If you still might consider a drop down section of track, I would suggest pages 67-70 of Linn Westcott's How to Build Model Railroad Benchwork, 2nd ed.
Co-owner of the proposed CT River Valley RR (HO scale) http://home.comcast.net/~docinct/CTRiverValleyRR/
Thank you all for the great input.
After measuring, drawing, remeasuring, conferring with family members, and doing a lot of contemplating I have decided to use a lift out bridge section rather than a swing bridge. The major problems involved where the gate would sit when open. It would partially block either the entrance to the layout if swinging inward or partially block the walkway in front of the layout, both of which are already narrow. Mi wife pointed this out. Also, with the gate open it would open the bridge work and scenery to being bumped and broken. I have a design in mind to slide the gate/bridge under the layout when not in place to protect it. The lift out can also be made much lighter and locked in place with shelf pins. I'll provide pictures as I get it made. Again thanks for everyones pictures and advice. Avoiding a wrong choice is part of making the right choice.
Capt. Brigg FranklinUSCG Licensed Marine OfficerCertified crazy train chaserCEO: Pacific Cascade Railway
When closed, my gate rests on a 2x2 ledge on each end. It only hangs on the hinges when it is open.
Dave
Lackawanna Route of the Phoebe Snow
To the best of my knowledge I have only encountered one of these type gates and that was twenty or more years ago and I can't remember just where this was at -- the reason I say twenty or more years ago is because I was with former at that time and that was more than twenty years ago.
Anyway, the brass hat of this operation was already well into his sixties and he indicated that back problems prohibited a duckunder entrance; on previous layouts, he related, he had always used a swinging upwards bridge but had decided to try his hand with a bridge that pivoted horizontally. It operated very smoothly but he did relate that it had taken quite awhile to get all the mechanical kinks out of the system -- he did not indicate just what those mechanical kinks were.
On one of my "fantasy layouts" I avoided duckunders by opting for roll-out-of-the-way gates. I designed these with guides and mechanical locks to insure both mechanical and electrical alignment.
From the far, far reaches of the wild, wild west I am: rtpoteet
Capt. Brigg Are the ends of your swing gate rounded, at an angle to the bridge body, or squared off at 90 degrees? The article in Model Railroad benchwork says it is very important, for clearances, to have the ends of the gate angled to clear the supporting benchwork and fit tight into the socket. My own drawings also suggest this need for a clearance. Thanks.
Are the ends of your swing gate rounded, at an angle to the bridge body, or squared off at 90 degrees? The article in Model Railroad benchwork says it is very important, for clearances, to have the ends of the gate angled to clear the supporting benchwork and fit tight into the socket. My own drawings also suggest this need for a clearance. Thanks.
Captain,
The hinged end of the gate is squared off while the end that goes in the pocket is at an angle to allow for clearance. Fred Headon's article shows this geometry pretty clearly. I did file and sand a bit to get the fit exact. The changes in seasons do move the gate a bit, but not enough to cause problems. I also use a magnet on the pocket end to hold the gate closed..
Good luck on the project,
Guy
see stuff at: the Willoughby Line Site
Brigg...
We have three such gates on various railroads here in Boise. Two were designed by the same modeler. He uses continuous piano hinge anchored to very stable (read heavily supported) bench work. He only uses a vertical leveling shelf for to gate to slide up onto when nearing closure. He uses no latch but rather the magnets out of computer hard drives. They are amazingly strong and he adjusts them to never come in contact but be held apart by about one quarter inch. He then only needs a stop which will align the rails. It works every time and needs NO maintenance once installed.
As shown in the drawing above.... the parallelogram shape of the gate is the best format as everything gets out of the way of other stuff when opening or closing.
Suggestion.............. Put a micro switch that can kill the power to the rails both on the gate and a few feet of approaching rail to prevent locomotives driving into the abyss.
see ya
Bob
By making the swing gate offset, and placing the hinges like this, it will but up tight when closed.
Guy,
Thanks for the link to your beautiful layout.Are the ends of your swing gate rounded, at an angle to the bridge body, or squared off at 90 degrees? The article in Model Railroad benchwork says it is very important, for clearances, to have the ends of the gate angled to clear the supporting benchwork and fit tight into the socket. My own drawings also suggest this need for a clearance. Thanks.
See this thread for some ideas..
http://cs.trains.com/TRCCS/forums/p/127351/1434854.aspx#1434854
I have learned that Gary Hoover lives in St. Louis and is a member of Gateway NMRA. His Missouri, Kansas, & Quincy HO gauge layout was published in the October 2000 MR and the 1994 Great Model Railroads. If someone knows how I might contact Gary, or you can send my contact to him, I would appreciate it.
Brigg Franklinpacific.cascade.ry@comcast.net
In Jeff Wilson's "Basic Model Railroad Benchwork" second edition 2012, Kalmbach Books, on pages 99 & 100, Jeff describes a swinging gate to cross a gap on Gary Hoover's HO Missouri, Kansas & Quincy layout. At the entrance to my "U" shaped layout I hope to build a similar entrance swinging gate bridge. However, I would really like to see a few more pictures and plans for the supporting benchwork. The gate itself is well described, but the area under the opening end and the 2x4 supporting the hinges are very critical and not well enough described or pictured for me to feel confident replicating it. If anyone has additional pictures, drawings or plans of this or any other swinging gate, or can get me in touch with Gary Hoover, it would be a great help and very appreciated. Thanks.