Hey ya'll! Who makes the best, most detailed modern crossing signals with gates. I even want the electronic bell on top and the gate mounted mini flashers. I know signalogics were exactly what I was looking for but they don't make the physical gates anymore. Only the electronics. Also with the signalogics crossing module can I hook up the ITT bell sound module and still be able to program it so that the bell only goes off when the gates go down. Thanks.
Indianapolis Railroad - Indy Rail! Route of the Brickyard Flyer! Established 1976.
NJ International ?
Not good enough.
My NJ International gates just arrived yesterday!
The mini-lights on the gate arms are decorative. They do not light. The main LEDs on the column work fine, but you will need your own circuit to drive them. There is a wire coming from the base which will operate the gate, but again, you need a physical drive system like a Tortoise to operate it.
Tomar also makes gates with flashers. They are more expensive than the NJ International ones.
For anyone who is interested, these are Oregon Rail Supply signals, no gates:
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
I'm sure that you can get a detail casting of a bell to add to your signals. As for the lights on the gates, you may have to make your own. If that is the case, you would be better off making the gates too. You could use SMT type LEDs and the gates could be two pieces of brass strip, one positive and the other negative. Solder the LEDs to the gates halves and use decoder wire from each gate half down to the electronics.
As for making them work, here is one way:
http://www.waynes-trains.com/site/NeatStuff/GradeCrossing/GradeCrossing.html
Elmer.
The above is my opinion, from an active and experienced Model Railroader in N scale and HO since 1961.
(Modeling Freelance, Eastern US, HO scale, in 1962, with NCE DCC for locomotive control and a stand alone LocoNet for block detection and signals.) http://waynes-trains.com/ at home, and N scale at the Club.
Be prepared for sticker shock. I'm in the process of installing flashing signals (Oregon Rail Supply) at one grade crossing and flashers with gates (NJ International) at another. These will be controlled by detection circuits and drivers from Rob Paisley. The gates are operated by a Tortoise machine with two linkage accessories from Circuitron.
So far, I'm into this for about $200 for the two crossings with signals on either side.
Crossing signals?
I think Berkshire Junction makes some good ones. They are quite detailed and relatively inexpensive. Although the price has gone up since I installed mine. Here is a link to their site where they have good photos of their products:
http://www.berkshirejunction.com/scenery.htm
I opted for the infra-red detection system which works quite well for me as I operate in the dark a lot.
Here is a link to my web-site's 'How to' on my installation if you are interested:
http://www.brvrr.com/CR.html
Good luck with your quest. Hope this helps.
Remember its your railroad
Allan
Track to the BRVRR Website: http://www.brvrr.com/