Crosing The Tracks

[Anonymous]

I was wondering if there was a way to have crosing gates raise and lower when a train comes by without "human intervention"

I'm not talking about DCC. I use DC; if that helps narow down the options.[:D]

[Jetrock]

Check the Walthers catalog or website at www.walthers.com ) and look for "Signals & Detection Units." There are a few, ranging from cheesy trainset ones that lower due to the weight of a locomotive running over them, to more sophisticated electronic ones that use photocells in the track to detect a train. Plenty of them do not require DCC.

[Hudsonmike]

I made my own with IHC crossing gates with lights, by using a tortise switch machine
under the table.
Than using a Circuitron DT-2 logic grade crossing Detector wired to a relay because it
couldn't handle the load. Before I got the relay I blew out one of a diode,
Which circuitron told me over the phone which one to replace and how to do it.
the control has four light sensors to control the circuit, The control also has logic
so when the train gets to the crossing down comes the gates, the lights blink and the bell starts ringing.
When the train passes the crossing the gates go up .If the train backs up the gates come back down It really works great although I have a two track main line and it only works on one track so I am working on that part trying not to have to buy another Detector. Also I use DC.
I know your next question is what did this cost I don't know off hand so e -mail me
I do know that it was over $100 dollars.
Hudsonmike

[challenger3802]

There's a way to do this using phototransistors. The circuit output instead of going to LEDs could be adapted to run small motors, driving crossing gates.

The site is http://home.cogeco.ca/~rpaisley4/GC04.html

There's a return to main site index button at the bottom of the page for all the other circuits.

Ian