This is the N. Summit Avenue Railroad Crossing, located in Charlotte, NC, along the CSX Charlotte Subdivision. On October 27th, I hopped over to the Charlotte Subdivision again to record another railroad crossing. So I hopped over to this crossing which is located right next to Johnson C. Smith University. This was my fifth attempt to see a train here, as the last four attempts were not successful. Thankfully, when I got here, the signal west of the railroad crossing turned yellow for a medium approach. After hearing the train blaring the horn for two crossings east, this northbound intermodal train crawls through with CSX GE 797 ES44AH leading CSX GE 862 ES44AH. Eventually, after this video, a southbound manifest train rolls through. Though I didn't tape that one because it is tricky to catch due to a curve west of here. So if anyone railfans here, I would suggest to catch northbound trains since they'll be easier to tape. After this I went back to the house.
This crossing is a very nice one, featuring a 1980s CSX install, one of two crossings in Charlotte that has a pair of these signals. The only major change was the original incandescent lights were upgraded to Leotek EV Series LEDs, as pretty much the other crossings on CSX lines in North Carolina. With the minor change being the right signal's original diagonally striped gate arm was replaced with the current one with NEG LED gate-lights. Thankfully both signals still retain their original WC Hayes 12x24 inch lights, and WC Hayes gate mechanisms, as well as the original diagonally striped gate-arm on the left signal. The original 2nd generation WC Hayes mechanical bell on the right signal still remains intact as well. However it does sound a little bit rough, as the bell clicks when it rings. It reminds me of the railroad crossing on E. Terrace Drive in Plant City, Florida, which sounds similar to this one, either way I'm glad that the WC Hayes mechanical bell is sticking around. Overall, a very nice crossing here. Always fabulous to see older CSX signals from the 1980s still in service, especially since this was my first time seeing and recording a pair of these.
Left Signal: WC Hayes 12x24 inch lights with Leotek EV Series LEDs, WC Hayes gate mechanism, RECO LED gate-lights.
Right Signal: WC Hayes 12x24 inch lights with Leotek EV Series LEDs, WC Hayes gate mechanism, NEG LED gate-lights, WC Hayes mechanical bell.
26 окт 2023
