Rancho Capistrano

I took these pictures back on June 29th, but forgot to process and upload ’em for well over two months. They are of the Rancho Capistrano crossing, which is the last non-QZ grade crossing in my “neck of the woods”.

#1: the DOT number and Metrolink mile number on the electrical cabinet.

#2: An overview of the crossing.  The gate on the south side is equipped with a Safetran S-40 gate mechanism, while a Western-Cullen Hayes Model 3590. Both setups are equipped with Trucklite LED Gate Lights, 12×24 Western-Cullen Hayes 1st-Generation LEDs, and Safetran Mechanical Bells.

Looking South, towards the Defect Detector. This is one of the few remaining detectors which give a readout regardless of defects.

Looking North, towards CP Avery. Northbound trains typically slow through this crossing from 90 to 60 MPH in order to take the crossover at Avery.

Closeup on a Safetran mechanical bell. Note how the gong is aligned with the centerline of the mast and how the rainshield covers the gong from its “equator” up. This is a key spotting feature between Safetran bells and earlier Griswold or RACO bells.

Closeup on the flashers. Several crossings in South Orange County are equipped with 1st-generation LEDs, but the vast majority utilize Safetran dialights. A key spotting feature of these LED flashers is that the lens itself is “blistered” out of its housing to accommodate the LEDs.

The gate on the north side of the crossing, equipped with three pairs of flashers to guard Camino Capistrano. Rancho Capistrano tees into this road immediately after crossing the tracks.

As the intersection between the roads is at a lower level than the grade crossing, the crossing has a high likelihood of trucks “high-centering” on it. As such, warning signs have been erected to alert drivers of this road hazard.

One final point about Rancho Capistrano – on weekends, a security guard deters people from using the crossing as a shortcut, and railfans end up being caught in the “crossfire”–thus, railfanning this crossing is not advised on weekends. This crossing sees more traffic during the week, and does not experience the same restrictions on access during the week, although this is likely subject to change.