Mike's Railroad Crossing Forum

*originally recorded on 11-28-21*

Far signal: 5 pairs of WCH 12x24 inch lights and a dead WCH mechanical bell.
Near signal: 5 pairs of WCH 12x24 inch lights and a WCH mechanical bell.

This was the last crossing I caught M730 at before they reached Boyles Yard, and boy was it a great one! The signals at this crossing were installed by CSX back in the 90s, and they're both pretty much almost completely unchanged from then. Sadly, at some point, the WCH mechanical bell on the far side died, but the closer one still sounds like it's going strong.
This crossing has a relatively unusual set-up as well, due to the presence of two side streets located right next to the tracks on both sides of the crossing. As such, CSX chose to install a left-hand cantilever signal on the closer side of the crossing, meaning both signals here are located on the same side of the road. Hopefully no major changes occur to this crossing in the future, as I quite like the way the signals here are (though I wouldn't mind the dead WCH bell here being fixed).
This crossing is also the northernmost crossing on the CSX Mineral Subdivision, being located more or less right next to Boyles Yard. As such, M730 goes rather slowly through it, even stopping on the crossing for a few minutes, as they enter the yard. The crossing also tail-ring malfunctions at the end, as they stopped again near the crossing.

http://www.rxrsignals.com/Alabama/A-F/Birmingham/34/