Wire Lionel mainline gate crossing to Fastrack using 2 transformers

The accessory activator pack is made up of 3 pieces of track. The 2 isolated sections are the smaller pieces with the breaks or gaps between one of the outer rails. The insulated section is the larger 10 inch piece that has the tie between the 2 outer rails removed. This insulated section will have 2 wires that are attached underneath; one to the center (power) rail and one to the insulated side of the outer (common) rails.

Since you will be using a separate transformer to supply power to your accessory, the wire with the red connector is not needed. Their instructions say that you should use it to attach your power supply common (U terminal) to an outside rail. That's just one of the ways that you can connect the commons of the 2 transformers together.

If you have the 2 transformers near each other, it's best to make the common connection right there. Connect the black terminal of the Powermax to the black terminal of the CW-80 (the one going to the track, not the auxiliary terminal).

The other wire from your insulated rail section will go to the YELLOW wire of the crossing gate. The RED wire goes to your accessory power (A terminal -- Powermax RED). The BLACK wire goes to your accessory power common (U terminal -- Powermax BLACK).

Thank you sir!  Problem solved & works like a champ.  Your assistance has been appreciated!

My grandson has a starter Pennsylvania Flyer Lionel starter set and just bought the Mainline Auto Crossing Gate 71-4098-250 and the 3 piece accessory activator pack. Can he run the gates without having a separate transformer - just using the power pack that comes with the set. If so what do the two wires from the activator pack connect to? Thanks for your help.

David, there are a few of variables based on your description.  First is the Pennsylvania Flyer set.  It was available in 2013 with a transformer and later repackaged in 2017 with a power pack, bluetooth, and Lionchief controller.  Which one do you have?

The Mainline Auto Crossing Gate came in 3 wire and 5 wire versions.  Which one and how many do you have?

The Fastrack Activator Pack comes in 2 wire and also plug and play version (modular plug in side of track with LED).  Which one do you have?

Thanks for getting back to me. This is a new kit bought a month ago. It has a power pack and LionChief controller. The automatic crossing gate is the three wire version. The activator is the two wire version.

I was able to get it to work by connecting the red wire from the gate to the wire connected to the center rail and the yellow wire from the gate to the isolated rail. I ended up soldering a wire to the tab of the outside rail under the track outside/before the isolated section to provide power to raise the gate after the train leaves the isolated section.

Ot seems to to work fine   (with both gates)

My goal was to to keep it simple so my 6 year old grandson could easily hook it up or take it off his set at home.

The challenge now is what kind of easy connector could I use to plug in the gate to the isolated activator track rather than have it permanently wired. Some sort of a three wire m/f connector would be great. I even thought about using an RJ11 phone jack and plug. Do you know what kind of modular jack plugs in the plug and play version?

thanks.

I think Grandpa may want to buy this Fastrack Activator Pack with Plug and Play (6-81317).  It includes the cable.

Cut one of the ends off the cable, strip back the sheath and expose the 3 conductors.  One for hot, one for common and one for isolated rail (trigger).  Connect those to your crossing gate and it should be pretty simple for him to be able to connect the cable to the track as needed.   See link for ease of connection to track.

LIONEL QUICK TIP: Plug-Expand-Play Accessory Activation Track - YouTube