Another Grade Crossing Installation

[trailrider]

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.

View attachment 160132

Another corollary to USAF Capt. Murphy's basic Law! (Yes, there really was a Capt. Murphy who coined the original Law. Assistant to LTC John Paul Stapp, The Man Who Rode the Rocket Sleds.)

 

[santafewillie]

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.

That is correct, DC only.

 

[D&J RailRoad]

The Logic Rails has emitters on hand. I placed an order for a couple of them yesterday.
I'll resume work on the grade crossing today.

 

[D&J RailRoad]

Work on this system is slow and tedious.
For every solder point, it seems I have to undo it a couple times because I miss something or think of a better way.

 

[D&J RailRoad]

Still movin kinda slow on this.
I got an emitter and a sensor installed today. Haven't tested it yet. I guess I'm just enthusiastic about finding what I need to do over. Only 11 more emitter/sensor sets to install.

 

[santafewillie]

Still movin kinda slow on this.
I got an emitter and a sensor installed today. Haven't tested it yet. I guess I'm just enthusiastic about finding what I need to do over. Only 11 more emitter/sensor sets to install.

The pace will pick up on #9!

 

[D&J RailRoad]

Got the replacement emitter in the mail yesterday. Had other stuff to deal with and just didn't have the gumption to do the aerobics necessary to do the wiring.
Got another set of emitter/detector installed this evening. 10 to go.

 

[rgeiter]

I used pre-mixed light weight patching plaster for my roads, parking lots and grade crossings. It works really well. Used double sided tape to form the edges.

 

[D&J RailRoad]

Two more sets of the detectors installed today. Just 8 to go.
I'll power up the main board tomorrow and adjust the gate servo then install the bell module.

 

[D&J RailRoad]

Powered up the board today and tested all the sensors. Worked as programmed.
Linking the servo motors to the gate arm is a major issue. I've had to relocate the servo for the back gate three times no so it has the right amount of crosswise pull on the gate to bring up it all the way.
Reaching into the space is very difficult too. The distance is right between the vision of my bifocals. Either one makes the servo blurry and trying to pin the control wire through the servo arm is almost probing in the dark.
My back is kinda sore now with the contortions. I have to go get a steroid shot in the lower spine tomorrow. Hopefully I'll be good by Saturday to do some more work.