A level crossing

[Martino]

I’ve built my first level crossing. I wanted something that would withstand weather, it being humid and damp here, with additional high temperatures, as well as withstanding the chewing of a young Collie. So decided to build in brass, soldered up. As I’ve never done any soldering except soldering wires, this was a learning experience! The gates are brass and they don’t open, that was never the intention. The roadway is wood, made of supposedly weather resistant stuff liberally soaked in WaterSeal. Previous use of this has stood up well over some years.

Here it is installed temporarily and awaiting the ballasting of the track either side and creation of the road.
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[royale]

Nicely done -- a good addition to your railway.

 

[Paradise]

Looks real nice. The brass construction will stop the young collie's chewing.
I'm only familiar with gates that swing across the track. Yours must theoretically go the other way. The grills to stop straying animal is a nice touch.
Now you just need a rickety old shack for the rickety old lady in overalls to sit in between trains.

 

[Madman]

Looks like what I saw when visiting Didcot Railway Center.....

 

[Martino]

Looks real nice. The brass construction will stop the young collie's chewing.
I'm only familiar with gates that swing across the track. Yours must theoretically go the other way. The grills to stop straying animal is a nice touch.
Now you just need a rickety old shack for the rickety old lady in overalls to sit in between trains.

Yes, I originally was going to create an ‘occupation’ crossing but the project just grew. It was going to be in a much smaller place, so I used artistic license with the way the gates swung. If I were doing it again I have a wider crossing and probably get the gates to actually open. C’est la vie! Next time. We’ll see how long the cattle grid survives. Although I was aware of them in 1:1 railways, I got the inspiration from John Robinson in New Zealand - who is of this parish.

In theory the crossing is controlled by the signal box at East Burnham Station just a bit down the line. The old lady has other tasks at the Station, making the tea.

 

[Martino]

Looks like what I saw when visiting Didcot Railway Center.....

My heart is with the GWR, and I was a member of the Great Western Society Back in the ‘60s at Taplow, before we moved to Didcot.

 

[Sarah Winfield]

Who am I to comment? But lengths of diagonal wire (or white plastic) from corner to corner is quite usual as a way of supporting the gate when being opened and closed.

Hope you don't mind my observation.

Sarah Winfield

 

[ge_rik]

Nice addition to your railway, Martino. Another way to get some bracing (if you want to go to the trouble) is to extend the gate post upwards and add a truss wire.

Source: http://ukrailways1970tilltoday.me.uk/Stamford_to_Helpston_signal_boxes_Uffington.html

Rik

 

[Paradise]

In theory the crossing is controlled by the signal box at East Burnham Station just a bit down the line. The old lady has other tasks at the Station, making the tea.

Yes, they could be automated ones, therefor no shack. On the metropolitan electric lines here in Melbourne, Australia they still had a few manually operated gates only 20 years or so back. Seems strangely antiquated. They are now doing tunnels and flyovers trying to get rid of level crossings in general. The metro trains are up in the air or under the ground half the time.

 

[playmofire]

A nice piece of work and it looks just the job. As for opening away fro the track, there is a prototype for pretty well everything somewhere.

 

[mike]

A cracking job.. nicely done

 

[Martino]

Ballasting done from East Burnham Station, past the level crossing and onward towards Datchet. Just hope the glue dries before the forecast tropical storm arrives over the weekend! (Also preparing for the attack of the giant flamingos;-). )
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[Paul M]

Yes, they could be automated ones, therefor no shack. On the metropolitan electric lines here in Melbourne, Australia they still had a few manually operated gates only 20 years or so back. Seems strangely antiquated. They are now doing tunnels and flyovers trying to get rid of level crossings in general. The metro trains are up in the air or under the ground half the time.

We still have manual gates here, even on main lines

 

[PhilP]

We still have manual gates here, even on main lines

'Quaint' isn't it?

 

[ge_rik]

Ballast is looking good, Martino. Not sure I like the look on the faces of those flamingos, though.

Rik

 

[Paul M]

Ballast is looking good, Martino. Not sure I like the look on the faces of those flamingos, though.

Rik

Definitely be careful of flamingos

 

[Chris Vernell]

Definitely be careful of flamingos

Indeed, they are descended from killers . Just look at that savage hooked beak and those beady eyes .
RUN AWAY!

 

[Martino]

I think you’re OK unless you’re a shrimp.

 

[PhilP]

I think you’re OK unless you’re a shrimp.

Unless someone say's 'Cocktails!'

 

[Martino]

Unless someone say's 'Cocktails!'

...or ‘bacon wrapped, grilled’.