Your experience with Lionel Fastrack Grade Crossing with Gates and Flashers

Well, I can give some input, though I don't own one: it's too expensive.  It looks interesting, but even if it works exactly as advertised, $159 is just too much for me to shell out for a pair of operating crossing gates. 

$160 is the price in the catalog, which almost nobody pays. You should be able to get it at around $110-$115. I forget when I bought mine, but I have had no problems with it. I also have the grade crossing with flashers (no gates), and I have had no problems with that either.

I've never understood why Lionel used the fragile motor driven scale "Mainline Crossing Gates" on a product mainly used for 'Carpet Centrals' for young engineers? It would have made a lot more sense to use a version of the solinoid/gravity operated  6-62162 Auto Crossing Gate and Signal. That way there's be no gears to get messed up if little fingers decide to operate the gate manually.

Similarly, the FT Grade Crossing with Flasher uses scale size flashers that are way too fragile, and easily snapped off. Using a version of the ruggeder #154 Railroad Crossing Flasher would make more sense for a product mainly aimed at younger engineers.

I know people with larger layouts looking for a more realistic appearance use these products, but that's not the primary market they're aimed at.

The nice thing about all 3 FasTrack crossings is that they look a lot more reasonable from a "scale" perspective than thier traditional counterparts.  If the traditional sized stuff bothers you, then they are the way to go.

I agree with Len's point.  They really aren't suitable for the younger crowd but if that isn't a problem in your house... They look really great!

I have both on my layout and they work great.  They have had a lot of grade crossings to back their performance.

I bought one of the early ones, one of the gates failed at nearly a year old. I sent it back to Charles Ro and they exchanged it for a new one, that ones been fine ever since, its been 5 or 6 years now at least. If your concerned just get the one with the flashers only, either way they look and sound great!

I have one with gates and one without on my carpet central and they have been operating flawlessly for about 2 years. I had to turn off the bell sounds though, they are too loud!

I have one also, the one thing that bothers me about it is the gates only go up to about 45 degrees. I would prefer they go up at a 90 degrees. 

I have an early one and its spending most of its time in the box so I cannot say anything about the reliability.

franktrain

I have one with the flashers, but they aren't very good for a carpet central unless you are very careful where you are walking.  Both of my signals snapped off.  Up until then it worked fine, but now it's a $120 section of track taking up space in my parts box.

I have the "flasher only" version and it works fine. Has for 3 years now. The only minus is the fragile nature of the flashers themselves (as previously noted).  They could sure snap off easily, I suppose. As far as looking good and working properly, no complaints from me.

I have the newer revised edition and it has worked fine. I'm not sure what Lionel changed, but the first ones did have problems. The gates do work reliably but only go up 45 degrees as already stated. you can slip a piece of cardboard or tape over the sound outlet if the bell sound is too loud, that will muffle it somewhat.