Mike's Railroad Crossing Forum

*originally recorded on 12-18-20*

Signal on the left: 2 pairs of Safetran 12x20 inch lights, a Safetran gate mechanism, and RECO gate lights.
Signal on the right: 2 pairs of Safetran 12x20 inch lights, a General Signals Type 2 electronic bell, a Safetran gate mechanism, and NEG LED gate lights.

As NS 329 had engine trouble while trying to leave Birmingham, the dispatcher chose CP Bryan to be where the two trains would meet (rather than the usual spot of CP Gamble or the occasional spot of Parrish). As a result, I continued chasing NS 320 onto the NS West End District, with this being my first crossing of the day on that line (and sixth crossing of the day overall).

This crossing is actually a pretty nice crossing, IMHO, despite being a bit boring. The signals here appear to be a pair of late-SOU/early-NS signals, likely from the early 1980s. Then, in the 1990s, all of the lights here were upgraded to the current Safetran 12x20 inch lights. Then, in the 2000s, the original (Safetran?) mechanical bell here was replaced with the current GS Type 2. Since then, the only change here appears to be that the closer signal had its gate lights upgraded to LED sometime after 2016.
Even though this crossing may be rather boring to some, I kinda quite like it? The older (but modernized) gated signals on a small road give it quite a nice look, IMHO. The older Safetran gate mechs here also help with the aesthetics of the crossing, as they're always nice to see on signals like this.
Also, not long after I shut-off my camera, the crossing activated again and the gates seem to have stayed down for a while. Had I not been trying to chase NS 320, I probably would've stuck around and seen if they raised back up.

http://www.rxrsignals.com/Alabama/A-F/C ... Jinwright/

*originally recorded on 3-5-26*

Signal on the left: 2 pairs of Safetran 12x20 inch lights, a Safetran gate mechanism, and RECO gate lights.
Signal on the right: 2 pairs of Safetran 12x20 inch lights, a General Signals Type 2 electronic bell, a Safetran gate mechanism, and RECO gate lights.

After I chased 320 to Jasper, I decided to let it go and head back over to @EquusStorm 's house to pick him up and snag some supper with him there in Jasper. After eating supper, we decided to head out and see if 319 was anywhere nearby when we found a 702 heading east out of Parrish, which we then chased east over to this crossing in Cordova. Here we see my third train of the day: NS 702 with a pair of AC44C6Ms pulling on the head-end and another pair of AC44C6Ms working as the DPUs.

Thankfully, nothing too major has changed to this crossing since I last recorded it all the way back in 2020. In fact, the only change I've noticed here was that, for whatever reason, NS replaced the NEG LED gate lights on the closer signal with a set of RECO incandescent gate lights! Definitely kinda neat to see a set of incandescent gate lights replace a set of LED ones, especially since it means this crossing is now fully incandescent again. I'm also glad to see these modernized late-SOU signals from the early-80s are still going strong here, especially since this is one of only three gated SOU installs that remain along the NS NA/West End District these days, and the only one of those three outside of Birmingham.

https://www.rxrsignals.com/Alabama/A-F/ ... Jinwright/