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Video: Animated industrial gate for a model railroad
very cool!!!
An interesting security element that I hadn’t thought of before. My layout has a couple of areas where the security should likely be stepped up. I think I would look for a more automated approach.
Thanx for that video.
Seems pretty tedious to control each gate half individually.
Fascinating. Looking at doing something similar to a gate across an interchange track. Slows down operations to a more realistic level, rather than seeing how fast everything can be done.
Maybe I missed something…I saw a demonstration of the gates, where is the description of how Lance built the gates?
Opening and closing the gates one at a time is really effective.
I have all Lance’s switching books and in them he shows unlocking and locking padlocks (on the fascia), not only to gain access to turnouts etc, but also to enhance the realism and lengthen the switching session on simple layouts.
I was a bit skeptical whether this would actually work, but seeing it in action on the swing gates has convinced me that it does and I will be using it myself.
(Incidentally, I have no connection with Lance Mindheim or his books but can thoroughly recommend them to any enthusiast considering a switching layout, or anybody who is interested in learning more about prototype switching operations and how to apply them in a model.) You will be inspired by his stunning layouts, too!
Great demo but was pulleys used or slow motion moters?
Lance describes building the gates in the April 2013 issue of Model Railroader magazine.
Nice job Lance! You’ve successfully simulated what happens at Big C lumber in Granger In when loads are delivered on the ole GT line. Very Cool!
Lance’s purpose, of course, is to encourage us not to rush thru operating sessions. He makes the same point in his books. For those less adept (or in my case, illness-hobbled) there are easier ways to follow Lance’s lead. If I can reach over to manually uncouple my Kadees, and reach over to manually switch the points on my Peco turnouts, then I can certainly open my gates one at a time with my finger. Thanks for the encouragement, Lance.
But I’ll miss that great padlocking and unlocking!
Lance is THE master at bringing prototype moves down to the modeler level, which, in turn, expands even a very modest switching layout into a very rewarding operating session. And, remarking on one question, I’ve never figured out myself how to open both gates at once. Watch any conductor in any industry. It’s one at a time!
lets go guys it says Lance Mindheim describes how to build an animated industrial gate where is the how to
Nicely done, old school by hand. Love it!
Well done. However, a video of how to put together the mechanics of building it would be ideal. What is in the article may not be clearly understood by those who are not good at putting stuff together.
Impressive! I was also paying close attention to the details scattered around the right of way as well. I have been paying more attention to the way operations happen in the rail yard at the industry where I work and there’s a lot that can take place to slow down the work we do in the model railroad world.
Lance’s work is beyond first rate, this neat idea yet another example.
The work of Lance is always a masterpiece.
But the way the gates are opened ?? In the real world someone manually opens the gates. As simple as that!
And don’t we try to imitate the real world the best we can ?
When I saw the article I wondered how realistic it would look. It does look very realistic
I have a set of manually operated crossing gates that are static at the moment and intend to animate, looking forward to the how to. http://www.flickr.com/photos/glennofootscray/5807508719/in/set-72157626906171736/
regards Glenn