When was the first automatic crossing gate used? If it was in the 40’s or early 50’s, where can I purchase HO scale models? Reference source please>
It appears that the earliest gates were more than warning devices , they were really barriers to prevent anything from getting in front of a high speed train . I have seen pics of such barriers from the 1911-1930 era on interurbans that were effective barriers. The light weight interurbans favored this system as a grade crossing accident at 90 mph had severe consequences for the train as well as the auto.
Randy
I do not know when automatic gates first appeared – but they were a common accessory for toy train sets from the 30’s, so they must have been used on the full scale RR’s before then.
dd
im not sure if it the earliest but the california Pacific Electric used wigwags starting about 1909, I believe they were invented by a MR. Albert Hunt a signal man for the PE, so yes they were in use very early on, Im still looking for refernece material.
Wig-Wags are not crossing gates. Wig-Wags can have crossing gates, but I have never seen them that way.