Butler Road Railroad Crossing, Portland, TN

originally recorded on 12-8-23
Signal on the left: 2 pairs of Safetran 12x24 inch lights.
Signal on the right: 2 pairs of Safetran 12x24 inch lights and a dying Modern Industries mechanical bell.
On December 8th, I got on up and got my stuff loaded up from ‪@EthantheRailfanner‬'s house and into my car to head back home with. I then went on out to this crossing, where, after about an hour and a half of waiting, I was able to catch this CSX M212 rolling through with a pair of ES40DCs for power.
This crossing is a rather nice one, featuring an old gateless TPC install from the L&N, though, at some point, the closer signal had at least the base on it replaced. In the 1970s, the L&N replaced the original bell here with the current Modern Industries mechanical bell. Then, in the mid-1990s, CSX upgraded the lights here to the current Safetran 12x24s. Thankfully, since then, the crossing has remained largely unchanged. This crossing was also the last signalized crossing on the Mainline Sub, if not CSX as a whole, to retain split crossbucks. Unfortunately, sometime between 2013 and 2018, the crossbucks here were replaced with more standard ones, though, thankfully, the old mounts for the split crossbucks still remain.
I'm especially glad to see this crossing still retains a Modern Industries mechanical bell, one of the last five on the Mainline Sub and also the only remaining one on the Tennessee part of the line. This crossing is also one of the last three gateless installs on the line with a mechanical bell, which is rather nice to see. Sadly, the MI bell here is definitely starting on its way out, as it takes three strokes before it begins to ring. Once it does get going, however, it does sound fairly decent if a bit rough. Hopefully CSX gives it some TLC, but, either way, I'm quite glad I was able to film it in action.
www.rxrsignals....
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[@TheBCRailfan]

Great crossing! Love that MI bell!

[@freebrickproductions]

Thanks!

[@ericshook9270]

This is a really cool crossing! Sad to hear that MI bell sounds weak though!

[@jtherailfanner2058]

Nice catch and crossing love those older signals

[@freebrickproductions]

Thanks!

[@RblxRailfan28]

Good Catch

[@freebrickproductions]

Thanks!

[@SailorgalaxyGabrieljacobhunt06]

Good catch and Merry Christmas

[@freebrickproductions]

Thanks! To you too!

[@SailorgalaxyGabrieljacobhunt06]

@@freebrickproductions your welcome

[@truckerkevthepaidtourist]

Merry Christmas so you came back up to portland If I'm not mistaken that classic burglar alarm school bell rapid ringing crossing has now been removed and they upgraded the signals by downtown 🙁

[@freebrickproductions]

I know, I got it refilmed a few days prior on this trip. Merry Christmas to you too!

[@railfanlynx]

@@freebrickproductionswonder if someone got it.