Railroad Crossing | Avery Ranch Blvd, Austin, TX

🗓 Date: 8/5/20
On a Wednesday afternoon, I decided to head to Far North Austin to record and re-record a few interesting crossings. I had received word from fellow railfan wearethebkproductions (LINK) that this crossing had received Siemens electronic bells, so I decided to head here first. I arrived to find an advanced approach signal for a southbound train, and five minutes later, a standard CMTA Stadler (excuse the video typo, please) GTW DMU comes through, with an ugly new wrap. It boast new light and heavy-rail lines coming to Austin, including the Green Line, which will run along the AWRR's current trackage. I am not looking forward to all of the nice crossings along the line being replaced, though.
This crossing is pretty odd. It was installed in the early 2000's when this ugly development was built. Quite surprisingly, both GS e-bells that were here were recently replaced with Siemens e-bells! CapMetro has been testing them, it appears, as Daffan Lane in East Austin, this crossing, and reportedly one more crossing in Leander (with a high-toned variant) have received them. Quite nice to see. As for the rest of the equipment, the lights on the far signal are made by Safetran with Safetran Fading LEDs. The nearside lights are made by Progress Rail and feature Harmon fading LEDs. The gate mechanisms are made by Safetran and the gate lights are likely by RECO, though I can not confirm it.

[@MobileRailSpotterRxR]

Great video!

[@CSXEK]

I’ve never seen a bell like that on a crossing this far west! Actually that’s my most favorite E-bell I LOVE THERE PITCH

[@TheBCRailfan]

Nice! Cool to see some Siemens E-Bells here! (Even though they're very common where I live, lol).

[@TheCentralTexasRailfan]

Thank you! Seems like they are most common in Canada and on Norfolk Southern lines. There are only seven known in Texas; two in Slaton, one in Pampa, three in Austin, and one in Leander.

[@CoastalOCRailfan]

Nice video!

[@alc-42sucks]

Nice Video!

[@elu0502]

Great video! It would be better if the bell was high pitched.

[@TheCentralTexasRailfan]

Yeah, I agree with you. One crossing north of here supposedly has a high pitched bell, though I have not gotten the chance to check it out as it is pretty far from my house.

[@ChiapetPNW]

I know people who live and have lived in that development. Pretty sure I must have waited here at some point.

[@TheCentralTexasRailfan]

Cool!

[@kyleb06]

Great video! Forgot these are rare out west. Are you gonna record the high tone ones too?

[@TheCentralTexasRailfan]

Yep, these are pretty rare, with only seven known in Texas. I do want to film the high tone one if I can get out toward Leander.

[@oscaralvarezproductions2430]

It takes so long to get the train here

[@stangmann1521]

nice....

[@TheCentralTexasRailfan]

Thank you!

[@larailfan1714]

That Safetran Type 3 sounds a bit off.

[@TheCentralTexasRailfan]

It sounds fairly normal to me.

[@xxxman360]

Great video!

[@TheCentralTexasRailfan]

Thank you!