Edwards Street, Taylors, SC
Posted: Wed Feb 09, 2022 5:14 pm
*originally recorded on 12-16-21*
Signal on the left: 2 pairs of Safetran 12x24 inch lights, a Safetran gate mechanism, and RECO gate lights.
Signal on the right: 2 pairs of Safetran 12x24 inch lights, a Safetran mechanical bell, a Safetran gate mechanism, and RECO gate lights.
After catching NS 265, I moved over to this crossing to wait on another train. After a little bit of waiting though, this NS signal maintainer showed-up and tested the signals here a couple of times.
After seeing the maintainer, I went off to go use the bathroom and then returned here to wait, as there was an NS 238 sitting just down the tracks whose crew was just getting on duty (and blocking several interesting crossings in the process). After a little while of waiting, the signal to my west upgraded to clear again and almost two hours after I saw the maintainer, this westbound autorack train came through with an SD70ACe leading an AC44C6M for power. This was my eighth and final train of the day.
After this, I waited until sunset to try and get one more train, but nothing else would come through. I'd then head on up to Charlotte, NC, for two nights, but unfortunately wasn't able to catch anything there. However, I did meet Elliot while I was there and we'd spend the next several days travelling across the Carolinas more or less together.
This crossing is another very nice one, and one I'm glad to have ended off my day with. The signals here were installed by NS back in the 1980s, and, amazingly enough, haven't changed a bit since they were installed! "Pure" 1980s installs are always cool to see, especially NS ones like this, IMHO, as I rarely ever get to see them. For whatever reason, the Safetran bell here is leaning backwards but still seems to be ringing well, so I suppose it ain't too big of an issue. Speaking of the bell, it also rings while the gates rise which is rather nice to see, IMHO.
Hopefully these signals remain here completely unchanged for a good while longer, but either way, I'm glad I was able to get it recorded when I did.