Safetran Mechanical Railroad Crossing Bell Compilation (Part 1)

One of the more common mechanical grade crossing bells currently seen in North America is the one manufactured by Safetran. These bells were produced by Safetran from the company's formation in the early 1970s until the model was discontinued in 2005. The design is a revised version of the Griswold and RACO mechanical bells that were some of Safetran's predecessor companies. Earlier Safetran mechanical bells were quite similar in design and sound to the bells made by these earlier companies, while later design revisions resulted in the bells having a generally deeper pitch as well as being able to mount directly to a five-inch mast.

Many railroads used Safetran bells throughout their long production life. In the United States, the bells were installed in large numbers by most current Class I railroads in the country, as well as countless regional railroads and shortlines. While exact numbers are nearly impossible to calculate, they appear to be the second most popular mechanical bell in the country, with Western Cullen Hayes being in first place. This is likely buoyed by the fact that WCH mechanical bells are still made today, while Safetran bells were discontinued a full 20 years ago.

Today, Safetran bells can be found in at least some quantity in most parts of the United States, though as with most mechanical bells, their numbers are slowly decreasing. They seem to be holding on best in the Midwest, Northeast, and Southeast United States, though can be found in high numbers in other states and parts of states. They are already quite uncommon in my home state of Texas, and the few that remain are fading away fast. Only three Texan crossings are featured in this video with six Safetran bells total; despite this, two of the six Safetran bells have already been replaced.
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