Border Avenue Railroad Crossing, Torrance, CA

Filmed February 19, 2022.

While up in Redondo Beach, I've decided to come to the ancient BNSF Harbor Sub to see if any trains are coming. I went to this crossing as I really wanted to get it in action. After a while, I finally heard the horn, and not too long after that, I saw the headlights. Caught a BNSF freight train with a single empty railcar believing this would be the BNSF 1st-Watson local in Torrance, California.

Crossing info:
Crossing is owned and maintained by BNSF Railway.
This crossing is a horn zone.
Crossing is on the BNSF Harbor Subdivision.

Signal on the right: 2 pairs of 8" RACO incandescent lights, and 1 pair of of US&S 8" incandescent lights, Safetran gate mechanism, WCH 7" incandescent gatelights, and a RACO mechanical bell.

Signal on the left: 2 pairs of 8" RACO incandescent lights, Safetran gate mechanism, RECO LED gatelights, and a Safetran mechanical bell.

Locomotives:
BNSF 116 - EMD GP60M - H4 - Narrow Font K3LA.
BNSF 146 - H4 - EMD GP60M.

This crossing is one of a lot of classic crossings on this vintage line, having almost the same equipment since they were installed by ATSF in the early 1970s. It seems that the 8" pair of US&S lights may have come from another crossing as these are the only ones used here, or at least from the previous signals if they were any. Sometime around the 1980s, the original RACO mechanical bell on the left signal was replaced with the current Safetran mechanical bell. It appears around the 1990s, these signals had wishbone gates with lanterns that were replaced with the current fiberglass gate(s) with WCH 7" gate lights. These signals would remain identical the same until between 2019 and 2020, when the left hand signal got it's fiberglass gate barrier replaced with the current vertical stripe gate barrier with the current RECO LED gatelights replacing the 7" gatelights. Super glad BNSF hasn't really touch on any of the crossings here majorly, and I hope they remain like this for much longer. Also the dead RACO bell at the next west crossing Cabrillo Avenue is still there.

Camera: Sony HDR-CX405 Handycam

[railroadfan]

Excellent video of the mechanical bells.

[TonyM.]

Wow, awesome shot! I love this crossing and bell combo! I subbed.

[OxnardLocalRailfan]

The bells kinda remind me of the Pedestrian crossing in my neighborhood. Nice catch

[CaliforniaRailVideos]

Nice crossing catch! Loving those bell sounds!

[TheBCRailfan]

Excellent video and crossing! Love those classic signals!

[threepea]

I really love this crossing! How often do trains pass by here?

[HarborSubHughley]

Great Video and I also saw that train from Zamperini Field

[freebrickproductions]

Great video and excellent crossing! Love those absolutely classic ATSF signals! Early Safetran signals like this always look great, IMHO.
Closer signal's gate arm looks fiberglass to me, TBH. Also, you accidentally put "2 pairs" of US&S 8 inch lights in the description.

[TheRailfan]

Great video and awesome crossing! Almost looks like it's original!
If one things for sure, old crossings were made to last!

[threepea]

These signals actually never had wishbones, as the lights would have to have been installed to accommodate them, and the ATSF stopped using them after about 1971-72 or so