Hi Guys, Thought Id Post This. These New Crossing Signals Are A Plus For D.C Users.
Heres A clip Of Them.
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-4454572480620452777&hl=en
Not Too Bad To Put In.
Carl.
How come it doesn’t come with sound!? LOL
But not bad really…very realistic flashing and protypical appearance.
I assume it’s in HO?
Very nice and the scenery looks great as well.
Very nice. How are they activated?
What do you use as your street markings? Are they painted?
what did you use for the roads?
Very nice but I’m not sure the overhead signal is appropriate for my era (1950s). When did railroads begin using the overhead type signals?
Is that HO or N?
Those are HO scale.
Crossing signals have nothing to do with whether you’re running your layout on DC or DCC – they require a separate controller module such as Grade Crossing Pro from Logic Rail Technologies, which doesn’t even connect to the track but does require a constant voltage supply.
The Scale is H.O. They are activated by Photo sencors in the track(4) of them that you have to install. the roads are made out of 030 Styrene and painted with a paint pen
Carl.
I have thought about setting up flashers with automatic detection. It seem rather simple for a single track line but it seems things could get complicated with a double track main and trains are approaching from each direction. What happens when one track detector indicates the train has already passed while another has already entered the block. I have one place where the road crosses mainline tracks and two spur tracks. Also, how far would you place the detectors from the crossing. My LHS has set up their display railroad with the detectors in pairs but their layout is a single track loop ant their train is always running clockwise. To be prototypical, the flasher should turn on well before the train crosses the road but turn off shortly after it has passed. How do you set up the detectors to do this when the train can be passing over them in either direction.
I haven’t installed one in a multi-track location (yet), but check out LogicRail’s explanation – they say their Grade Crossing Pro will handle it: http://home.houston.rr.com/lrt/gcp.htm
Looks great! I just got a Walthers E-mail about those. Price was pretty good too.
(You need to get your coupler height gauge out for a few of those cars. Sorry, I just notice stuff like that.)
The new Walthers newsletter states they are DC only & can be burned out if used on DCC. This does not make sense to me if the sensors are optical & not connected to track power. Any ideas on this?[?]
I think what Walthers means is that the LEDs must be powered by DC only and cannot be powered by a DCC system’s output. They are just LEDs, which require a DC power supply.
Those signals look very good indeed! However, I would like to see a version of these signals that go across two lanes (I believe Walthers has a two-lane version), has working gates, and possibly sound. I could probably use a set of gates wired to the same circuit as the lights to create simultaneous motion, and a repeating recording of a crossing signal to accomplish this. All the same, great looking signals, and a great looking layout!
-Brandon
When using photo cells it doesn’t matter how many main lines you have as long as one photo cell is covered by a train regardless of direction of travel the lights will remain flashing
When all the photo cells are uncovered the flashers will stop
i spaced mine 8 inches from the road on both sides
the flashers stop quicker than they start
the real variable is the speed of the loco
if its going way to fast the lights won’t start in time
Nice layout Carl
Why are the flashers on the left facing the wrong way ? Or are they double sided
Yes your right!. it states D.C only ,but y not just use a old D.C controller. for this on a DCC layout.having the sencers in the track should’nt interupt a DCC system i would think
The signals are double sided. and with a gate to lower by a switch machine and some kind of sound. i think you would have to do that yourself .as i see Walthers does not offer this unit yet! but give it some time im sure they will ,i thought of the sound and gates. when i was installing them that was a back breaker in it self for awhile [(-D]
Carl…
The Walthers Flasher?detector circuit used the polarity
The Walthers Flasher/Detector circuit used the polarity on the rails to determine which of the 2 sets of optic cells are in use and thus it determines the direction.
There is no easy way to use the Walthers circuit on DCC.
BOB H – Clarion, PA
They are nice I wonder if they wire up to anything like an IR detector by Berksire Junction has. I am starting to use the IRS since the layout is dark on the bottom and I like the lights dimmed on the top gives it a dusk feeling. and then blue light for night time.