 12x24 inch lights with Dialight Ball LEDs, a Safetran Type 3 electronic bell, a Safetran gate mechanism, and NEG LED gate lights.
Signal on the right: 5 pairs of Safetran 12x24 inch lights with Dialight Ball LEDs, a Safetran Type 3 electronic bell, a Safetran gate mechanism, and RECO LED gate lights.
This crossing is located in a quiet zone. Trains do not blow their horns at this crossing.

After we caught Q574, we went on up to LaGrange to get lunch and wait on Q575. While we were getting lunch though, a southbound ballast train rolled through (which we weren't expecting) with a trio of elephant-style GEVOs pulling it, which was a bit of a shame, but oh well. Eventually, Q575 did come through with another ES40DC leading an ET44AH down the middle of Main Street. Was certainly quite nice seeing a freight train doing some street running, especially since it was my first time seeing it! I now just need to catch a train on the ATN's street running trackage in Gadsden sometime.

The crossing itself is also pretty decent, especially since it's on a section of street running track. It appears that this crossing was originally (or at least previously) a gateless 1980s CSX install, with the bell being located on the closer signal, though the original WCH mechanical bell had been replaced with a General Signals electronic bell by 2007. Then, sometime between 2007 and 2009, likely when most of LaGrange became a quiet zone, this crossing was upgraded with pretty much all of the current equipment. However, while the far cantilever was replaced entirely, the closer cantilever was kept in place, and had a gate mast added behind it. In addition, all of the lights on the cantilever were replaced, and the bell was removed from the cantilever. Since then, no major changes appear to have occured to this crossing, thankfully.
Also, Virtual Trains hosts a livestream available on YouTube from LaGrange, with one of the two cameras aimed towards this crossing. You can check it out below here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WsYtosQta5Y