Mike's Railroad Crossing Forum

*originally recorded on 12-15-21*

Signal on the left: 1 pair of WCH 12x24 inch lights with Leotek EV Series LEDs, 1 pair of WCH 8 inch lights, a General Signal Type 1 electronic bell, a RACO gate mechanism, and RECO LED gate lights.
Signal on the right: 2 pairs of Safetran 12x24 inch lights, a RACO mechanical bell, a RACO gate mechanism, and RECO gate lights.

After documenting all of the more interesting crossings in Greenwood, I decided to set-up at this crossing to wait and see if I could get one last train. After almost an hour of waiting, this westbound CSX mixed freight wound-up coming through with a YN2 AC44CW leading a YN3 ES40DC and a pair of YN3b ES44AHs! After this, I started my way on up to my hotel room in Greer for the night, but this was definitely an excellent train to end the day off on.

This crossing is also a rather nice one. Originally, it appears that this was an old SAL install, though, in the late-60s/very early-70s, the current gate masts were installed and at least the closer signal had its US&S 8 inch lights replaced with I believe RACO 8 inch ones. Then, in the mid to late-70s, the far signal had its light mast replaced with the current one, though at the time it would've had all WCH 8 inch lights. The crossing then appears to have remained largely unchanged until the late-90s, when the far signal's RACO bell (which I'm guessing it originally had) died and was replaced with the current GS Type 1. Around this same time, the relay case here was also replaced with the current one.
The crossing then remained unchanged for another decade at least, until sometime between 2012 and 2021, when a few changes here occurred, though I believe they likely all happened around (or at) the same time. First, the old US&S mast on the closer signal was replaced with a Safetran one which has the current Safetran 12x24 inch lights, which I suspect was entirely re-used from somewhere else. Second, the far signal had its front lights replaced with the current WCH 12x24s. Third, the far signal had its GS Type 1 repainted black to match the remaining RACO bell here.
Thankfully, both signals still retain their RACO gate mechanisms, and the closer one also still has a RACO mechanical bell which sounds rather nice paired to the GS Type 1 here. The closer signal also still retains a full set of incandescent gate lights, which is great to see. All in all, this is another great crossing and one that I'm glad I was able to end the day off with. Hopefully these signals remain unchanged for many more years to come, but either way, I'm glad I got them when I did.