AL 28, Consul, AL

[freebrickproductions]

*originally recorded on 7-10-25*

Signal on the left: 2 pairs of Safetran 12x24 inch lights with GE Dotted LEDs and a General Signals Type 3 electronic bell.
Signal on the right: 2 pairs of Safetran 12x24 inch lights with GE Dotted LEDs.

After chasing M527 to Orrville, I decided to head over to this crossing in Consul to catch them next. On the way, I stopped at the crossing on AL 66 a bit west of Saffold, and I'd thought about trying to film them there, but I ultimately decided against it as I wasn't sure if I'd've been able to beat them here after or not. Either way, after a little while of waiting, I was able to catch CSX M527 for the sixth time on this day. After the train passes, you can hear the Consul DD, located right next to this crossing (and seen just to the left of the far signal in the video) can be heard reading-out for the train.

This crossing is a pretty cool one, and honestly probably my favorite one I filmed on this day. The signals here were originally installed by the L&N back in the 1960s, I believe, though in the mid-1990s CSX upgraded the mast lights to the current Safetran 12x24s (which were originally incandescent. At some point, the overhead lights here disappeared, though I'm not entirely sure exactly when and if this was under the SBD, CSX, or MNBR's ownership. The overhead cantilever arms, without any lights on them, did remain for many years after, however, which certainly looked rather weird. It appears that the one on the far side at least was retained due to the fact that the WRRS mechanical bell here was mounted over the road, no idea why the arm for the closer signal was still here though. Either way, at some point between 2014 and 2022, and I believe after 2015 at least, the MNBR removed the overhead arms here, leaving the masts of these old WRRS cantilevers in place. At about the same time, it appears that the MNBR upgraded this crossing to LED and replaced the bell here with the current GS Type 3 e-bell. Thankfully, since then, nothing else has changed to this crossing which is nice to see.
I must say, these old WRRS cantilever masts do look a bit strange like this without the arms that'd normally be attached to them. This is easily the best crossing on the CSX Selma Sub between Myrtlewood and Selma, IMHO, due to this. I just love this bizarre set-up here. The crossing also did a short tail-ring malfunction after the train passed.