Railroad Crossings of the CSX Dothan Sub

The CSX Dothan Subdivision is a former ACL main line that runs from Montgomery, AL, to Thomasville, GA. In Thomasville, it connects to the CSX Thomasville Sub which runs to Waycross, forming what was known as the ACL's "Bow Line" from Waycross to Montgomery. Unfortunately, over the past few decades, traffic dropped off along the line, including the Amtrak Floridian, which was run across the line, so maintenance of the line was allowed the be deferred, causing a 25 MPH speed restriction to be placed over the whole line. As a result, CSX dropped all non-local freights from the line, save for only two long-distance locals were being run all the way across the line: CSX A723 (Montgomery to Waycross, usually to Thomasville by the time the sun rises) and CSX A724 (Waycross to Montgomery, usually leaves Thomasville in the later-morning/early afternoon). However, in recent years, CSX began work to fix up the line and bring it back up to 40 MPH, including replacing the jointed rail that still remained over much of the line.
In 2018, on my way to and from Florida that summer, I was able to document almost every crossing along the line from Troy, AL, to Cowarts, AL. At this time, CSX had replaced the jointed rail north of Dothan, but Dothan to Montgomery was still only 25 MPH. While I only caught one train (a northbound grain train), it was enough for me to decide that in 2019, I would take another trip back to this line.
In 2019, I decided to take a two-week trip back to this line, this time with the intention of getting every signalized crossing along the line documented (which I was successfully able to do). On this trip, the section of the line north of Dothan had been upgraded back to 40 MPH (for the most part), though the section south of Dothan was still only 25 MPH, but it also still mostly featured the old jointed rail.
The main reason I decided to come out to this line is easily the crossings. Due to a lack of traffic and upgrades done to the line, there is a huge variety of older equipment all from the ACL, SCL, SDB, and even some older & newer stuff from CSX. As a result, this is easily the best Class I line in the entire state, when it comes to crossing equipment. In fact, in part thanks to the lack of upgrades, there's still some great rare crossing equipment along the line in Alabama, including a pretty large number of vandal guards, two cats-eye crossbucks, a fair number of old ACL signals (including several gateless, bell-less installs), and a large number of 8 inch lights and mechanical bells. However, over in Georgia, it appears that this part of the line got slightly more attention, as all but one crossing along this part of the line is gated (with the only gateless crossing located in Jakin) and most of the equipment appears to be from the SCL or newer (though there is still an old ACL signal in Cairo). However, this part of the line also still retains a large number of 8 inch lights and plenty of mechanical bells, along with many US&S/WABCO Model 75 gate mechs (there's only one WABCO Model 75 left along the line in Alabama, in the city of Ashford, and no US&S Model 75s). There is also a large number of unusual or otherwise unique crossing signals, so that's also quite nice to see. Either way, this line has a ton of great crossing equipment, so I'm quite glad to have been able to document all of it and record a large amount of it.
However, due to the upgrades this line is getting, it appears that CSX is starting to put more money into the signals, especially for LED upgrades. As such, that's why I chose to go ahead and get the entire line documented, as there's not really any telling as to if any of this stuff will still be around next year. Thankfully, the LED upgrades don't seem to have gotten into full swing yet and seem to largely be confined to the Donalsonville and Cairo areas, though there's still a fair few elsewhere along the line, though mostly south of Dothan, it appears. Thankfully, most of what I had been after wasn't upgraded (and if it was, it wasn't a complete overhaul), so I'm quite grateful for that.
Only two of the videos in this video were taken in July of 2018, while the rest were all taken on my two week trip in the summer of 2019, for those who are curious.
Also, for those who want to take a look at this line on Mike's Railroad Crossing Website, here's the northernmost and southernmost crossings:
Northernmost:
www.rxrsignals.com/Alabama/G-Q...
Southernmost:
www.rxrsignals.com/Georgia/Cai...
Feel free to click on either one of those and follow it all the way to the other end!

