Please help me out (pics as well) on how railroads keep unwanted visitors out of their Right of Way at Grade crossings in urban areas… both residential and industrial.
I 've seen a cattle grid type arrangement in Walthers Catalogue but don’t recall ever seeing/noticing what’s done in towns… I have a mental picture of the scene early in “Birs on a Wire” where a loco comes though behind a speeder…
But my plans have just developed and having never bought working crossbucks becasue “I’m not going to need them”… guess what…?
Any recomendations on good crossing barriers…working + flashing please?
Regarding the crossing barriers, Kato have a working crossing in N scale (complete with lights, bell sound effect, barriers that raise/lower) but it’s pretty expensive. I’ve seen convincing efforts in HO using memory wire (this is very neat stuff - it contracts when you pass a low voltage current through it making it ideal for this sort of thing) and a commercial set of barriers (they had to replace the plastic pivots with a bit of metal rod to prevent problems with wear, bending, etc). Hope this is of use!
KG1960…and it’s CNW!!! Lot’s more please… but what I’m really looking for is views that how the formation (track/trackbed) both of the crossing and the track immediately each side of the road.
Railroading Brit… Oops… should have said “H0”. Do you know what the commercial barriers were? Where are you?
RCMPMan… will take a look at that
THANKS all
ANY EXAMPLES OF BARRIERS IN TOWNS / URBAN AREAS PLEASE?
When I was working at the LHS for a part time job back in the 90’s. On of the Regulars who always came in on Friday Nights at the same time each week. He scratched a “Working” H.O. scale Crossing with the Flasing lights, Dropping Arm and the whole works… Man I wished I had his Talents! He used that Memory wire in the process.
Kevin
In Red Bank N.J., at the New Jersey Transit station, they have two sets of arms, one set for cars, and a smaller set to block pedestrians from crossing the tracks. Let me see if I can find a picture.
David, I’m in the UK but the magazine article was either French or German - I’d guess you could adapt any barrier kit to do this though. They rigged up a simple crank assembly under the board using brass wire/rod to turn the horizontal movement of the memory wire into a vertical movement of the barrier - it looked a little like a model aeroplane control system. Hope this is of use!
If I understand your question correctly, you’re asking how railroads prevent pedestrians from wandering onto and along the right-of-way when the crossing is not occupied by a train. As far as I know, North American railroads don’t do much except put up a “No Trespassing” sign and hope for the best. At least, I’ve never seen anything more than that. I remember the old-fashioned crossing gates in the UK which were full barricades, (they really were gates, like farm gates) and once the train had passed would swing back and block the tracks, physically preventing access to the right-of-way.
Of course, some people can’t be kept off the right-of-way even when a train is occupying the crossing. Just down the road from where I live, CN crosses a busy road that provides access to the harbour ferry. If a train stops in the crossing for more than a few seconds when people are in a hurry to get home, you can bet that pedestrians will start climbing over it. I’ve seen women in high-heeled shoes try to climb over a snow-covered flat car. Sometimes the train moves and then they never get home.
Unlike England, most US railroad right of way is not fenced, not even in urban areas. There has been an increase in fencing since 9/11, however.
Third rail passenger lines (like BART in the San Francisco area) are fenced, but they don’t have any grade crossings.
I have seen fenced railroad R/W in areas that are “open range” to keep free roaming livestock off the tracks. There were cattle guards across the tracks at grade crossings.
Dayliner… you’ve got it right… and you aren’t off topic. The thought of people crossing trains is horrific…
Anyone got more info please?
In particular… I’m looking for a grade crossing where the road crosses the track in an area with commercial property on one side and industry on the other… so it will have exactly that sort of harbour situation… people croosing to/from work and going to the shops… including cafes/diners…
There is nothing specific you need to model the crossing. Just put whatever you want on either side, there’s prototype for it somewhere. Most grade crossing don’t even have a “No Tresspassing” sign. Many urban areas don’t have gates, just flashing lights.
tomar industries makes a grade crossing HO #H-863
$149.95
HO SCALE RR CROSSING SIGNAL W/GATE
four LED,s 2-front,2-back
gates powered by Tortouis switch machine.
Switch machine & linkage included
(flasher & detection units not included)
red/white and black/white decals for gate. http://www.tomarindustries.com/signals.htm
On busy lines like the BNSF Racetrack over in the Chicago area, there are many spots where just sidewalks cross the tracks. When a train comes, a singal gate with flashing lights and bells comes down. Same principle as a road crossing.
In my town only a couple crossings have barriers that come down blocking the road and side walk at the same time. Most just have the flashing lights. I could take some pictures if you want and send them to you.
Lot’s more please… but what I’m really looking for is views that how the formation (track/trackbed) both of the crossing and the track immediately each side of the road.