US 280, Bellville, GA

[freebrickproductions]

*originally recorded on 6-21-21*

Signal on the left: 1.5 pairs of Harmon 12x24 inch lights with Harmon Dotted LEDs, 1 WCH 12x24 inch light with a WCH 2nd Generation LED, 3 pairs of WCH 12x20 inch lights with GE Uniform Look LEDs, a WCH mechanical bell, a Safetran gate mechanism, and NEG LED gate lights.
Signal on the right: 3.5 pairs of Harmon 12x24 inch lights with Harmon Dotted LEDs, 1 pair of Harmon 12x24 inch lights with General Signals LEDs, 1 WCH 12x24 inch light with a WCH 2nd Generation LED, a WCH mechanical bell, a Safetran gate mechanism, and NEG LED gate lights.

After chasing L781, we got word from Blane that L783 was running all the way to Vidalia, so we went over to Lyons thinking it was a bit closer than it was. However, as we got word that it was still a little ways out, we ran over to this crossing in Bellville to chase it back west. We were thankfully able to get here with a little bit of time to spare before GC L783 came flying through with a B23-8 (with an amazing P5) leading a GP38-2 and another B32-8. These Dash-8s were kinda the main reason why Ethan and I came back down here this year, so I'm glad we were able to get one leading the first day we railfanned the GC on this trip. I'd always wanted to get a B32-8 leading after I caught one trailing on an NS mixed freight in Brownsboro a few years back, so I'm glad I was finally able to get one leading, even if they ain't on NS's roster anymore.

This crossing is also a rather nice one. It appears that these signals were installed by the GC back in the late-90s, but have had a few changes since then. The first noticeable change (as I'm not sure when the closer signal would've gotten its General Signals LEDs) occurred sometime between 2008 and 2014, when both of the original General Signals e-bells (which I strongly suspect were Type 1s) died and were replaced with the current pair of WCH mechanical bells. The next major change happened between 2014 and 2018, when both signals each had a rear mast light replaced with the current WCH light-heads. Since then, no major changes have occured here, which is quite neat to see. One really nice feature about this crossing is that the far signal actually has a pair of early Harmon Dotted LEDs in its front pair of mast lights still, though unfortunately the angle of the sun meant that I couldn't record that side. Not that I mind though, as it also let me have a better angle for the train here.

http://www.rxrsignals.com/Georgia/Bellville/US280/