At last, i have a complete loop of track around the garage, the gate's almost done

[steveblackledge]

Well, i have got to the point where i can run trains around without fear of them falling to the floor, as long as the gates shut anyway. All i have to do is make a failsafe so no power will come on untill the gates closed. The gate's made of 1/4" MDF made into a box section, with added stiffeners for strength, when it's closed it cannot move up or down at all, there is still one more track to lay over the top but that can wait a while till i make up my mind about the final track plan
this is the gate in the full open position

this is almost closed, you can see both the upper and lower tracks, the bottom tracks on a 3.25% incline, the tops almost level

this shows what angle i had to put on to ensure it opened and closed without fouling

[Train 284]

Looks pretty good!

Matt

[der5997]

Steve: Great shots. Explains more than the pics you showed around in the Coffee Shop[:D] I was thinking about the forces on the hinges, over time, and if there would be any tendency for the gate to sag. It's not feather weight is it? But I guess you could always fit a leg with casters if the worst came to the worst.

[twhite]

Steve--that's VERY neat! Gives me some ideas for when I have to 'gate' the front of my garage to put in the staging yard, pretty soon. Of course, my 'gate' will have to include a series of through-truss bridges--oh wait, didn't I say I'd built my LAST bridge? Hm--have to see about this--
Nice work.
Tom[:D][^]

[canazar]

Thats slick. I have never seen thant done, and like the idea alot. Congrats too on running.

John k

[steveblackledge]

Hello Gentlemen,
JOHN, i have gone to town with the area around the hinges, there is plenty of meat in that part of the benchwork, as long as the gates left in the closed position when not in use it should not sag as it's supported at both ends.
TOM, i was planning on a bridge in a bridge if you know what i mean but it would take away some of the rigidity, i have another location for a bridge or two yet.
MATT, chears
JOHN K, it was a bit of a tricky job as one section of the layout is closer to the wall than the other hence the tapered joint, a straight joint would not work. the picture below shows the offset

[Don Gibson]

A well placed 3 Amp MICROSWITCH feeding a block will cut off power to the track in that block if the gate isnt closed. Getting the track ALIGNED IS KEY.
A deadbolt lock is also a good idea.

[steveblackledge]

Chears Don, as it's not a big layout i am looking at a cut off device like a microswitch to stop all power unless the gates in the closed position. The yard at the bottom (when it's done) will have it's own power so you can still use it

[selector]

It must be a rewarding feeling to have that done, Steve...and so well, judging from the pix. Congratulations!

What is the next step?

-Crandell

[robengland]

inspirational. I had something like that in an early trackplan and I chickened out. I need to revisit the idea now!

[steveblackledge]

Hello Rob & Crandell, the next step is lay the last track over the bridge, but i will be putting some industrial building flats along the way with there own sidings / spurs then i can fit the facia panel and do the terain and landscape it, but until i can make up my mind what to do i will leave well alone. Rob one thing i have learned is use good quality wood, you don't want anything thats going to "do the twist" when you make a swing out / up gate.