[@user-gv6xs2hi3k]

Пречудовий відеосюжет!!!. Вражаючий у першу чергу тривалістю!!! 226 з половиною хвилин!!! Це відео справді вражає своєю тривалістю в першу чергу!!!

[@freebrickproductions]

Дякую!

[@Noobheadyellow]

I just like the writings on the train Idk why

[@1st_down_prod]

Awesome Video!

[@freebrickproductions]

Thanks!

[@crazymariobrothers2]

Awesome video. I crossed some of these on the way to Georgia

[@deegohammjackson4974]

I like how railroad crossing bells

[@brittanysmth90]

I’m from Montgomery,AL and I have fond memories of my late grandma taking me to Fleming Rd, to watch the trains whenever they passed by when I was a girl. Thanks for showing this video, and great job!

[@freebrickproductions]

That's awesome! Thanks!

[@ismailaziz5508]

Hello Brittany, I'am 34 of age, from Malaysia, may I ask you a question please, who is Montgomery and his orchestra, from which country does he came from ?

[@NewBuildmini]

@@ismailaziz5508 In this context, Montgomery is a city in the state of Alabama, in the United States. I have no idea what is "Montgomery and his orchestra".

[@mahdevrawatselfiebabu8009]

bzkxf v is a couple

[@MummyMunny1111]

It's a country not a orchestra

[@StonewallTitlow]

Funnily enough, even though I’m from Kentucky, I’ve passed over this line multiple times going to and from Panama City, FL over the years and haven’t been lucky enough to catch a mainline train on this line.

[@amandap569]

2:14:41 The lights at this crossing are wicked!

[@ThePrairiesRailfan]

and that’s why I love incandescent lights!

[@crazymariobrothers2]

How are they wicked?

[@sony197]

It's nice how you can still see the fallen flags like seaboard Chessie names like that still

[@slasher9007]

Cool video! And big train!

[@freebrickproductions]

Thanks!

[@EthantheRailfanner]

Great video!

[@freebrickproductions]

Thanks!

[@daniellefayee28]

Nice horn

[@SETX_Sirens_and_Rail_02]

1:01:56 I don't know why but I really like that tuning of K5LA in the early morning like that

[@freebrickproductions]

It's actually late evening.

[@Joethaboss66]

That's not even a K5LA. It's a 1st Gen K5HL.

[@alexgreene2520]

Great compilation of crossings right there man!

[@freebrickproductions]

Thanks!

[@SteelCitySirensandTrains]

Great video.

[@freebrickproductions]

Thanks!

[@fostoriadistrictrailfan3907]

6:11 Its cool when you can help out CSX lol

[@ElliottWolcott]

Nice catches of the trains. #TeamTrains

[@freebrickproductions]

Thanks!

[@ElliottWolcott]

freebrickproductions Your welcome.

[@tessblog3384]

Awesome content💓💓💓

[@freebrickproductions]

Thanks!

[@duodetrenes]

Amazine capture my friend. Like for you

[@freebrickproductions]

Thanks!

[@-northeastohiosirensandtra5641]

Old crossing lights roadside at 2:34:49 at the right. Nice video!

[@freebrickproductions]

Thanks! And yea, those lights were from the crossing itself before it was upgraded to LED.

[@-northeastohiosirensandtra5641]

freebrickproductions Neat!

[@theshedproductions.]

there was this one crossing in between CR 20 and CR 14 that is right by my great grandmas house and its CR 18 in newton

[@freebrickproductions]

Yea, sadly I wasn't able to record that one while I was down there, but I did get it documented for the site. A nice old late-60s gateless SCL install there that's still pretty much entirely original. www.rxrsignals.com/Alabama/G-Q/Newton/CR18/

[@theshedproductions.]

I did get a very long video at night of it Though sadly I wasent able to upload it but I know for shure the bell sounds decent in fact my old channel Jacob LARSEN is a picture of that crossing on the bell side. The video was taken at about 10pm on the Fourth of July of 2017. Was driveing down the road back home after the fireworks in Dothan was interrupted by lightning we started back and when we got about 100 feet from the crossing they activated and I jumped out and csx double header with a lot of pipes on flatbeds. Then the train stopped for a good 10 minutes and the phone stopped recording because not enough storage and I went back into the car after the train started moveing again and crossed . During the time cars were turning around.

