Best N Scale Crossing Protection?

[jagged ben]

What is @ChrisKLAS using?

[John]

What is @ChrisKLAS using?

JMRI, block detectors, tortoise .. and looks like NJ

[PaulP]

My version of crossing gates

[ChrisKLAS]

JMRI, block detectors, tortoise .. and looks like NJ

That's correct, with LogicRail Technologies Grade Crossing Pros activated by JMRI based on Logix rules to power the lights/gates. The GCP boards are the only ones I'm aware of that have the "True Lamp" feature, which fades the lights in-and-out to simulate the fade of incandescent bulbs vs. modern LEDs. I also use ITT's bell module with some old, disused Sony HD home theater speakers (one per crossing) for the audio.

Setting up all the Logix rules for two crossings in this location was a lot of work. Not only did all of the near/far sensing blocks need to be merged back into single blocks using internal sensors for CTC purposes, but I wanted the crossings (especially the one at N Green St, which resides in the middle of the control point at Tehachapi) to behave prototypically when trains were approaching from either side with a stop signal between themselves and the crossing. More Logix rules came into play to eliminate activation in this case, yet still allow a protoypically early activation sequence when a train approaches on a permissive aspect. Lastly, I threw in a bunch of internal JMRI timers in the rare case that a train is approaching on a permissive aspect but stops short of the "close" sensing block. In that case, the gates will lower for 45-60 seconds before the system decides the train isn't going fast enough/has stopped and raises the gates again until it gets closer.

Bottom line is that it was a ton of work, but the results are tremendously rewarding.

Here's a recent  (basic) video of the SP's Bay Area-City of Industry (BACIT) intermodal train heading east through town with the crossing signals doing what crossing signals do.

[NorsemanJack]

Unfortunately that crossing set is clearly more of a toy than a scale model. But I wonder if the mechanism and the electronics can be used to animate more in-scale gates (like the NJ Int. ones).  But then there is the price which is rather steep to pay for something just to use its inner guts.

Toy, yes.  But toys can be a lot of fun for some of us!!   

[nscaler711]

Isnt everything we do in this hobby still classify us as boys playing with our toys?
They are still toys afterall, just toys for bigger kids...
I like to think i am still a kid at heart... just with adult responsibilities... like a job... and bills...

As for the Kato...
i have the japanese version, and it worked very well, that is until Catzilla attacked it... tore out the crossbucks and mangled the gates... but i still have the base... (im hoping the US version is the same) the gates can be removed and so can the signals, so you can have signals that are more correct, opposite sides of the road,
As for using the NJI signals on it, i believe the LEDs share a common ground. But i could be wrong...

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Ok!
It looks like NJI signals with LogicRail Technologies Grade Crossing Pros boards it'll be.

Although, I have a question about them. Because it's a complex crossing (on the level of Chris's from that awesome video), I'm thinking I may just make it a toggle switch.

[Philip H]

Absolutely nothing wrong with rolling old school. There's actually an added operational bonus - during an ops session you can walk by and randomly throw the toggle. The. The signal department has to send out a crew (complete with some of @ljudice's reall nice truck beds) for repairs. This holds the main and creates all sorts of havock.

[C855B]

Absolutely nothing wrong with rolling old school. There's actually an added operational bonus - during an ops session you can walk by and randomly throw the toggle. The. The signal department has to send out a crew (complete with some of @ljudice's reall nice truck beds) for repairs. This holds the main and creates all sorts of havock.

Oh, so cruel.    Memories of a time long ago when I was the one who got to walk the track looking for broken bonds, broken rail or - here's one for ya' - a piece of steel strapping broken off a lumber load bridging the points to a stock rail on the only turnout in the circuit. The toggle switch would also have to throw reds for the block... occupancy is occupancy, you know.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Absolutely nothing wrong with rolling old school. There's actually an added operational bonus - during an ops session you can walk by and randomly throw the toggle. The. The signal department has to send out a crew (complete with some of @ljudice's reall nice truck beds) for repairs. This holds the main and creates all sorts of havoc.

Oh, I love that...

[Philip H]

hell you could even add it as a module with a random number thingy in your Train Ops app.

[Missaberoad]

The CROR has Rule 103g for manually protecting defective crossings. I'm sure NORAC must have an equivalent and it would be pretty easy to adapt to a model railroad.

Absolutely nothing wrong with rolling old school. There's actually an added operational bonus - during an ops session you can walk by and randomly throw the toggle. The. The signal department has to send out a crew (complete with some of @ljudice's reall nice truck beds) for repairs. This holds the main and creates all sorts of havock.

Adding TOPs to a operating session (complete with it being a royal pain to track down the foreman) would be a good way to add interest. Not sure I've seen that done...

 

[OldEastRR]

LogicRail Technologies Grade Crossing Pros activated by JMRI based on Logix rules

Umm.. could I just get the board without all the Jamri Logunx electridoodads add-ons, or is that the only way it can be used to power the lights?

[jagged ben]

Umm.. could I just get the board without all the Jamri Logunx electridoodads add-ons, or is that the only way it can be used to power the lights?

Yes, you can.  You can just hook it to a switch if you want, like Ed said. 

[peteski]

Umm.. could I just get the board without all the Jamri Logunx electridoodads add-ons, or is that the only way it can be used to power the lights?

If all you need of to make the lights flash you can build your own flasher circuit for probably less than $5.