Mike's Railroad Crossing Forum

*originally recorded on 11-28-21*

Signal on the left: 4 pairs of Modern Industries 12x24 inch lights, 1 pair of WCH 12x24 inch lights, an NEG electronic bell, a Safetran gate mechanism, RECO LED gate lights, and an NEG LED gate light.
Signal on the right: 4 pairs of Modern Industries 12x24 inch lights, 1 WCH 12x24 inch light, 1 Safetran 12x24 inch light, a WCH mechanical bell, a Safetran gate mechanism, and NEG LED gate lights.

After catching the NS local freight at Avenue F #2, I figured that they'd most likely be heading back to Finley Yard after they interchanged with the BHRR, so I went over to this crossing to wait on them. About an hour later, at around sunset, they came back through, this time with one of the AC44C6Ms leading. This was the last video I got on this day.

This was also the last crossing I recorded on November 28th, and it was definitely a nice one to end-off on. The signals here appear to have originally been installed by CSX back in the 1980s, but in the late-90s or 2000s, CSX replaced the original WCH gate mechanism on the far side with the current Safetran gate mechanism. Then, sometime between 2009 and 2011, the WCH gate mech on the closer signal was also replaced with the current Safetran gate mech over here. The crossing then remained relatively unchanged until sometime between 2017 and 2020, when the left-hand rear light on the closer signal was likely struck by a car and replaced with the current Safetran 12x24 inch light. Then, in 2021, CSX replaced the WCH mechanical bell on the far side with the current NEG e-bell.
Thankfully, the WCH mechanical bell on the closer side still seems to be going pretty decently strong, though it's clearly sounding a bit rough. Hopefully it hangs on around here for a good while longer though. Either way, this is a rather nice crossing and I'm glad I was able to record it.
Also, for some reason, this crossing activated when Avenue F #2 activated, but then it deactivated again shortly afterwards. No idea why it did this, but I am glad I got to hear the WCH mechanical bell here a bit more. You also get to hear the train blow for every crossing on this part of the Ensley Branch in the Pratt City neighborhood, so do enjoy all that horn, lol.

http://www.rxrsignals.com/Alabama/A-F/Birmingham/W2/