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As mentioned over in the RPO thread, I'll start a thread here for this grade crossing.
This oil facility has a busy right of way in front of it. Many times operations are interrupted by the rail traffic which might block the access to their yard.
A new road will be paved to cross the three tracks and cross bucks with lights and gates will be installed.
Once again the choice for this project is Tomar gates and signal heads and Rail Logic Technologies for the sensors, servos and boards.
Cut out a section of the benchwork to provide a easy ramp up to the grade crossing from the refinery.
Marked out where the road would cross the tracks at an angle.
I'll have to go to the local Hobby Lobby to get a roll of painted highway tomorrow. I know I had some around here but its gone hiding now.
Unpacked the box of electronics items for the rails logics technology kit. I'll need to dig up about 60' or so of wires for the sensors.
A dirt road is established for the grade crossing. Using Woodland scenics plaster with earth tone paint mixed in. I'll add another layer when this one dries.
Well, I screwed that one up. I layed the route of the road and didn't checked under the bench for obstructions. The road intersects a main support beam. I have to move the road to the left where I marked with a black sharpie.
I’m with you Ken, been there done that as they say!
I like the new location better anyway, provides more real estate across the tracks.
Scenery is about the only forgiving thing on a layout.
Applied another layer of road to the grade crossing. Still looking very roughed in. It'll get better once the road surface is built up to the track level.
I'm thinking of leaving the first road there and just put up some "Road Closed" signs at each end of it then cover it with grass and weeds.
I like your abandoned road idea!
checked it today and the plaster is still a bit pliable. Did some smoothing on it and will let it set some more.
Smoothed the road surface and trimmed up the edges then added the mounts for the crossbucks/gate poles. The round weights will help a solid bond.
Signals are installed with control wires. I'll have to increase the resistor value of the lamps to about 8xx ohms.
Mounted two of the control boards under the bench surface to get started and ran a power supply wire to the main board.
The hard part is mounting the servo motors for the gates and attaching the gate control wire. It's a very narrow space in there and I need to be able to reach both hands in there.
Got one gate control wire attached to the gate arm and cut to length for the servo motor. Programmed the motion of the servo. I'll get the second servo setup later as the total throw is already established.
Now I'm routing the wiring.
Well, I screwed that up. I installed an emitter and detector so I could run the board and adjust the gate servo. I forgot to install the 68ohm resistor and soon smelled the burning electronics. I'm not sure if I only destroyed the emitter or the entire board.
Waiting on a reply from Logic Rails on how to test the board for damage. Also, they are completely out of replacement emitters. I'll need to find out if it was a special design or if it can be replaced with any emitter.
The instructions for this system are very drawn out.
Unless the installer is a read once and completely retain it all, ya have to go back and read over the steps for testing and setup several times.
The instructions are written in long form instead of a summary which would be helpful.
Well, I screwed that up. I installed an emitter and detector so I could run the board and adjust the gate servo. I forgot to install the 68ohm resistor and soon smelled the burning electronics. I'm not sure if I only destroyed the emitter or the entire board.
Waiting on a reply from Logic Rails on how to test the board for damage. Also, they are completely out of replacement emitters. I'll need to find out if it was a special design or if it can be replaced with any emitter.
Well, krappoonenschitzen!
I originally tried to use gates at one crossing, but had so much trouble locating the servomechanisms because of the location of the support structure, I finally gave up and went to plain flashers alone. At other crossings, I just went with flashers for the same reason. Neglected to observe the P5th rules when I built my layout. (P5th = Prior Planning Prevents a P$$poor Performance).
Well, krappoonenschitzen!
Krappoo what?????
Well, krappoonenschitzen!
Now that's a word I haven't heard in nearly 30 years.
A Normal, Regular, Train Fan
I agree on the abandoned road idea, definitely unique! For my upcoming new layout, I plan to use Walthers Crossing Signal Controller for my crossings. It'll be a DC layout, so this works perfect. However, I have heard that the controller only works on DC layouts.
It's amazing how much "stuff" ends up in the work area. It seems like each and every thing I need to do, I have to get up and go somewhere to get a tool, a material item or something else that's needed for the process.
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