Help needed with MTH crossing gate

Depends on speed of trains. If no more  than 30 scale miles per hour  36 to45 inches..

Well, I run only conventional, so I don't know how I could judge the speed.

Still depends on speed the faster you go the more room you need . The gates are slow to move not bounceie like the old ones...

You are much better off using the insulated rail method and a relay shown here.The gates will stay down whenever the block is occupied.

www.jcstudiosinc.com/BlogShowT...=410&categoryId=

Dale H

Thanks for the diagrams. I know I should probably go that way, but I only have a small layout using FastTrack which I have all fastened down. My grandson is coming to visit tomorrow and I don't have time to tear up track and add insulated sections. I guess I will use the ITADs and just place them as far away from the crossing as I can. I have sat for a long time at a real crossing gate just waiting for a train to eventually come by, so perhaps I will be adding realism to my layout. Whouda thunk?

Rick

See how many seconds it takes for your gates to lower.  Run your train past the grade crossing at whatever speed you normally operate it.  See how far from the grade crossing your train gets in that same ammount of time.  That will be how far away to place your detection device.