12th Street NW, Puyallup, WA

[freebrickproductions]

*originally recorded on 8-28-22*

Signal on the left: 5 pairs of Safetran 12x20 inch lights, a General Signals Type 1 electronic bell, a dead(?) General Signals (Type 1?) electronic bell, a US&S Model 95 gate mechanism, and RECO LED gate lights.
Signal on the far right: 1 pair of Safetran 12x20 inch lights.
Signal on the near right: 6 pairs of Safetran 12x20 inch lights, a US&S Model 95 gate mechanism, and RECO LED gate lights.

After catching the BNSF local freight, we went over to this crossing to record it. After a bit of waiting, this northbound Amtrak Cascades service came flying through with a Talgo set being powered by an SC-44. This was my first time catching a Siemens Charger locomotive, believe it or not.

This crossing is another rather nice one, and I'm glad I got to record it. The signals here are a 1970s BN install, but in the mid to late-90s, BNSF replaced the bell here with a General Signals e-bell. Then, not too long after in the late-90s, both gate masts here were replaced with the current ones, and the bell on the far signal's cantilever was replaced by a newer one on the gate mast. Kinda surprised they didn't just leave the cantilever bell alone, but it does sound like they chose to disconnect it as I only heard one bell operating here. Since the gate masts were replaced in the late-90s, however, thankfully nothing has changed to these signals.
The closer signal is a bit unusual as well, as the front overhead lights are mounted rather high-up so they can be seen over the traffic lights that are also mounted to the cantilever arm. I'd seen traffic signals mounted on cantilevers before down on the Georgia Central down in Claxton, GA and on the SACRT over in Sacramento, CA, but I hadn't filmed any crossings like this in action before, certainly not on the side with the traffic lights.
Unfortunately, these older signals are due to be replaced, as BNSF has put in new conduit around the crossing for them. Dunno how much longer they'll be around for, if they haven't been replaced already, but either way, I'm glad I got to record them.