[@lukehendrie202]

i love this video

[@freebrickproductions]

Thanks!

[@bryttafitzgibbons6901]

Nice job!

[@freebrickproductions]

Thanks!

[@SamTheRailfanner]

Great crossings!

[@freebrickproductions]

Thanks!

[@edgaraugusto6898]

Jjh

[@daciatravel.647]

Very good video!!!!

[@freebrickproductions]

Thanks!

[@ayurimp5139]

Sopy??

[@ayurimp5139]

Masak

[@ayurimp5139]

🤩🤣

[@julieclayton9975]

I like your videos and I like watching them

[@freebrickproductions]

Thanks!

[@Magicmanny2266]

cool videos you have

[@freebrickproductions]

Thanks!

[@kyleb06]

Great video! Always a great line when it comes to crossings, but it's a shame it doesn't have too much traffic anymore.

[@freebrickproductions]

Thanks!

[@joseroldan6452]

WWSSX

[@TrainTrackinTravel]

The line kinda reminds me of the PSAP, where it had a history of deferred track maintenance but mixed crossing equipment.

[@user-is3zo5pf2c]

6

[@coolashtxn]

Epic

[@freebrickproductions]

Thanks!

[@alexgreene2520]

Great compilation of trains right there man btw I love vintage trains

[@freebrickproductions]

Thanks! I always do like older diesels myself.

[@CohaLevelcrossingsChannel]

Super movie !! Choo choo 🚂🚋🚃🚋🚃🚋🚃🚋🚃🚋🚃

[@delta.australia]

I like this!

[@freebrickproductions]

Thanks!

[@JoeSmith-ec9ph]

Delta Australia how has this video got so many views wtf

[@delta.australia]

@@JoeSmith-ec9ph because level crossings are cool! 👌

[@freebrickproductions]

@@JoeSmith-ec9ph IDK, a lot of people have just chosen to watch it.

[@benhuffstetler3282]

2:07:36 love that train horn and 1:19:01 super fast bell.

[@jordanlcarroll]

Not hearing bells at some crossings kinda makes me feel worried about crossings like that, great video tho!

[@freebrickproductions]

Thanks!

[@Nimrood33]

The only 1 problem with the up joilet sub crossings is they dont have light that show the crossing is working

[@Nimrood33]

Because if u want to cross an crossing u dont know its working

[@Nimrood33]

But yea awesome video

[@freebrickproductions]

?

[@locomotionrailfanningprodu7114]

Ohhh I get it kinda… You mean how the lights aren’t as visible?

[@Nimrood33]

@@locomotionrailfanningprodu7114 no.. i mean.. in my country most of the crossings have a white light flashing 24/7 to show that the crossing is functioning.. when a train comes.. the white lights stop flashing and the 2 red lights start flashing..

[@Dianiskitchen]

i love trains!

[@aidanbica3682]

So this is the actual CSX train city

[@Branddenthepinkgoldpeachfan]

*Wow 2,000,000 Views? That's Awesome*

[@nashtrainsyt5932]

45:30 why is the gate blue?

[@freebrickproductions]

It's aluminum, and the sun was shining more or less directly onto it.

[@apronchaperon]

I'm probably colorblind but, I don't see blue on any of the gates

[@kailanibowden7198]

Love you amnah much love you

[@RXMattCARailfan]

That’s a nice view! I made a 150 subs special video. I shouted out to you in the video. You helped me.

[@sofiachristi144]

yoooo

[@kcmorailfan4784]

Nice video! I noticed that the forum is down again.

[@freebrickproductions]

Thanks! Yea, Tommy filled-up the server again, lol.

[@mimiyouyou846]

ض

[@vivakkumar2273]

.

