Another Custom Grade Crossing Signal

[Sokramiketes]

The phono jack idea is ingenious...  I can see using that for street lights in an urban scene.  Not only do you get a solid electrical connection, but a very solid mechanical base.  What a concept for a multi-era layout... being able to switch out old time gas lights for modern goose necks!

You better patent that one, Dave...

Lee

Thanks! I have used them for streetlights, telephone poles, working crossing arms, lighted vehicles, even a crossing shanty--pretty much anything that might be prone to damage during cleaning or maintenance. I wanted to use them for stoplights, too, but they required too many circuits. But I'm thinking next time I make stoplights, I'm going to see if I can modify a stereo mini to carry extra circuits. I've recently come across a source for 2:1 shrink wrap tubing that is .008" diameter pre-shrink; this sort of thing always gets the gears turning.

IC Chip sockets work well for multiple circuits, like signals.  On the modular layout, we don't want to leave expensive signals on the modules during transport, so the signal is installed on top of a chip, which can then be detailed with the signal foundation and some scenery.  A chip socket is installed in the scenery base.  The connection is loose enough so that if someone bumps into a signal, or catches one on a sleeve, the signal will just pop out before it bends.  That's something you might not benefit from with the phono jacks. 



Here's one with the 'chip' just painted to look like concrete (handiest photo) others have ground foam, ballast, or brick pavers applied as appropriate.  Warning, HO photo.

[wm3798]

That looks like a very workable solution...  Anyone monkeying with the Atlas signal system?  How do they mount?
Lee

[DKS]

The phono jack idea is ingenious...  I can see using that for street lights in an urban scene.  Not only do you get a solid electrical connection, but a very solid mechanical base.  What a concept for a multi-era layout... being able to switch out old time gas lights for modern goose necks!

You better patent that one, Dave...

Lee

Thanks! I have used them for streetlights, telephone poles, working crossing arms, lighted vehicles, even a crossing shanty--pretty much anything that might be prone to damage during cleaning or maintenance. I wanted to use them for stoplights, too, but they required too many circuits. But I'm thinking next time I make stoplights, I'm going to see if I can modify a stereo mini to carry extra circuits. I've recently come across a source for 2:1 shrink wrap tubing that is .008" diameter pre-shrink; this sort of thing always gets the gears turning.

IC Chip sockets work well for multiple circuits, like signals.  On the modular layout, we don't want to leave expensive signals on the modules during transport, so the signal is installed on top of a chip, which can then be detailed with the signal foundation and some scenery.  A chip socket is installed in the scenery base.  The connection is loose enough so that if someone bumps into a signal, or catches one on a sleeve, the signal will just pop out before it bends.  That's something you might not benefit from with the phono jacks. 

Only trouble is, the base of an N scale traffic signal is in the neighborhood of 0.15 inches. That's not even enough space for two pins. Even micro-connectors (2X density of IC sockets) are much too large. Off-the-shelf nano-connectors (4X density of IC sockets) get closer to what's needed. I'll probably have to scrounge for parts, especially as I'm headed towards having to make Z scale traffic lights. I'm looking at internal connectors used in cell phones and digital cameras, for instance, stuff that didn't exist when I built the WR&N a decade ago.

[Ian MacMillan]

Ok here is that crossing I was talking about. It is missing the left signal facing me. It was knocked down by the snowplow in Feb. The one on the right was knocked down by a car sliding down the hill in December and has already been replaced.


I also included a shot of another crossing on a bad curve in Wakefield.  This one also has advanced warning signals about 1/4mile before the crossing that have yellow lights instead of red.

[tehachapifan]

Ian-

Thanks fort posting those!

The signal on the right on the top photo sure looks a lot like mine. ;D

The advanced (yellow-lensed) warning signals you mentioned in the crossing shown in the lower photo....are those flashing all the time or just when the crossing is activated? Are they set up on a crossbuck or is it just a standard warning sign of some type?

Thanks!

Russ

[Ian MacMillan]

Ian-

Thanks fort posting those!

The signal on the right on the top photo sure looks a lot like mine. ;D

The advanced (yellow-lensed) warning signals you mentioned in the crossing shown in the lower photo....are those flashing all the time or just when the crossing is activated? Are they set up on a crossbuck or is it just a standard warning sign of some type?

Thanks!

Russ

The advanced warning signals are tripped by the main crossing circuit.  They have the yellow circle RR sign instead of the crossbucks. I think I have a photo of one around here somewhere.

[DKS]

Ian-

Thanks fort posting those!

The signal on the right on the top photo sure looks a lot like mine. ;D

The advanced (yellow-lensed) warning signals you mentioned in the crossing shown in the lower photo....are those flashing all the time or just when the crossing is activated? Are they set up on a crossbuck or is it just a standard warning sign of some type?

Thanks!

Russ

The advanced warning signals are tripped by the main crossing circuit.  They have the yellow circle RR sign instead of the crossbucks. I think I have a photo of one around here somewhere.

I think this one is kind of redundant--they put this signal right at the crossing. No idea why--the road is straight and flat. Notice the odd angle of the signals that face opposing traffic, to the far right.

[img width= height=]http://lh6.ggpht.com/dks2855/R2KQ0vwJMsI/AAAAAAAAAxs/6Kb-WrOE7kg/s800/IMG_1607.JPG[/img]

[Ed Kapuscinski]

I think it's as one more deterrent to running the lights.

[Greyryder]

You would think that the potential for a horrifically gruesome death would be deterent enough.

[sirenwerks]

You would think that the potential for a horrifically gruesome death would be deterent enough.

But drivers think they're actually pedestrians, not another part of the traffic, when it comes to RR tracks, and that they have ROW and the train will stop for them. It's so asinine.