(Missed Activation/Dead E-bell) Bellingrath Road Railroad Crossing, Theodore, AL

After meeting my friend, Aubrey at a gas station in Tillman’s Corner, I made my way to Bellingrath Road to catch this CSX local train. For a local train, it was very long and my arms got overwhelmed. This local train also had a SpongeBob Squarecab SD40-3 leading solo. Before it came by, I got an ice cream cone from McDonald’s. I ended up missing the activation due to getting outta my mom’s car at the last second. Anyways, I’m so glad to have finally got this crossing in action. I’ll eventually catch a train on Firetower Road next weekend.
This crossing is an interesting one, it appears that sometime in the 1990s, CSX installed the current GS Type 1 here. Next, sometime in the 2000s, CSX replaced the entire signal on the other side probably due to an accident and installed another GS Type 1 on that signal and replaced one of the US&S 12x20 inch light frame with a Harmon 12x24 inch light frame. Finally, in the early 2010s, CSX replaced the other US&S 12x20 inch light frame with a US&S 12x24 inch light frame, upgraded the signal to LED and replaced the GS Type 1 on the other side with the current GS Type 2. The signal on the other side remained with incandescent lights a few years longer before being upgraded to LED sometime after 2015. Sadly though, as you can see, the GS Type 2 no longer works, so I wouldn’t be too surprised if it gets replaced with an NEG E-bell before long since there was a CSX worker next to the crossing.
Locomotive:
CSX 4036 - SD40-3 - 2nd Gen K5LA
Crossing info: Signals are owned by CSX
Train line: CSX NO&M Subdivision
Bell sequence: ring until gates lower
Gated signal on my side: GS Type 1 E-bell, 1 pair of WCH 2nd Gen LEDs inside Harmon and US&S 12x24 inch Light Frames, 1 WCH 2nd Gen LED and 1 Leotek EV Series LED inside US&S 12x20 inch Light Frames, WABCO Bracket, NEG LED Gate Lights, Safetran Gate Mechanism and WABCO Signal Base.
Gated signal on the other side: Dead GS Type 2 E-bell, 2 pairs of Leotek EV Series LEDs inside Safetran 12x24 inch Light Frames, Safetran Bracket, NEG LED Gate Lights, Safetran Gate Mechanism and Safetran Signal Base.
Note: Lights dim on video, but not in person.

[@FloridaRailfanKidWith804]

Awesome video rest in peace GS type 1 e bell. I can see a NEG electronic bell at that railroad crossing soon.

[@HunterWilliams-le9bk]

Thank you, it’s actually the GS Type 2 that’s dead, the GS Type 1 is still ringing.

[@FloridaRailfanKidWith804]

@HunterWilliams-le9bk Anytime oh thanks for the update. CSX need to replace the dead GS type 2 e bell or just fix it up.