[@Northeast_PA_Trucks_And_Trains]

33:27 Cat eyed crossbuck. Those are rare! Also another at 47:46

[@freebrickproductions]

As I mentioned in the description, there are two along this line.

[@Northeast_PA_Trucks_And_Trains]

freebrickproductions oops. I got to into the video to read it. Didn’t finish it yet. There used to be a black cat eyed one near me, but it just disappeared one day. My dad and I think someone stole it.

[@Northeast_PA_Trucks_And_Trains]

@Wubbzy, Driver of The Fire Scorpion Coulda been in the replacement process. Be neat if a collected donated a tear drop to them!

[@saskatchewanrailfan8149]

33:32 I bet that crossbuck used to light by the looks 45:18 dead mechanical bell?

[@freebrickproductions]

33:32 - that's a cats-eyed crossbuck, it didn't light-up unless a light was shining onto it (like from a car's headlights) 45:18 - unfortunately yes

[@lukehendrie202]

i love this video.

[@hornshowrailfan2554]

Gate light is out on the first crossing.

[@SCU_Storyteller]

what bell were they using on the first one? mechanical bell or E bell?

[@freebrickproductions]

The crossing has two electronic bells.

[@tylerdonitzen6291]

What's with the crossing at 1:05:56 there's no lights on the front

[@freebrickproductions]

Honestly? No idea why the SBD never installed and front lights on that signal.

[@pacificzonerailfan]

Nice!

[@freebrickproductions]

Thanks!

[@adammorgan8665]

The one reason why trains aren't as slow as the other trains aren't is because they have limited amounts of speed that go further and beyond The Railroad Crossing.

[@margaretedge2199]

I like crossings and you’re a good picture taker

[@csxtrainfan319]

That’s nice that’s interesting

[@airplanepilotryanthepilot]

My dad drove a truck to Alabama

[@BNSF2184]

Nice. How do you get away with no cars gettin in your shot. My luck there’d be like 50 cars ass to nose lined up as close the crossing gate as you can get

[@freebrickproductions]

Thanks! Luck, and also the fact that many of these crossings are either in rural parts of Alabama and Georgia, or on small side streets. However, I have had plenty of people stop in my shots before.

[@BNSF2184]

@@freebrickproductions Gotcha. Yea Im gonna take a stab at these crossing videos. Something ive wanted to do for quite a while but always worried about cars gettin in the way.

[@freebrickproductions]

@@BNSF2184 I honestly don't worry too much about it, unless it's like a massive truck or bus that stops right next to me.

[@csx-Diesel-757]

Have we seen csx 894 some where

[@TrainsandFTFEnjoyer]

Our childhood, a video from @BaltimoreAndOhioRR

[@ericshook9270]

Awesome video! These crossings are cool! However they could use a little tune up on the crossing maintenance as there were a lot of dead bells!

[@freebrickproductions]

Thanks! It seems they may have since this video was taken, I know at least one in Dothan had its dead bell replaced after my visit.

[@ericshook9270]

freebrickproductions if they did than that is great!

[@rayudupaleti7535]

M9

[@jbush9502]

I was at the lake street crossing today unfortunately the mechanical bell has been replaced with an Ebell didn’t see what kind tho , also how many trains a day normally run the Dothan sub ?

[@freebrickproductions]

It's an NEG e-bell, both bells there were replaced with new NEG bells. And these days, I think it's at least four daily trains? At the time I shot these videos, it was only two. Plus the local freights and as-needed unit trains, it seems CSX likes to send unit trains via the Bow Line instead of the Fitzgerald and Lineville Subs to get to Birmingham sometimes.

[@alco251b9]

Could I use clips from this video to make crossing bell sounds for Train Simulator?

[@freebrickproductions]

Sure! Just give me credit for them.

[@alco251b9]

@@freebrickproductions Ok thank you

[@familyiseverything1617]

🤩😍🥰

[@WarrenEntertainment]

I love trai

[@lowz1369]

CR 1113 has a lit bell

[@freebrickproductions]

You mean CR 1135? Don't believe any crossings on this line are on a CR 1113.

