Abandoned Level Crossings

[freebrickproductions]

Thanks to the fact that railroads here prefered to cross roads at grade (and it seems roads were often built to cross rail lines at grade unless it was more economical to separate the two), and the fact that the US has shed about 114,572 miles of track between 1916 and 2011 per Wikipedia (much of that likely coming after 1980 when the regulations on railroads, including in regards to abandoning lines, were laxed), there are a lot of abandoned grade crossings around the US, even discounting ones on active lines that were intentional closed/grade separated for one reason or another. In fact, the forum on the website I help run has a 200-page thread of abandoned crossings, most of which are in the US.

For now though, I'm gonna leave y'all with this abandoned cantilever signal in Albany, GA:
https://www.google.com/maps/@31.60236,- ... 384!8i8192

It appears that this was on the southern end of what was once the Seaboard Coast Line's Kimbrough Subdivision, which was previously the Seaboard Air Line's line to Albany. I suspect the SCL installed that signal back in the 1970s, given the design and the equipment used on it. Apparently this part of the line stopped being used in 1994, and was abandoned and mostly ripped-up in 1995.

[KeithW]

Not do much abandoned in these examples as rather unsafe in Columbus Ohio near where I lived for a while.

I used to work on the 24th floor of the AEP building in Columbus and had a great view of the railroad, the highlight of which was a derailment involving at least 20 car carriers, all new Honda Accord's from Marysville, I am glad I wasn't footing the bill.

My everyday commute was along the Dublin-Granville road and the down the 315 Freeway, just before the junction is this crossing. I always amazed me how many people would drive onto it without having a clear exit, its a good job they dont run 100 mph trains
https://www.google.com/maps/@40.0902565 ... authuser=0

The barrier here could be and was driven around.
https://www.google.com/maps/@40.0747737 ... authuser=0

Here the railroad passes through the ground floor/basement level of several buildings downtown, the old passenger terminal was around here. There used to be a pedestrian crossing but they closed it after someone got themselves killed.
https://www.google.com/maps/@39.9702606 ... authuser=0

This one on old Duvall doesnt get much use now as it had been bypassed after a number of incidents and near misses. The google car gave it a miss
https://www.google.com/maps/@39.7720888 ... authuser=0

Ashville has its share of ungated crossings
https://www.google.com/maps/@39.7130439 ... authuser=0

[freebrickproductions]

Not do much abandoned in these examples as rather unsafe in Columbus Ohio near where I lived for a while.

IIRC, Ohio has its fair share of abandoned trackage across the state, a good bit of which is documented on sites like Abandoned Rails. As I understand it, the Pennsylvania Railroad and the New York Central Railroad, which were rivals, had a lot of parallel lines between major cities across the midwest. This right here is probably a good example of that, as the closer tracks were the PRR's line into Columbus, while the tracks further away were the NYC's line into Columbus:

The barrier here could be and was driven around.
https://www.google.com/maps/@40.0747737 ... authuser=0

This large amount of duplicate trackage proved to be an issue when, in an act of economic desperation in the 60s, the two merged to form the ill-fated Penn Central, which went bankrupt in 1970 after existing for only about two years. The PC then became part of Conrail, along with many other struggling roads in the northeastern US, in 1976, who'd then abandon or spin-off much of the duplicate trackage post-1980, which played-out similarly across the eastern half of the US as the railroads consolidated in the 1980s.
The parallel trackage in your link is still fully in service today, however. The PRR line was sold off to the Norfolk & Western in 1964 after the N&W had acquired the Wabash and needed some way to access it, and is now the Norfolk Southern Sandusky District, which is still fairly busy to this day. The NYC line went to Conrail, and when Conrail was split in 1999, it was awarded to CSX, and is now the CSX Columbus Line (not to be confused with the nearby CSX Columbus Subdivision, a former C&O line, running a bit west of there), but isn't nearly as busy as the NS line is. The two closely parallel each other like that from Columbus all the way up to the south side of Delaware, OH, where the NS Sandusky District curves off to the west to start heading towards Sandusky, OH, while the CSX Columbus Line eventually curves of towards the northeast.

Also, to circle back to this crossing a bit...

