There are two Pacific Electric wig-wags that are still existing and still in use: Eucalyptus Ave, south of West Broadway, Hawthorne M and 9th streets, Colton The Hawthorne wig-wag was captured on video taken just two years ago: There's also one in Vernon that's on UP freight track.
Kato makes add on sets that add an extra track to the crossing (up to 8 track I believe), which come with two sensor tracks each. I believe that each track can take up to two sensor inputs on each side, so you could have a switch where it senses a train entering from either leg. http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10170395 Wow, that's awesome! That is very close to my parent's house, I will have to pay it a visit next time I'm in the area.
For those waiting on these as I was, I would wait a little longer. We have sold 2 and yet to get feedback but I took one and it seems to be DOA. I took two more out of inventory and they also seem to be DOA. When you plug them in they should go through a lower and raise sequence and stop. The three I have checked do not respond at all. Just a heads up. Thanks , Mike
Are those the second release Mike? I bought some from the first release (basic set plus three extra tracks) and they have worked flawlessly. Did you hook up the sensor tracks for your test? I wouldn't think it would matter, but you never know with electronics.
They are from the second release and I tried them all different ways and they just sit there dead. We will have to talk to Kato. My first run (I did a video on) was also flawless. Thanks , Mike
Problem solved. Someone at Kato wired the transformer extension cable backwards which supply's power backwards and causes them not to work. I simply removed the connector connections from the housing and swapped them side to side to reverse power and all is well. I swapped all the ones we have in stock so all are functioning and tested. Thanks , Mike
Except 4-quadrant gates work differently. The "exit" gates only go down after a delay. That isn't the case with this product.
Sounds more like a hazard than a safety feature. "hmmm....the gate is going down, but the one for the other lane looks broken so I'll just drive around..... Yikes, now they're all down and I have no way to get off this track!!!"
It's only a hazard for those who don't have a problem staying in their lane. If they both came down at the same time it could catch those trying to beat the gate. They got the first one beat but forgot there was another one coming down on the other side of the track. Ooops, time to bail and watch the fireworks or ram the gate and hope they aren't that strong. I guess ramming the gate leaves damage and you can drive away with a reminder not to try and beat the gates next time. Then again, if you don't ram the gates and hope the engineer stops in time you have a very good chance of not having to make the decision again, at least with that vehicle.