Franklin Street Railroad Crossing, Gadsden, AL

originally recorded on 2-26-18
Signal on the left: 1.5 pairs of WRRS 8 inch lights and a WCH 8 inch light.
Signal on the right: 2 pairs of WRRS 8 inch lights and a WRRS mechanical bell.
After catching them in Glenco, I chased the ATN train to this crossing.
This crossing is easily one of my favorites in Gadsden, as it features a pair of old & almost-pure WRRS L&N signals, with the only new thing at the crossing being a WCH 8 inch light that I believe was installed by CSX. The crossing is also on a rather quiet road on the side of a hill with a great view of the valley in this part of Gadsden that US 278/US 431 runs through, so you get a rather neat view when looking north from the crossing, as seen in the video. The WRRS bell here still sounds pretty decent as well.
This crossing is also located on what used to be the L&N Mineral Loop, which ran the long way 'round from Birmingham, AL to Calera, AL via Oneonta, AL; Gadsden, AL; Anniston, AL; Talladega, AL; and Sylacauga, AL. Much of this line is still in service under both CSX and various shortlines. Currently, CSX operates a branch line that runs NE for a ways out of the CSX yard in Birmingham, the ATN operates over a portion of the line that ran from just west of Attalla to Wellington, the EARY operates the section of the line from Talladega to Sylacauga, and the Shelby & Calera operates a small section of the line from Calera to just east of CR 86 on the other side of I-65. The rest for the L&N Mineral Loop was abandoned and torn up.
www.rxrsignals....

[@jimcoddington4100]

Great Video David! Gadsden has some weird street names when I’m going to see my friend there. The street names are pretty darn weird.

[@freebrickproductions]

Thanks!

[@McKHAust]

Very nice gateless crossing, great video!

[@freebrickproductions]

Thanks!

[@williamdaxon7369]

This is a great video, deserves an A+!

[@freebrickproductions]

Thanks!

[@williamdaxon7369]

You're very welcome.

[@jamesmcafee8348]

What does Nkc stand for on the NKc railway

[@austinmiller3497]

When the lights are flashing people should stay stopped until the train passes and the lights turn off and cool video of the train going by

[@kyleb06]

Love that EX-SP leading!

[@freebrickproductions]

Same here!

[@VictorianRailHeritage]

Gametrain Productions same SP is my favourite american Railroad until they were bought out by UP

[@tylerrtylerr9425]

This crossing has a long warning time... I'm assuming it probably has an older circuit without speed detection

[@freebrickproductions]

Believe so. Used to be an L&N mainline once upon a time, then became a CSX Sub that didn't see much traffic.

[@freebrickproductions]

At least 25 MPH before.

[@bcrproductionsofficial]

I wish you did a tour of this one. that is a interesting crossing.

[@freebrickproductions]

I got pictures of it, which are posted on the page linked in the description...

[@cynthiapickett7403]

Another crossing in need of a gate--regardless of narrow road!

[@dannypotter3211]

Good afternoon how you doing today did you have a get time of wocke

[@calpeninsularailfan]

A LESLIE!! EEE

[@EthantheRailfanner]

I think that's you're 3rd time seeing WCH 8 Inch Lights! First is one in Murfreesboro, second is in Greenbrier, and Third, here!

[@freebrickproductions]

I've seen them plenty of times before. This was actually my second time, with the first being a former Conrail crossing up in PA (as I first saw this one in 2015). I've also seen them at four different crossings in New Jersey, 19th Street in Nashville, TN before that crossing had one of the signals get upgraded to LED, and at a crossing in Lawrenceburg, TN before that crossing was upgraded.

[@AppValleyRailProductions]

hey guys let's go see the next wine train together

[@AnJohnThanhNguyen]

👍🏻👍🏻💯💯💯

[@freebrickproductions]

Thanks!

[@thesierrastandard7281]

Great video! Just found this lol Love the old SP

[@freebrickproductions]

Thanks!

[@buffalo716railran]

Nice video.. sounds like a wch mechanical bell

[@freebrickproductions]

Thanks! WRRS 0222 bells, like the one shown here, did eventually become the WCH 0333 mechanical bell made today.

[@TheBCRailfan]

I think the second locomotive is an ex-CN.

[@freebrickproductions]

It is.

[@washingtonstaterailproduct5382]

Awesome video!

[@freebrickproductions]

Thanks!

[@michaelpatanella]

so, im confused.... do the drivers of those cars think that it's green lights that are flashing? wtf makes them think they're so special and way too cool? Considering where this is, it's not like anyone's in a rush to go to a job.

[@weatherdan882002]

Jeez, that first guy who went through the crossing when it was activated was an idiot. Did you see how he actually went around the car at the stop sign afterwards?

[@freebrickproductions]

Yea.

[@bjthedjdutchdude1992]

Yep

[@floridianrailauto9032]

He drives a Chevy, what do you expect?

[@nssteampunk4865]

I saw idiots running the flashing lights

[@marialittle128]

Ikr what if it hits them

[@peruvianrailroad]

muy buen video saludos desde perú

[@freebrickproductions]

¡Gracias! Saludos desde Huntsville, Alabama, Estados Unidos!

[@madisoncountysirens4295]

For some reason this reminds me of Lilly Flagg lol

[@Dansvideos03]

Oooo! SD40T-2 ex. SP, Ex. CN GP40-2, another SP SD40T-2

[@freebrickproductions]

The second SD40 is actually an SD40R.

[@paulcarter1280]

The crossing needs gates.

[@wideworldofrailroads4014]

I got Union Pacific Railroad spikes I bought them off eBay

[@piktureit]

Cool vid

[@freebrickproductions]

Thanks!

[@michaelpatanella]

red flashing train lights means stop ya friggin hillbillies