Road/Rail crossings

Knowing one's limits is essential to preserve what little sanity I have remaining, especially as I dive deeper into squeezing small pieces of plastic into shapes really too small for my printer, however, nothing ventured ...

Jim

 

Thanks Jim

 

Sol,

With 8 Arduinos controlling my turnouts via cheap servos, and 2 more Arduinos for DCC-EX, I can tell you that the hardest part is positioning the servos to drive the gates. One Arduino ($20 max), 2 servos ($10), a couple of LEDs ($2) and some wiring ($3) should cost all up no more than $35. But scenery is definitely a lot easier and cheaper.

David

 

Sol, does that mean you're going to remove the crossing gates? Makes it even easier.

Andy, what you described is just what Geoff Bunza did in the link I posted (#16).

David

 

Hi Sol, an un-gated crossing in a town is very unlikely IMO.
Simplest solution, leave the barriers/gates closed, afterall, even when they are open the vehicles do not move, they have been abandoned, no one in them

Jim

 

But that is a single track line which appears to be recent times in the middle of no-where very unlike yours, never mind, Rule 1 applies.

Jim

 

Still countryside though, not in a UK town, just saying, it's your call though.

An option I thought of was that it could be a UK gated crossing, but road closed while workmen repaired/replaced a damaged gate with the aid of a crane to lift on and off a lorry.
That way you have UK town style but a reason for the gates to be out of use 'temporarily'

Jim

 

Hello All, re prototype level crossings, flashing lights, et al.These comments are of general applicability, doubtless there are exceptions !
1 / the familiar cross buck design, as depicted above, originated in the USA around the late 1920s, and has subsequently pretty much become a global standard (albeit with variations on the basic theme).
2 / Industrial lines / Goods lines / Long sidings for many years lacked signage at all, or perhaps had a Yellow diamond road warning sign indicating an ungated level crossing, and the presence of a train was usually indicated by a Flagman holding a Red Flag or Light. As the road traffic density was low, road traffic speed was low, and train speed was also low, this worked reasonably well for many decades.
3 / However, by the late 1960s onwards, road traffic density, and actual road speeds increased, train movements over Goods Only lines declined partially due to declining traffic, partially due to longer train, and therefore fewer, trains), and these Level Crossings then became an increasing safety hazard.
Hence, the introduction of Cross Bucks (with additional - Tracks signage, if multiple railway lines were present) to indicate a level Crossing, with the road also being equipped with Diamond Yellow Level Crossing Warning* signs on the road approach.
4 / Later on, Stop, or Give Way, road signs were added below the cross buck. If road traffic was considered intense, or near constant, then Flashing Lights may be substituted for the previous Stop, or Give Way, road sign.
In some locations (VR Ararat, Westall, and many others in Victoria, Australia) were equipped with Shunter Operated Key Switches to initiate the Flashing Lights.
5 / originally, Boom barriers, at least outside the UK were only used on heavily trafficked, or arterial roads, or multi lane highways, though increasing road traffic has meant that Boom Barriers are increasingly the norm (not so in the 1970s ! ) In this case, Boom Barriers are normally a Half Barrier obstructing the entrance to the Level Crossing only, allowing for motor vehicles on the Level Crossing to continue to Exit if the Boom Barriers are initiated.
6 / Most jurisdictions also have "Stop on Red Lights", and "Keep Crossing Clear" signage, as well as Road Markings, and usually side fences, sometimes also with Chevrons and / or "Railway Crossing" boars on the side fences.
Some places even have Pedestrian Zig Zags, Pedestrian Boom Gates (Australian Capital Metropolitan areas) as an added safety feature.
7 / As some people have previously commented, North America seems to regard anything beyond a Cross Buck, with or without flashing lights, or Boom Barriers, as an unnecessary waste of money !
8 / * yes, I am aware that British pre and post 1965 signage did not use Yellow Diamonds, but the principal is the same.
9 / Closure, even temporary, of a public roadway is generally not permitted, and usually requires advance public notification, or road protection, these days now usually supplied by the local Police.
10/ The British idea of using a Flashing Yellow Warning Light, as well as a pair of Flashing Red Lights is pretty much unique to the UK. In my opinion it does make Level Crossing circuitry needlessly complex (and it is complex enough without the additional Yellow Light) for little marginal benefit. If anything, it encourages drivers to accelerate toward the crossing, instead of stopping, which presumably is not the intention !
11 / In most sensible places (again excluding the USA), the time between initiation of the Flashing Lights, the Booms coming down if present, and the train entering the crossing, is about 30 seconds, give or take. Flashing Light Crossings which normally enable a wait period exceeding 60 seconds prior to train arrival is inherently bad practice, as many vehicle drivers will (wrongly) assume the Barriers are defective, and drive around them. That is the very reason why the 60 second wait time was reduced to 30 seconds.
Regards to all, Echidna.