State Street (US 1), Lyons, GA
Posted: Mon Jul 13, 2020 1:41 pm
*originally recorded on 6-30-20*
Signal on the left: 2 pairs of WCH 12x20 inch lights with GE Uniform Look LEDs, a WCH Type 3 electronic bell, a WRRS gate mechanism, and RECO LED gate lights.
Signal on the right: 2 pairs of Progress Rail 12x20 inch lights with Harmon Fading LEDs, a General Signals Type 2 electronic bell, a Safetran gate mechanism, and RECO LED gate lights.
After catching L782, since they were meeting L781 in Collins, we went on and got some lunch before setting back up here in downtown Lyons. After a bit of waiting (while we were eating out lunch) L781 finally came through with a sextuplet of GP38-2s for power.
This crossing is a pretty unique-looking one. Originally, this crossing had a pair of gated SAL US&S mini-cantilever signals at it (like the ones I've recorded on the ATN). Up until 2011, the crossing here was mostly original, with the only noticeable change being the original WRRS gate mech on the closer signal being replaced with a Safetran one in the 1970s, and one of the two Teardrop bells here had died at some point. However, in 2011, both of the original US&S mini-cantilevers were replaced with newer Lincoln Industries mini-cantilevers with all Progress Rail 12x20 inch lights with Harmon Fading LEDs and two GS Type 2 e-bells.
Then, sometime between 2014 and 2018, the signal on the far side was struck and a new mini-cantilever from Fabricated Metals was installed, with no major changes since then. A bit unusually as well, is that for some reason, when the newer far signal was installed, the bell was set to ring until the signals shut-off. However, on all previous signals, the bell shut-off when the gates lowered like how the GS Type 2 does.
Either way though, I'm glad the WRRS gate mechanism on the far side has been able to remain here throughout all of these upgrades, especially since it's one of the few remaining SAL-era pieces of equipment along the Georgia Central. Bit of a shame the old SAL mini-cantilevers are long gone though. This crossing is also located along US 1, which I find to be a bit neat.
Blane (georgiacentralfan) also has a video of this crossing taken not long after the initial 2011 upgrade, along with a few videos taken at the crossing from before that upgrade as well.