[@peterbuiltfan4life]

I see trains every 30 to 20 minutes and the fact there most in Alabama

[@sandiegotrafficlightstrain354]

Theres a whole lot of crossings in this video where only 1 of 2 bells work.

[@freebrickproductions]

Yea, there is.

[@sandiegotrafficlightstrain354]

@@freebrickproductions Theres even one where a new electronic bell doesn't work but a very old rusty mechanical bell works great.

[@freebrickproductions]

@@sandiegotrafficlightstrain354 I'm aware, I filmed all of these clips. Also, the e-bell isn't brand new, and is at least 10 years old, IIRC.

[@ThunderboltFan2000]

0:40 Sick K5LA 🤒

[@pikachuxyz7405]

Sqq

[@pikachuxyz7405]

6

[@sowegarailproductions4089]

Due to all of the upgrades we’re supposed to be getting 5 more trains added to the list soon

[@freebrickproductions]

I've heard rumors about that. I personally wouldn't be surprised if CSX starts routing coal trains via the Dothan Sub.

[@sowegarailproductions4089]

freebrickproductions honestly we deserve a lot of trains. 1 to take pressure off of the Fitzgerald sub. 2 the dothan/thomasville sub is pretty much a straight shot all the way to waycross compared the the Fitzgerald sub.

[@thenorfolksouthernrailfan5918]

@@freebrickproductions I think they will since CSX sold the P&A and Tallahassee subs that run next to I-10 in the Florida panhandle, they might even start carrying Intermodal, never know.

[@sowegarailproductions4089]

The Norfolk Southern Railfan its a possibility but I think our bridges will be able to support intermodal

[@DuMontTV]

👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@freebrickproductions]

Thanks!

[@unknownprofile2830]

1:02:22 why this crossing has no bells on it?

[@freebrickproductions]

Because the ACL never installed any, and the SCL didn't install any either as a result when the far signal was replaced.

[@rafaeldebrasilia]

👍🏻

[@freebrickproductions]

Thanks!

[@margaretedge2199]

You’re a nice guy

[@ItsBelle08]

We dont care if you take it 2x

[@marapalizenski3990]

6ieorpr

[@BostonByRails]

How many trains a day in dothan? And what time will CSXs go throught dothan? Could i possably have a time of day for each train? Finally, waht si the closest NS line to dothan

[@freebrickproductions]

2 CSX trains a day on the CSX Dothan Sub, though there's usually a good chance you'll also get to see the BAYL running a train somewhere around there (they have trackage rights over part of the Dothan Sub). I'm actually not sure where the nearest NS line is, I think one runs up to Hilton, GA, to interchange with the BAYL? Otherwise, the nearest busy one probably runs out of Albany, GA, somewhere.

[@joebarefoot]

Csx dispatcher freq 161.310 road ch 32 160.590 Dothan yard 161.100 and wiregrass local is 160.500 Ewell AL .WATERFORD.

[@melvin0833]

The dedication 3:37:29

[@sofiachristi144]

trains huh

[@iancarter3029]

College st RIP safetran mc bell

[@cjholland48]

lol every time the crossing start, you can see and hear the camera shake as he gets his camera ready XD

[@freebrickproductions]

That was me pressing a button to take a picture, most of the time.

[@edmond05levelasian14]

second has a malfunction

[@freebrickproductions]

The second crossing was being tested by a CSX signal maintainer.

[@edmond05levelasian14]

@@freebrickproductions o oke

[@edmond05levelasian14]

imagine if a emergency vehicle has to wait for the crossings

[@edmond05levelasian14]

nice video btw

[@freebrickproductions]

Thanks!

[@ElChanco]

Bro u need to stop stalking the man or the 2 ppl in the train bro 😭🙏🙏

[@xiathojchannel9514]

👍👍👍❤❤❤❤

[@freebrickproductions]

Thanks!

