Automated RR/slotcar crossing Part 1

I'm finally making some progress on automating my slotcar/railroad crossing. Please keep in mind the gates will be hooked to slow motion actuators, so this accounts for the delay in the van starting up. It also is the reason why it stops way before the train comes. The photo sensors are tricky to place correctly, and a stable light source is critical for reliable operation. I still need to adjust their position a bit, but I can't until a few more parts are purchased to get the gates moving, Until I get them, I can't make any other adjustments. Thanks, Joe

Category:

People & Blogs

Tags:

• Tjet
• Aurora
• railroad
• crossing
• slotcar
• HO
• scale
• RR

[slotcarman12078]

To add to that response... I had the power feeds to each track split at the control panel as seen ahead of the Pizza Hut. There were 4 SPDT switches, and 4 100 Ohm potentiometers, one for each lane. I could run 4 slot cars on cruise control via the pots, or switch each lane to run by controllers. This allowed the kids to race ( usually last man standing) or after they went to sleep run the whole thing myself with the slots as moving scenery. I had a bunch of HO slots lit up for night running.

[JasonPutt]

How you stopping car? Way back in day 20 some years ago when I ran movable flat track setups, when you could get rr/slot crossing anywhere, I would run wire from one side crossing to other then have section slot track on crossing with its own power and use pressure switch to break circuit to slot crossing, you using similar or you found better way?

[slotcarman12078]

@JasonPutt I had a circutron crossing gate set up to animate the gates. The set up drove 2 tortoise switch machines. One handled the gates, once I got them hooked up, and the other moved a magnet back and forth. The slot track at the crossing plus one section on either side of it were isolated from the rest of the track. Those 3 sections of isolated track were wired to the transformers directly, and the circuit was controlled by 4 reed switches.

[slotcarman12078]

Ok. I don't get on here often, but I will try try answer as many Q's as I can. The crossing gates did finally get addressed, and about 2 months later the whole table got torn down. The engines pulling the freight cars are Bachmann, the ones pulling the passenger cars are MRC. The crossing was made from 2 9" lock and joiner straights. I milled the grooves by hand and laid in the tracks. I do plan on another table, but my space is severely limited. I'm also switching to Tomy track next time.

[Trolleymoose]

Yeah, what am I to see here? A slot car stopping for a train? That's it?

[slotcarman12078]

@Trolleymoose Yes and no. You're seeing a slot car stopping itself for a train. When it was all running right, there were 4 cars (4 lanes) stopping themselves when the train was coming. You also missed the fact that the van has head and tail lights... LOL

[JetHawk]

I'd love to try outrunning the train. Have you had your slotcar hit by the train?

[hobbeekid]

LOL!!! how cute!!

[suranareekk]

very nice!



[MrJavierrocker]

aaaah=( yo queria que chocara

[ROCKDOG5732]

All I have to say is this is one hell of a layout. Its the best of both worlds. For the auto and railfan this is one jam packed action layout. Great Job! I give 10 thumbs up but I only have two, lol.

[jeepers2655]

had a crossing like that on my set,used to run into the train.....LOL

[train1516]

that is actually cool where did u get that car track and the car?