Mike's Railroad Crossing Forum

*originally recorded on 5-28-24*

Signal on the left: 1 pair of Safetran 12x24 inch lights with WCH 2nd Generation LEDs, 1 pair of Safetran 12x24 inch lights with Leotek EV Series LEDs, a General Signals Type 2 electronic bell, a Safetran gate mechanism, and RECO LED gate lights.
Signal on the right: 4 pairs of Safetran 12x24 inch lights with WCH 2nd Generation LEDs, a Safetran gate mechanism,

After catching the southbound autorack train, I met-up with @EthantheRailfanner and we started heading for Estill Springs. However, as we were leaving Cowan, I heard a southbound train passing through Cowan, so we quickly turned around to try to beat it to Sherwood, only to quickly find-out it was the local and turned around again on the other side of Cowan. As we were leaving Cowan once again to head for Estill Springs, I heard another southbound approaching Cowan so I turned around once again to chase it to this crossing in Sherwood while Ethan continued up to Decherd. Thankfully, I was able to beat it here and, after a few minutes of waiting, I was able to catch this southbound mixed freight going through with an ET44AH leading an SD70MAC on the head-end and a CM44AC working as the mid-train DPU.
I decided to leave in the extra horn from them blowing for the next two crossings north, as I thought the echos from the horn off of the surrounding hills sounded rather nice, IMHO.

The crossing here is a pretty decent little one, if a bit on the boring side. The signals here were originally installed by CSX back in the early-2000s, presumably replacing a pair of crossbucks. In the mid-2010s or so, CSX upgraded the signals here to LED, with no really major changes since. Amusingly, both times street view went by this crossing, it was down for a train on Main 1, like the one I caught here.
Admittedly, I wanted to go after this one more for its location rather than its equipment. This crossing is the only signalized one in Sherwood, which is a small, unincorporated town nestled in a small valley between two hills in southeastern Tennessee. It appears that the main employer in the town is the mine near here, with this town very much fitting the definition of a "wide spot in the road". As such, it's got a very scenic location with hills either side of it, though I do think the other side is a bit better so I may see about returning here soon-ish on an afternoon to get the west side of this crossing. I will warn y'all though, I had absolutely no cell reception in this town, which generally seems to be the case for the Chattanooga Sub between Stevenson and Cowan. So if you do come out here, I'd recommend bringing a book or a copy of Railfan & Railroad or Trains Magazine to keep yourself entertained while waiting.
Either way, I'm glad to have finally gotten this crossing filmed in action, as it's a pretty decent little one to have filmed.

http://www.rxrsignals.com/Tennessee/R-Z ... /Mountain/