The barrier here could be and was driven around.
https://www.google.com/maps/@40.0747737 ... authuser=0

Most gated crossings in the US are like that, with only a pair of gated signals, as the vast majority of signalized crossings here are automatically controlled. Quad-gates (or, as y'all'd probably call them, full barrier crossings) aren't common, outside of quiet zones or hi-speed lines. Smaller roads like that also typically don't have any kind of median to prevent people from driving around the lowered gates either, unless it's a quiet zone crossing.

Ashville has its share of ungated crossings
https://www.google.com/maps/@39.7130439 ... authuser=0

It tends to vary a bit by state, but gateless signalized crossings also still exist across the US, though seem to be more common in some states than others. I know Alabama has quite a few gateless crossings, including ones on large busy roads like here, here, and here, though they tend to also typically be on shortlines and branch lines like those examples, and less-busy mainlines as well. Still a good few on the various mainlines across the state though, even the busier ones, such as this one, this one, and this one.

Crossbuck crossings, like in your example, are also still quite common, though they're more typically found in rural areas on less busy roads and/or on lesser-used lines such as branch lines and shortlines. There are also some crossings around the US that are only protected by a bell and two crossbucks, sometimes with two bells, and are typically referred to as "bell-only crossings" by railfans/crossing fans here.

Also, apologies for the long post, railroad crossings are a big passion of mine.

[KeithW]

Crossbuck crossings, like in your example, are also still quite common, though they're more typically found in rural areas on less busy roads and/or on lesser-used lines such as branch lines and shortlines. There are also some crossings around the US that are only protected by a bell and two crossbucks, sometimes with two bells, and are typically referred to as "bell-only crossings" by railfans/crossing fans here.

Also, apologies for the long post, railroad crossings are a big passion of mine.

The other place I came across a lot of those was in rural Nevada.
https://www.google.com/maps/@40.7253016 ... 384!8i8192

One of the advantages of being a Brit working in the USA was I got to spend a lot of time on vacation just travelling.
https://www.google.com/maps/@40.7253016 ... 384!8i8192

I notched up old Route 66 , the Alaskan Highway and the Everglades in my spare time

Over here we still have some surprising surviving example like this on the 4 track East Cost Main Line
https://www.google.com/maps/@52.0987976 ... 704!8i4352

The 'slow' commuter trains here are doing over 90 mph , the Intercity Expresses are doing 125 mph.

I have an excuse for being fascinated by trains , I am from what is now Middlesbrough just a few hundred yards from the end of the worlds first public steam railway - George Stephenson's Stockton to Darlington line.
https://www.durham.gov.uk/article/26823 ... ebrations-

[freebrickproductions]

Over here we still have some surprising surviving example like this on the 4 track East Cost Main Line
https://www.google.com/maps/@52.0987976 ... 704!8i4352

The 'slow' commuter trains here are doing over 90 mph , the Intercity Expresses are doing 125 mph.

Seems like a lot of the pedestrian crossings over there in the UK just have signage and a pair of gates, maybe some miniature warning lights and/or alarms if you're lucky, even on the busier and higher speed lines. Seems the vast majority of y'all's road crossings have signals of some kind though.

I have an excuse for being fascinated by trains , I am from what is now Middlesbrough just a few hundred yards from the end of the worlds first public steam railway - George Stephenson's Stockton to Darlington line.
https://www.durham.gov.uk/article/26823 ... ebrations-

Oh nice! I live not too far from the site of the first railroad built west of the Appalachian Mountains, the Tuscumbia, Courtland, and Decatur Railroad, built to bypass some rapids on the Tennessee River.

[Big L]

I bounced over this one in Bloxwich last week. Today someone on Facebook posted this picture of it in use in 2003, which is more recent than I would have expected.

Pic for illustrative/educational purposes.

[fras]

I bounced over this one in Bloxwich last week. Today someone on Facebook posted this picture of it in use in 2003, which is more recent than I would have expected.

IMG_0632.jpeg
Pic for illustrative/educational purposes.

It's a long time ago when I worked at Bescot Yard running local freight operations, but I think that was the siding that took wagons of zinc ingots. I'm not sure what they did with them, though.

