Signal on the left: 3 pairs of Safetran 12x24 inch lights with WCH 2nd Generation LEDs, a Safetran gate mechanism, and RECO LED gate lights.
Signal on the right: 3 pairs of Safetran 12x24 inch lights with WCH 2nd Generation LEDs, a WCH mechanical bell, a Safetran gate mechanism, and RECO LED gate lights.
After catching NS 201, I heard what sounded like two seperate trains were approaching on the CSX S&NA North Sub, one northbound and one southbound, so I went on over to Moulton Street to catch them. When I got here, the northbound train was pulling up in the siding (and then waiting) for a southbound, which was lined up with a clear signal at Decatur Holdout.
The first train that came through was CSX Q025, which had CSX's first AC44CWM rebuild leading a YN2 AC44CW and a YN3b ES44AH. Of all of the trains I saw today, this one was easily the best, IMHO, as it had the first AC44CWM rebuild I've seen in person! I had also been curious to see if one of these rebuilt AC44CWs could be able to lead a train with unmanned DPUs, and it turns out they can, which, IMHO, is great as it means something other than an ES44AH or ET44AH can lead these trains now.
However, while Q025 was passing, the northbound began moving, which turned out to be CSX Q520 with an AC44CW leading an ES40DC! Unfortunately, this train had to stop at Vine Street for a while and wait for NS to send one of their trains through across the Tennessee River. Then, after the NS train had passed, they got up to River Junction where they had to stop and wait even more due to the bridge having been raised. However, they were eventually able to go, but this train having to hang around on this crossing is why this video is as long as it is. You can still watch the shadows move as the sun sinks lower though.
However, while Q520 was waiting, a local freight, CSX A772, got permission from Oakworth Yard onto the siding behind Q520, and, once Q520 got going, they followed them up to the Vine Street, it appears, meaning that I was able to get three separate trains on one video! A772 also had the same Road Slug/GP40-2 pair as seen earlier on Y101, but this time, they also had a GP38-2 trailing third-out, which was nice to see.
Unfortunately, I ran my camera battery rather low doing this, but I'd say it was worth it.
Thankfully, nothing major here appears to have changed to this rather classic L&N install since I last recorded it. This crossing has to be one of my favorites in Decatur, so it'll be a sad day when it's inevitably replaced. Hopefully that day won't come for a few more years, at least.
Also, as a side note, I'm fairly certain this is the last crossing on the S&NA North Sub. to use Federal Signal (or even WRRS or WCH) cantilevers at it.
www.rxrsignals.com/Alabama/A-F...
30 дек 2019
