Railroad Crossings of the MBTA (2K Subs Pt. 1)

Before I get into the description of this video, I want to give a massive thank you to each and every one of you who has viewed, liked, commented, and subscribed on one of my videos. I can not believe that these many people have taken an interest in this channel!
No video shows this better, in my opinion than this one. I can not believe that my idea to film the railroad crossings in my small Massachusetts town (when I lived there) would turn into my hobby and this channel. This video is a true trip to a time not long ago (or at least some of the clips.)
The MBTA (Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority) is a transportation company in Eastern Massachusetts that operates all five major non-water public transport modes; the diesel bus, the electric trolleybus, the heavy rail, the light rail, and the subway; only one of two transit agencies in North America to do so. This video focuses on their heavy rail lines, 12 to be exact. There are 398 miles of trackage, as well, with four lines originating out of Boston's North Station terminal, and the remaining 8 out of Boston's South Station terminal. There is no heavy rail connection between the two, strangely enough.
The crossings on the MBTA system are pretty standard, with most equipment being in three recognizable forms. On the four lines that operate out of North Station and some out of South Station, the signals are purely WCH with WCH mechanical bells, WCH 8-inch lights, and WCH gate motors. These crossings are quite nice, and many have a dated feeling. On some southern lines, the equipment is provided mainly by Safetran, with Safetran gate motors, Safetran 8-inch lights, and a few Safetran mechanical bells, though most have now been replaced. Recently, the MBTA has slowly been replacing crossing signals (particularly on the Fitchburg and Haverhill lines) with modern WCH signals, with WCH 12x20 inch lights with WCH LEDs, WCH e-bells, and WCH gate motors. The only other bells that can be found on the MBTA are a few GS e-bells scattered throughout the system, with most being Type 2 or Type 3. There is one GS Type 1 on a spur in Framingham, though. The Worcester Line used to have an interesting mixture of crossing equipment, as it is a former Conrail line. There was a Safetran hybrid bell in Ashland, which was replaced no later than 2017. Saddest of all, though, there was a WRRS Mini Bell at Cherry St in Ashland, which is in this video, but is now gone, replaced with a WCH e-bell.
All in all, the MBTA is one of the more interesting commuter rail systems out there, both in terms of motive power and crossing signals, so I'm glad to have extensively documented it over the years.
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[@elu0502]

Great compilation and nice intro! Love the crossings, and congratulations on 2000 subscribers!

[@CoastalOCRailfan]

Great compilation! As again, congratulations on 2k Subscribers! You know you earn it!

[@GstarEdmsTrainProductions]

Sure is some good variety! Nice compilation and congrats on 2k subs! :)

[@TheBCRailfan]

Great compilation! Again, congratulations on 2K+ subscribers!

[@rainbowrailroadcrossing7798]

Where’s the private railroad crossing at? That seems like a new safetran type 2 bell than the usual WCH E-bell

[@DiamondMaster20]

A big congrats (belated) on hitting 2000 subscribers. Your channel is always entertaining to watch and you deserve every view. Thanks too, to you! Your support of our channel over these past two years + has really been appreciated. Here's to the next 2K! (And I should mention that this is a great video. Loved that Massachusetts scenery. ) :-)

[@TheCentralTexasRailfan]

Thank you very much! Right back at you, as you are always supportive of me!

[@AKCman35]

Congratulations on reaching 2K subs!

[@rcsrailfaningproductions7418]

Nice job man

[@ROTE]

Nice! I was just watching MBTA videos lol

[@TheRailroadCrossingChannel]

I immediately stopped all activities to watch this video 😂

[@texasrailfanproductions8572]

Great intro and nice crossings

[@AbramRRproductions]

LOVE THE INTRO

[@abyarellanovega9577]

Mbta train is commuter rail

[@LeoDaBeast]

Cross road is the best

[@TheCentralTexasRailfan]

Sure is an iconic one.

[@MaineCentral321]

Sorry I’m seeing this late, but congrats on 2k! Too bad Cherry Street now has a WCHayes E-bell.

[@Mrcharles.]

The WCH e-bell makes me think these lines are owned by Union Pacific.

[@rainbowrailroadcrossing7798]

The safetran and GS gave me CSX/NS vibes

[@dominictherailfan]

i saw 1130 at rockport

[@TheCentralTexasRailfan]

Cool!

[@aisacampana4196]

Topic T MBTA