[wallmeerkat]

MOD base Shoeburyness

There is signage warning of crossing without lights (train in rectangle) and a tramway (cross) - 2023 latest - https://www.google.com/maps/@51.5345807 ... ?entry=ttu , closer look 2012 when it looked in use - https://www.google.com/maps/@51.534286, ... ?entry=ttu

But judging by the concrete blocks blocking the gate in 2023 from opening it is no longer in use https://www.google.com/maps/@51.5340331 ... ?entry=ttu

[Nathan_A_RF]

The track still looks in very good condition though
https://www.google.com/maps/@51.5305998 ... ?entry=ttu

[wallmeerkat]

The track still looks in very good condition though
https://www.google.com/maps/@51.5305998 ... ?entry=ttu

Looks in good condition, albeit you can see a piece of wood debris sitting right beside the rail that would need moved, and some weeds coming up through the rails https://www.google.com/maps/@51.5305216 ... ?entry=ttu

Would it be kept in place in case it was ever needed again?

[rhyds]

I'd not be surprised if the trackbed is actually the MOD's property rather than Network Rail, so it might not be possible for them to sell it off/clear it out.

[wallmeerkat]

I'd not be surprised if the trackbed is actually the MOD's property rather than Network Rail, so it might not be possible for them to sell it off/clear it out.

Certainly the warning signage on the last streetview link says MOD property keep out.

[RichardA35]

I'd not be surprised if the trackbed is actually the MOD's property rather than Network Rail, so it might not be possible for them to sell it off/clear it out.

Certainly the warning signage on the last streetview link says MOD property keep out.

There's a daily train path showing in Realtime trains to/from MOD Kineton - I believe Shoeburyness is an ordnance/explosive disposal facility - they blow up out of date ammunition.

[Big L]

The road at this crossing near Bridgend has had some work recently, and there won’t be any more trains.

[freebrickproductions]

Since this thread was bumped, I'm gonna share some more abandoned crossings here in the US. Here's one not too far from me, over on the southside of Scottsboro, AL.
This line was an old Southern Railway branch line to an industry further south, which NS calls the Revere Lead, but it appears that said industry either stopped receiving rail service and/or moved-out in the 90s. The line was still in place though, and the last traffic this crossing saw in the late-2010s were a couple of storage moves of unused freight cars. However, around 2020/2021, I believe, the tracks were lifted through the crossing and the relay case was disconnected from power, and it appears that NS has left the signals to rot. Elsewhere on this branch, you can find these old signals, where a lead crosses Dick Hayes Road. It seems NS considers this part of the branch to still be active, as the signals here are still powered and maintained, although they don't serve the industry to the west of this crossing anymore. Last I'd seen, the branch had some cars stored on the run-around track just east of the crossing, but I don't think any trains have pulled into/through the crossing in many years, especially with how overgrown the tracks are just west of the crossing, once you get past NS's maintenance/ownership limit.

On the other side of the Tennessee Valley, another pair of abandoned signals can be found here in Muscle Shoals, on another former Southern Railway branch line. These appear to have been installed back in the early-1980s by the late-Southern Railway, and are remarkably well preserved. Of slight road-related interest, the road these are on is also a signed multiplex of five different highways (six if you count the unsigned/internal state route number of AL 2 for US 72), and also features a "wrong way" multiplex for US 72 and AL 20.
Going back towards the (active) NS mainline, 2nd Street in Sheffield also used to feature a trio of abandoned Southern Railway signals from the 1970s, but those were removed in the mid-2010s. Going over to Cox Boulevard, you can find a pair of crossbucks where the tracks cross this road. I'm guessing either Sheffield or NS still considers the crossing to be "active" in some degree, as it appears they'd replaced a pair of older crossbucks back in 2022 when the road was repaved and a sidewalk (and painted cycle lanes) was added.
Going across the river on another part of the branch and into Florence, you can find another pair of abandoned late-Southern Railway signals over at Huntsville Road. The branch running to Florence wasn't entirely the railroad's choice, when the Memphis & Charleston took over the Courtland, Tuscumbia, and Decatur Railway and set about extending it, the State of Alabama gave them two choices: they could cross the Tennessee River at Florence, or they could cross the Tennessee River at Decatur and build a branch line to Florence to give the city rail service. The M&C chose to utilize the CT&D's main and cross the river at Decatur (which NS and CSX still use to this day), and, as a result, had to build this branch into Florence. Eventually, Florence would get a second railroad line (seen further down the street at the other crossing) that would eventually become part of the Louisville & Nashville. In the 1988, CSX spun their ex-L&N line to Florence (along with the old Nashville & Decatur, later L&N, main to Pulaski, TN) off to the Tennessee Southern. It appears the TSRR also took-over this crossing, as either the Southern Railway or Norfolk Southern had abandoned their line across the Tennessee River to Florence, and operated this crossing for a while before abandoning it themselves. The TSRR still operates the rest of the trackage in Florence, although very rarely (only as needed for car storage) due to losing all of their customers down here back in the mid to late-2010s.

