I want to use an elevated gate tower at a grade crossing. What is the the right orientation for the structure? The long side paralell to the tracks or the short side?
Guy
Modeling CNR in the 50's
I dont know much about towers, I could be completely wrong, but here's my opinion. I think you have it right way because there is a curve to the right of the pic. You would want more visability to see (if you were the tower operator) the trains coming through the curve (right) and the crossover (left). So it akes sense the way you have it.
My Layout Photos- http://s1293.photobucket.com/user/ajwarshal/library/
Most towers I've seen photos of has the long side facing the the street like yours.
Alex,Most crossing shanties was equipped with a track diagram board with track occupancy lights that would light up when a train was nearing..The crossing tender would activate the gates and would proceed to flag the crossing with a double sided stop sign mounted on a pole or a red lantern at night..
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
The 'key' is that the windows allow for the operator to look up/down the track - This one has windows on all 4 sides - Take your pick!
Jim
Modeling BNSF and Milwaukee Road in SW Wisconsin
jrbernier The 'key' is that the windows allow for the operator to look up/down the track - This one has windows on all 4 sides - Take your pick! Jim
Exactly.
I visited a crossing shanty on the PRR in my early teen years and watched the tender (Stan) go through his routine.
When a bell would ring he looked at the track board then down the track toward the direction the train was coming from and would lower the gates once the engineer started blowing for the crossing,he would then grab his "stop" sign and flag the crossing..
A cool signal between the engineers and the crossing tenders was the engineer would flash the engine lights from bright to dim and back to bright to let the crossing tender know he was stoping at the signal.The tender would not lower the gates and would keep watch for the engineer to brighten the engine lights signaling he was on the move.
At a particular crossing in Detroit, back in the 40s and 50s, the tower was square. The tower guy would stand up, and put the gates down. He did not flag the crossing.
In Long Branch, NJ, in 1951, the "guy" would talk to the kids who came to wonder at the trains. All else was secondary.
Ed
7j43k In Long Branch, NJ, in 1951, the "guy" would talk to the kids who came to wonder at the trains. All else was secondary. Ed
Red Bank and Bradley Beach were like that too, in the '60s
Dave
Just be glad you don't have to press "2" for English.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQ_ALEdDUB8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6hqFS1GZL4s
http://s73.photobucket.com/user/steemtrayn/media/MovingcoalontheDCM.mp4.html?sort=3&o=27
steemtrayn 7j43k In Long Branch, NJ, in 1951, the "guy" would talk to the kids who came to wonder at the trains. All else was secondary. Ed Red Bank and Bradley Beach were like that too, in the '60s
To bad kids don't have that great opportunity today.
Apologizes for going off topic but,I would like to share a fond memory from my teenage years.
A lot of summer Saturday mornings would find me visiting Bob(a PRR switch tender) I would spin 2-3 hours talking to him between trains and I loved hearing his railroad and WWII Navy war stories.
Here's the switch tender's shanty that was located between the Columbus Union Station and Front Steet bridge.
You had to walk from the Union Station to the shanty.
I placed mine with the long sides parallel to the tracks, as it's crammed in between the through line and an industrial siding. There are wigwags protecting the crossing, but I'll eventually add manually operated gates (supposedly by chains operated from the tower) - probably the reverse order of how it would have happened on the prototype:
Wayne
doctorwaynesupposedly by chains operated from the tower)
Wayne,I can't speak for all railroads but,I know on the PRR and NYC in Columbus(Oh) the gates was electrically operated and there was a silver level on the track diagram board that the crossing tender would push down to lower the gates and push up to raise the gates.
The tender would check the train occupancy lights on the track diagram before raising the gates since he had been outside flagging the crossing.
I can't recall where I read about chain-operated gates, but since I don't have to model much other than the gates themselves, they could just as easily be electrically- or pneumatically-operated, too. I'll probably make the gates positionable (for photo opportunities), but otherwise non-operating.
doctorwayneI can't recall where I read about chain-operated gates,
I've seen photos of elevated gate towers that had arm strong type levels that operated the gates..If memory serves I believe the elevated tower at the Mad River & NKP museum has arm strong levels.