I have been browsing through the 2000 Walthers catalog. I have been eyeing up the Circuitron DT-2 Detection Unit (full logic system) and ther flaher. To my horror, I found out that the N.J. International crossing gates are not even lighted. They have "jewels"....that is just plain dumb. Anyways. Circuitron also has a Gate Circuit Driver that says it works with 8000 series gats. What the heck is the 8000 series gates? I see no other referecne to this in Walthers or on the web. What I want is a fully automated grade crossing with lights and gates. There seems to be pleny of solutons in place for just flashing grade crossings but not with gates. Sorry, I can sink low enough to use Kato's grade crossing. I like Unitrack, but some of their stuff is just to toy like. Thanks again.
Rest assured there is a company (or was a company) out there that has an operatig grade crossing with working lights, sound and working gates (saw the thing my self in 1996 at the Long Beach convension). I'll get back with more info in a bit if I can find it.
I saw a pair of working gates and flashing lights on an NTRAK model a few years ago. It went down automatically when the train came, and back up after it passed. It looked pretty good to me, but judging by the price I saw on a static pair of gates ($25), the working pair must cost a lot more !! Dave
I installed an automatic crossing system that has lights, gates and bells . I adapted a Marson & Lowe system, probably what the folks above saw at the shows, to my N scale layout (they're intended for HO and up). I illuminated those NJ International signals with red 1.5v micro-bulbs. The gates are driven by a Circuitron Tortoise Machine. At the time I was in close contact with M&L, who were providing me with great technical support (resistors for bulbs, etc.). I was the first to adapt their system to N scale that they were aware of. I just recently tried to check back with them on the web but noticed their website was in need of repair. I dropped an e-mail but have had no reply. Hopefully they're just off at a show and not out of business . Anyway, I always wondered what the 8000 series (or whatever) gates were too! Russ Try a web search on the subject. Seems like a ran across a few systems at one time.
Russ, Do you have any additional details on how you installed the bulbs and how you ran the wires? Also, what did you attach the lever (wire) to the gate from the switch machine? Pictures and a tutorial for dummies like me would be great!!! Thanks. I also saw your posting on the wigwag. Sounds cool.....teah me master...show me the force.
Matt, To install the red bulbs, I drilled-out the back of the housings so they could slide in. Mine somehow came without the jewels but they would obviously need to be removed. I ran the wires down the least visible side of the signal and through the base. The insulated wires are not the most inconspicuous, but they don't bother me too bad. To actuate the gates, I first put a pin in the counterweight and ran some small wire (.010 or something) from the Tortoise Machine "fork" up thru the base and looped the end around the pin. The tortoise lowers the gates by pushing up the counterweight. It really works great! (Marson includes the fork but I had to scratchbuild one for my particular installation). Sorry, I wish I could do photos. We have a new digital camera but we need to fix our CD driver to load the software . I'll be away for about a week after this post. Email me if you would like further on my installation and I'll get back. In the meantime, try to email Marson at Marson07@aol.com. Hopefully they're still around! Russ
Check out Berkshire Junction's operating crossing gates at http://www.berkshirejunction.com/scenery.htm They say it can be used in any scale, so now the only concern would be the lighting of the crossbucks (dont forget they flash too!) Mike [ 16 April 2001: Message edited by: atirns ]
Mike, Thanks for the link. Looks pretty cool. Except that I would still have to install microbulbs into the crossbuck. Perhaps I will just use flahsers for now with out any gates. I just dont like the idea of wires running down the back. I cant believe that this is not availbe for N scale. I mean we have lighted crossbucks without gates. Does not make sense to me. Oh well. Thanks again for the link.
Hello everyone, I am building an N-Scale layout. I want an operating grade crossing flasher. (I saw one on the Belmont Shores Lines that looked really awesome.) I'm planning to scratchbuild my grade crossing flasher using brass tubing and #32 computer wire threaded up the tubing for the wiring. I plan to use LEDs as the lights, glued to styrene targets and the tubing will be the common return. I plan to glue styrene crossbucks to the top, and there you go. I'm planning to model a lesser-used line, so I don't expect it to need operating gates. But, I will need to install a sound circuit that has a bell. That's required.
