If you're ever in the Abington area, you'd want to check out the crossings. There have been multiple accidents at crossings, and due to that, the crossings are outlined with white paint and are diamond striped, especially since most of Abington is double tracked.
I'd consider myself an expert on railroad crossings seeing as I knew about them in 2018 (during the golden age) but by my assessments you did a pretty swell job summing them up, for a beginner.
Preemption is the name of the signal Xing at Ashland. Great plain ave , West ST.in Needham is one as well. (31 years as a signal maintainer for commuter rail)
I grew up railfanning at the Ashland crossing among other places, It does have a pretty cool setup. Something not mentioned that Is cool is the building to the right of your distanced shot of it, “John Stones”. Lots of cool history behind that building, but whats relevant is “Ashland’s Ghost Girl”. Mary J Smith was 10 years old and on June 11, 1863 she was struck by a train. She was brought into Stone’s which I believe was still a condo house at the time. Currently, it is a restaurant but the second and third floor are blocked off and not touched. Rumor has it Mary’s spirit roams there and you can hear her giggling and running around. Rumor has it at night she can be seen in the windows or lights turn on, on the top two floors.. And if that doesn’t scare you, the dress she was in when she was hit is framed and on the top floor, with blood stains still visible. More pictures and photos are online if your interested, and some ghost hunter crew even has a video on youtube of exploring the closed off sections of the building..
The e-bells at Cross Road sound absolutely identical to those at several crossings here in New Zealand. I think they're made by Western-Cullen Hayes, but don't quote me on that.
Are you guys going check out all the new signals between Middleborough and New Bedford and Fall River. Especially the four track crossing at Myrics Junction in Berkley Ma.
Good video as always! I was just wondering what those posts are for! Not many around Somerville just Park St. Crossing so I am kinda sad to not be able to see much but it always adds to the rare occasions I do!
Cross Street is an excellent spot, also Bradford Station to the north, and Sutton Street to the South. Great for seeing the Amtrak Downeaster, MBTA, Guilford/Pan Am, plus I've seen Norfolk Southern there ONCE with a BNSF locomotive in the consist. Also New Hampshire Northcoast (NHN) is Boston Sand and Gravel's train the goes to Ossipee and back twice a week. Use to be Tuesday and Thursday nights. I like the spots in Tewksbury, but less traffic. I love that I'm living in a spot in Tyngsboro with active tracks literally right in my back yard.
Unfortunately I've seen many of these posts wiped out in a short time. Intentionally run over, distracted driver or snowplow ? I don't know. I don't think they will last long.
