Mike's Railroad Crossing Forum

*originally recorded on 7-31-24*

Signal on the left: 2 pairs of Safetran 12x24 inch lights with WCH 2nd Generation LEDs, a General Signals Type 1 electronic bell, an Invensys Rail gate mechanism, and NEG LED gate lights.
Signal on the right: 3 pairs of Safetran 12x24 inch lights with Dialight Ball LEDs, 1 pair of Safetran 12x24 inch lights with WCH 2nd Generation LEDs, a US&S mechanical bell, an Invensys Rail gate mechanism, and NEG LED gate lights.
This crossing is located in a quiet zone. Trains do not usually blow their horns at this crossing.

On the morning of July 31st, I got on up and got out for my last full day on the CSX A Line. On this day, I decided to head on up to the south end of the CSX North End Subdivision in Rocky Mount, as I knew there were a few crossings of interest there. Thankfully, I didn't have to wait too long before something came, as, after just a short wait, I was able to get my first train of the day: CSX M301 with an ES44AH leading an SD70MAC for power.
Admittedly, this train is a bit nostalgic to me, as back when DoubleGG5666, RaisedLetter, and I were all in high school back in the early to mid-2010s, and Grant was still railfanning, Grant and Elliot would usually catch this train on the CSX Trenton Subdivision up there in New Jersey. At the time, it was still symboled as Q301, but, at the time, it didn't go all the way down to Rocky Mount, so it was one of the few trains on the Trenton Sub that lacked cab signal requirements. As such, it was one of Grant's (at least) favorite trains to catch, because it typically had older power leading. The reason why it's nostalgic for me is because I remember watching Grant's videos of it at the time, and it brings back memories of railfanning a good decade ago. Of course, in 2015, it got extended to Rocky Mount and that was the end of the good leaders on it.

This crossing is honestly a pretty nice one, and one I wanted to make sure I got after crossbuckmann1667 visited it back in 2023. The signals here are an early SBD install from the 1980s, though, in the late-90s, CSX replaced the bell on the far signal with the current GS Type 1 e-bell. Then, sometime between 2008 and 2012, CSX replaced the original US&S 12x20 inch lights here with the current LED Safetran 12x24s, with the mix of LEDs here being original to that upgrade. Finally, sometime between 2012 and 2016, CSX replaced both of the original US&S Model 75 gate mechs with the current Invensys Rail ones.
Thankfully, since then, no further major changes appear to have occurred to this crossing. The closer signal still retains its original US&S mechanical bell, which is great to see, and the GS Type 1 e-bell on the far signal is nice to see as well. Sadly, this would be the only US&S bell I'd get recorded on this trip, but at least I got one more filmed. Admittedly, this bell combo's a bit nostalgic for me as well, as a certain (in)famous crossing down next to the diamonds in Plant City, FL, used to have this combo, at least up until the US&S bell was replaced by an NEG e-bell. Of course, amusingly, that crossing is also on the A Line...
I guess personal nostalgia's the theme for this description, lol.