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Installing Motorised Level Crossing Gates at Chadwick Model Railway | 289.

Chadwick Model Railway

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This time we look at adding motorised level crossing gates. It brings a whole new aspect of automation, and looks absolutely brilliant. It’s a relatively simple installation which perhaps you might like to install on your model railway or diorama.

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20 Comments

@williamj3843 7 days ago Pinned

Nice job on those gates. It makes sense to me that you would delay closing the exit gates for long enough that a car would not be blocked in if it just cleared the entry gate.

To verify the squareness of the gate pattern you can measure across the diagonal corners and then tweak until they match.

@philiphillebrand2965 14 hours ago

Another great video, Charlie. One of the reasons I think that your videos are the best is that you are happy to show when things don't quite go according to plan. We all learn very valuable lessons. I am planning on installing gates on my friend David's layout that I am building for him. I have started to think about the installation of what I need to do, but your video has given me some more "depth of thought" to the whole process. So thank you. As you said in the opening introduction, it is all about sharing ideas and experiences; we can all learn from one another. Regards
Phil.

@philiphillebrand2965 14 hours ago

One thing that you could do when trying to lay out the position of the holes for the gates is to use a drawing compass, laying out the position of the holes using arcs to plot the position of the holes. (Secondary school geometry is what we need to revisit.)
You would start by drawing a line across the two tracks as a starting point for plotting the position of the required holes. Then, using the drawing compass, set first the length of the two gates, then set the compass to the length of the individual gates, scribing arcs to locate the position of the holes.
It is not something that is easy to describe in words; it is much easier to demonstrate, but of course I cannot do that.
Regards
Phil.

@neiloflongbeck5705 8 days ago

Old age is better than the alternative. My grandfather was 80 and one his his younger grandchild said they didn’t want to be that old, he just smiled when you get to 79 you'll want to be 80.

@Wilayaat 5 days ago

First time watching one of your excellent videos in nigh on three years and it's reminded me of how great they are and how fantastic your layout is.

In May 2024 our house was hit by lightning which in turn led to a fire in the loft conversion. We all escaped unscathed but my 8 x 12 layout which I'd spent about a year building was totally destroyed. My family and friends were far more distraught about it than me, I was just thankful that none of us were hurt as it could've been far worse.

Since then I just lost the heart to even think about it model railways again. However, lately the thought of starting again has crept into my thinking and no doubt your fantastic content might well be the catalyst I need.

@henryfulker3103 6 days ago

Lovely video charlie ,patience very much required for the gates ,keep em coming buddy ,you g9tta love chadwick railway

@philh9421 5 days ago

Nice work Charlie. These details are what make a layout 👌

@SuperRobertwillis 4 days ago

Nice one Charlie enjoyed that thank you and the gates open first to stop the traffic. I'm old enough two remember this where I live it was steam trains my favourite locomotives 😂😂😂😂❤

@steverockey7125 7 days ago

If I'm as active, intelligent and knowledgeable as you are when I'm in my 70's (hoping I get that far), I will think myself very lucky. Thanks for all your wonderful videos. Please do take care.

@TheJazzhound 7 days ago

Hi Charlie, I’m a mainline driver as I’ve mentioned in the past.
You wouldn’t have a los signal as nothing could pass that so nothing would be able to get out past it.
You need to have a have a ground signal to get out of the oil siding (and as I’ve mentioned previously you need to install a trap point or dead end spur beyond it to prevent a movement fouling the main line if the ground signal were to be inadvertently passed at danger).
The position light signals allow a driver to proceed cautiously to the next stop signal (either ground or main aspect) so any movement out of the oil siding is clear to your next stop signal, the one out the tmd and when that is cleared, presumably the next signal is a main aspect one on the main line (round the bend) which allows access to the through line through the station or the passenger loop for the platform. This would be held at danger for this movement. The driver just proceeds then stops with the rear of the loco ahead of a ground signal positioned in the opposite direction for the reverse move. He doesn’t need to go as far as the next main aspect but just far enoughto clear the ground signal that controls the reverse movement (back into the tmd) this he will know through his route knowledge so no briefing required.
One final point, this ground signal (for the reversing move) will always be off for a train proceeding on the reversing loop under main aspects from the station as it is preceded by a main aspect and you can’t go from a main aspect to a ground signal. It could be at danger for a train proceeding on position lights from the station heading for either the tmd or oil sidings.
I hope this makes sense. By all means get in touch if it doesn’t. 😎

@gavintheurquhart 8 hours ago

Excellent video. Thank you. Hope I can get to meet you at GETS. Appreciate the detail on your process.

@PETERGOOD-x9w 5 days ago

Excellent as always Charlie

@oddroutes 8 days ago

Uploads from Charlie make my day

@christhorp8410 6 days ago

You are so right about the coaches. Someone with no idea about the formation of rakes must have decided this. They have perpetuated the problem with their latest batch, now in blue and grey.

@DavidParry-m3u 6 days ago

Thanks for another enjoyable video. I can really relate to your 'admission of foolishness', as these are a regular occurrence in my model world! Best wishes David

@TheNizzer 5 days ago

Usual excellent video Charlie. Thanks.
As others have pointed out check the diagonals are equal for a rectangle. If you want a square check they cross at right angles as well. Maths has its uses! Particularly geometry.

@philiphillebrand2965 15 hours ago

G'day Charlie. My answer to your "Signal question"; I would suggest that you install a curved point between the main line and the point that separates the tracks to the TMD and oil sidings. That way, you would create a head shunt for movements within the TMD area. This head shunt would probably eliminate the need for the catch point in the TMD area, as the crossover between the Head shunt and the mainline is now the control point for trains entering the mainline from the TMD area. Yes, you would have to pull up the track, and relay the track and install another point motor, etc, etc. Regards Phil. (Down under in Victoria, Australia.)

@120ingram 7 days ago

I agree with your comments about old age. Youngsters should be encouraged not to age.;)

@ApolloSmits 7 days ago

It's a Charlie Friday! Great job with the gates, and what an amazing time to be in this hobby when you can just get a DCC servo controller, spend a few hours installing and programming, and make working gates. In the late 70s crossing gates needed the weight of the loco to close......

@collettjw 6 days ago

Hello Charlie. I’m liking the motorised crossing gates but just an operational lesson for you :
The gates will normally remain CLOSED to road traffic and only open to the depot access road when there is traffic to cross. The operation would be : vehicle approaches crossing at stops; driver contacts signaller via crossing telephone. Signaller checks what rail traffic is around then sets protecting signals (both ways) to danger. He then open the gates remotely. Vehicle(s) cross then driver phones back other could be cctv linked back to the signal box) and gates are closed to road traffic and signals return to green.
Please also note that, for the signal protecting the crossing to be capable of red, the preceding signal will be a two aspect “distant” colour light (capable of yellow and green aspects only). The crossing (section) signal will also be two aspect, red and green.

Hope this helps & keep the vids coming!