[@cheedar1263]

This Ralilfaning Train Or Drivers Cars

[@mamayaya6121]

ឆឆឆឆឆឆឆឆឆឆឆឆឆឆឆឆឆឆឆឆឆឆឆឆឆឆឆឆឆឆឆឆឆឆឆឆឆឆឆឆឆឆឆឆឆឆឆឆឆឆឆឆឆឆឆឆឆឆឆឆឆឆឆឆឆឆឆឆឆឆឆឆឆឆឆឆឆកការសាងសង់សំណង់ស្ថាបត្យកម្មសម្រាប់សុខភាពសុខភាពរបស់សុខភាពសង្គមសង្គមសង្គមសម្រាប់សម្រាប់សុខភាពឬសឲសេចក្តីស០សសសសសសឋសឋឥសឥសសសឋឋសស០ស

[@mamayaya6121]

ឋានសសឋសឋឋិតក្រោមដីឋានៈរបស់ព្រះពុទ្ធដីកាឋិតក្រោមឋានទៅឋិតឋានសុគតិឋានសុគតិឋានសុគតិសម្រាប់ឆ្នាំសិក្សាមូលដែលសង្ឃ៩សសឥស

[@mamayaya6121]

ឋានៈខ្ពង់ខ្ពស់ក្នុងការបង្កើតក្រុមខ្មែរសេវាសេវាសាធារណៈភាសារខមតិឥត្ថន្នាមាយសម្រាប់ឋសាសនាសសស៊ីគ្រុបសាលាខណ្ឌចំការមនសីមាឋានៈស០ឋសឋសាលាសាសសាសឥឡូវរសាលាស្តីអំឡឥឋការតស០សាសនាសសសខខសឋ

[@holdyourspike]

8:48 thumbnail

[@officer_matthew3196]

I LIVE IN ALABAMA

[@freebrickproductions]

Same.

[@officer_matthew3196]

Where

[@officer_matthew3196]

In Alabama

[@filipplayz8772]

@@officer_matthew3196 he is from huntsville, Alabama

[@Jrcutz18]

I live in Atlanta Georgia

[@Guestplays99]

1:03:46 looks Like a Old crossing

[@Guestplays99]

And very fast Bell

[@freebrickproductions]

Yea, it's an older one dating back to the mid-70s or so. And the SCL liked to set their Safetran bells to ring fast like that.

[@nbagnunu2817]

Can you my favorite Trains of CSX Train for me please

[@freebrickproductions]

I don't take requests.

[@nbagnunu2817]

Ok

[@nbagnunu2817]

I like CSX Trains I like long trains

[@kailanibowden7198]

Thanks CSX train show on my phone 📱📱📱📱📱📱📱📱📱📱📱🤳🤳🤳🤳🤳🤳🤳🤳🤳🤳🤳🤳🤳 you amnah

[@cesarbarrenos4894]

0:00

[@suecurtis8313]

LOVE TRAINS SUE!

[@amandap569]

2:53:26 WHAT WAS THAT???

[@freebrickproductions]

IIRC, that was a truck's brakes.

[@raybae8431]

Thomas exe

[@gocubs3705]

I was born in Dothan, Alabama

[@cune25313]

30:57

[@freebrickproductions]

?

[@cune25313]

2:45:45

[@freebrickproductions]

?

[@ericshook9270]

CSX seems to be the most lazy company when it comes to replacing stuff that does not work! There’s lots of dead bells on CSX!

[@user-vi6em9kv6f]

こういうのがいいんだよ

[@freebrickproductions]

ありがとう！

[@jasongreen30183]

Could you plz stop running up to the crossing in the middle of the video, it kinda blocks the view. Not trying to be rude or anything, I'm just making a suggestion.

[@freebrickproductions]

That's usually just me trying to get got photos of the lead power. Also, as a side note, KZbin held this as "likely spam" and I ain't sure why.

[@jasongreen30183]

@@freebrickproductions take all the photos you want. But if you can, plz make sure you're not showing yourself in the video, that's all I ask :D

[@omar80901]

So long video