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This crossing is not very active. It only gets about 6 trains daily. It is about 30 miles away from Prescott, AZ, and is the only crossing with lights and gates.
The following pictures were taken July 7, 1998 and January 12, 2000.
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3
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After waiting about 2.5 hours, A train approaches. The duration will last for about 3 minutes. The bells seen are Safetran mechanicals. |
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Pictures 1-6 were taken July 7, 1998.
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CLICK THE ICON TO THE LEFT TO HEAR THE CROSSING IN ACTION. (RECORDED JULY 7, 1998) |
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7
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9
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A view from the other side of the tracks. |
Lonely crossing. |
A green light indicates that the switcher is working properly. |
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12
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A train is 48 seconds away! |
The signals start at 12:31:46 PM. |
At 12:32:19 PM, It crosses. |
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13
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The end after 2 minutes and 58 seconds. |
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Pictures 7-13 were taken January 12, 2000.
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14
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Here is a picture of the older signals used before these were installed. This picture was taken in 1989. Also, there is no bell on the signal to the right.
I've seen this set of signals activate at least twice. Once in 1992, and again in 1996. The first time, I was heading for Wickenburg, and seeing a train here. A red car almost didn't stop and came real close to hitting the train. I also saw the older Kirkland signals activate on that day. The other time, I was heading back to Prescott, when they went off again. I was in the drivers seat this time. There were quite a number of burned out lights in 1996, and that was the last time I saw them again. The signals turn off just one second after the last car passes. Kirkland was also like that too. Talk about quick. |
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I found this train coming home from Wickenburg. I would've followed this train to Kirkland, but I did not have enough time to get it. |
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Pictures 15 and 16 were taken May 18, 2000.
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Some more shots taken from Yavapai County Highway 10 on May 15, 2001. |
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Picture 23 shows a different P.O.V. Picture 24 shows a train signal with a swtich. Picture 25 is a old building next to the Skull Valley Elementary School and by the old Skull Valley railroad depot. |
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A rear view. |
Facing South. |
Facing North. |
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All of these photos were taken in the early morning hours of July 6, 2002. |
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38
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The 7" gate lights took a hike, and the
4" gate lights have replaced them. Everything else is the same. |
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Pictures 36-38 were taken March 5, 2005.
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Here's a 1991 picture of the Grand Canyon #18 going through the Iron Springs crossing. There were a couple of visors missing, along with a few lights that occassionally burned out. |
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I couldn't beat this Northbound train to the crossing coming back from California on August 7, 2005. If you look at pictures 41 and 42, the left light is burned out. I came back here on August 8, 2005, and it was still burned out.
These pictures were taken from inside the windshield, due to the fact that I didn't have time to get out and take video or proper pictures. |
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A view of the western signal taken October 26, 2005. |
Looking North. |
Looking South. The train from Kirkland is about 15 seconds from revealing itself. |
The signals are about 7 seconds from activating. |
The signals start up. |
Going down... |
Here it comes. |
It crosses. |
It's very hard to see, but the automatic switcher is on a steady red. |
A very close-up of the gate lights, which are L.E.D. |
A close-up. |
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The cars appear to be at a slant, due to the speed the train is moving. |
The train finished after about 4 minutes. |
The signal barely shuts off. NOTE: The left light is STILL burned out! |
