nicebutdim
Registered
Hi everyone. After several near misses the Egham Hill Railway wanted improvements made to the main level crossing. Complaints had been received that the level crossing's mechanical operation didn't give any warning of an approaching train, with the gates only dropping while a train was on the crossing and when they did go up the clearance was terrible. So, in January plan were drawn up to rebuild the crossing with lights and electrically operated gates that give plenty of warning. After searching the net I found some excellent circuit diagrams with the warning lights here http://www.newrailwaymodellers.co.uk/railway_crossing.htm < Link To How to Build a Model Railway Crossing, suitable timer circuits and a servo controller board from here http://www.heathcote-electronics.co.uk/ServCont.htm < Link To Servo Motor Controller. All I can say is thank goodness 555 timers are available in bulk from eBay. The lights are a little dim at the moment, when testing indoors they seemed a lot brighter than getting them outside in daylight. In fact they're so dim you can barely see them on the video, but they are timed so the amber warning comes on, then shortly after the red lights flash the gates lower. The base and gates are the original LGB parts, although the gates have been changed to close UK style. Hope the video works.... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=efLjB9-8rDc&feature=plcp < Link To http://www.youtube.com/wa...-8rDc&feature=plcp
Tim
Tim
Waterproofing was a bit tough, especially the servos. It is possible to buy ready sealed servos but they are a tad expensive, plus I had some standard ones laying about. They were stripped and all joints glued and plenty of plastic safe grease packed around the spindle.