[Rillington]

Until relatively recent lots of level crossings and the associated furniture was still in situ on the Wisbech branch. I think that furniture has now been removed.

[wallmeerkat]

There's an abandoned level crossing at Rosyth with an X sign

https://www.google.com/maps/@56.0257,-3 ... ?entry=ttu

(2010 GSV, the latest 2015 shows this road gated off)

The abandoned line tunnels itself under the M90 at Ferrytoll, continuing along before meeting the main line at Inverkeithing

[Summers-lad]

There's an abandoned level crossing at Rosyth with an X sign

https://www.google.com/maps/@56.0257,-3 ... ?entry=ttu

(2010 GSV, the latest 2015 shows this road gated off)

The abandoned line tunnels itself under the M90 at Ferrytoll, continuing along before meeting the main line at Inverkeithing

Interestingly, that line isn't shown on any of Sabre's historic maps as far as I've found. (It's on the 1:250k open data.) Maybe it was classed as a military secret?

[wallmeerkat]

There's an abandoned level crossing at Rosyth with an X sign

https://www.google.com/maps/@56.0257,-3 ... ?entry=ttu

(2010 GSV, the latest 2015 shows this road gated off)

The abandoned line tunnels itself under the M90 at Ferrytoll, continuing along before meeting the main line at Inverkeithing

Interestingly, that line isn't shown on any of Sabre's historic maps as far as I've found. (It's on the 1:250k open data.) Maybe it was classed as a military secret?

I ended up down a bit of rabbithole looking this one up. I was surprised for example, why the low bridge wasn't removed. There is some discussion here - https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/ro ... ic.239689/

It seems it was active at least in the 80s, with possibly the last picture taken of a train on the line in 2010 https://www.railscot.co.uk/img/29/753/

The tunnel under the M90 Ferrytoll was made safe packed with polystyrene boxes - https://www.theforthbridges.org/news-an ... made-safe/ - but interestingly done in such a way as it was reversible, should the line be reopened...

[jnty]

There's an abandoned level crossing at Rosyth with an X sign

https://www.google.com/maps/@56.0257,-3 ... ?entry=ttu

(2010 GSV, the latest 2015 shows this road gated off)

The abandoned line tunnels itself under the M90 at Ferrytoll, continuing along before meeting the main line at Inverkeithing

Interestingly, that line isn't shown on any of Sabre's historic maps as far as I've found. (It's on the 1:250k open data.) Maybe it was classed as a military secret?

I ended up down a bit of rabbithole looking this one up. I was surprised for example, why the low bridge wasn't removed. There is some discussion here - https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/ro ... ic.239689/

It seems it was active at least in the 80s, with possibly the last picture taken of a train on the line in 2010 https://www.railscot.co.uk/img/29/753/

The tunnel under the M90 Ferrytoll was made safe packed with polystyrene boxes - https://www.theforthbridges.org/news-an ... made-safe/ - but interestingly done in such a way as it was reversible, should the line be reopened...

You may be aware of this but the tunnel that was filled did not carry the Rosyth branch. As far as I'm aware, the Rosyth branch runs under the Ferrytoll roundabout in at least two tunnels which are more or less intact, though it's possible the Queensferry Crossing works there obliterated them. As you say though the branch was theoretically active very recently, so it's possible they were required to keep the right of way physically intact.

This link shows the old line crossing over the Rosyth branch. I don't think it survived much longer as it appears to have been lost during FRB construction (it was already shown as dismantled on this map.)

https://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/#zoom=1 ... s=170&b=10