The simple crossing signal circuit was designed to be operated by a manual switch, but it's fairly easy to automate it. This thread will start with a basic two detector version but eventually I hope to present a way to add as many detectors as you like and a time delay circuit to let trains clear before releasing the crossing. This circuit depends on ambient light to operate, but the level needed to trigger it is adjustable.

This is the schematic:

I have a wonder about the Land Down Under, Prof!

Over at nScale.net, one of the forum members posted a neat little vintage 8mm clip of the Graham County Railroad from the early 1960s. Coal-burning Shays on a common carrier, interchanging with the Southern Railway -- pretty intriguing stuff, I'd say.

I have a need for  two short staging tracks for an interchange with another railroad, and to fit it in the space I have for it, requires the straight sections to be spaced 1.5" on center instead of the usual/typical 2" on center.  As I measure most of the equipment I have (modeling circa 1953) I believe there should not be any clearance issues.  I don't intend to run locomotives on these sections of track, they only are for the incoming and outgoing cars for interchange throughout the operating session.  Has anyone successfully done this without issue?&nbsp

 In the year before I went away for work, my club spent a fair amount of time planning new projects and came to the conclusion that it was time to design a new layout.  Naturally, this meant the old layout would have to go, which meant it was for sale, and for a time I ignored this reality whereas I was thousands of miles away.  As the months went by there were no offers, I got to thinking that if the layout was not sold, then it would have to be torn down.  What more, sicne my tour was coming to a close and as luck would have it, I would be back in t