I love that the gate is a manual mechanism rather than just a servo motor. Gives you a little bit more actual work to do and provides just the right amount of extra time needed in your ops session.. It really looks good from the topside of the layout.
Hi Jared, Thanks for your comments on my gate. You are correct, the action of manually cranking the gate open adds a little more time to the operation. Since I made this video I have added a padlock on the cover of the gate control panel. A key for the lock is hung on a hook nearby the gate control. Operators have to open the padlock before they can open the cover to access the hand crank.-Tom
Great creativity! Thanks for the details explanation. I will order derails from your friend Scott. I should easily be able to fix it to the rail with 2 nails. Thank you again for your great videos, encouraging us to keep on the great pleasure of this hobby .
Hi Luke, The derails that Scott produces are very nice. You do have to paint and assemble them, but they look much better than the ones I made. Having operating derails is a nice way to slow down an ops session with a realistic procedure.-Tom
Sorry for the late comment Thomas , Two worlds colide Lego and Model Railways !! Was searching for a simple mech for gate opener read some ideas but not smooth or foolproof till I came across your vid !! Thank you Sir ...😊
Hi Matt, Glad to hear you found my UA-cam video on building the gate. If you have any questions as you build your gate you can contact me through my website at www.ThomasKlimoski.com Good luck on your gate project.
Hi, When I made my operating derail there were no derail products on the market that operated. Since then MAC Rail has an operating derail that was originally designed by Scott Thornton. macrailproducts.com/shop/ols/products/operating-derail-flip-type---the-scotty-2-pack. I have two of them on my layout and they work and look great, much nicer than my version. I like the prototypical operation and how it increases the realism of an operating session as crews have to remove and then reapply the derail.-Tom
Hi Eric, Thanks for your comments. You can see more about my layout on my website at www.ThomasKlimoski.com where I have a blog and links to all my videos.-Tom
Hi Michael, Thanks for your comments. It just takes a little imagination and engineering to make the gates and derails work. I hope I have given you a few ideas to try on your layout. Good luck on your project.-Tom
I wonder why Lego would discontinue such an neat mechanism.. such a simple and excellent use of such a piece. Really great stuff.. thank you for sharing. Tom
Hi Tom, Fortunately, you can still find the Lego gear reducer on EBay. It is a neat mechanism that has multiple uses. Thanks again for your very nice comments.-Tom
Hi Dave, Thanks for your comments. I had an article in the March 2018 issue of Model Railroader where I describe building the Capitol Building Materials facility as well as the operating fence gate. Let me know if you have any questions if you decide to build one.-Tom
Hi, Thanks for subscribing. The operating gate is a neat project that enhances an operating session. I also have an operating overhead rolling door using Lego parts. Be sure to check out my website at www.thomasklimoski.com to see more about my layout, links to my videos, and subscribe to my blog where I post more frequent updates on projects.-Tom
Okay, just finished watching 5 videos of yours and had to subscribe to your UA-cam channel. The name of your railroad and the ideas you have used really caught my attention. Very well done and really like the opening fence, that is a great idea and not anything to complex. Thanks again for the videos and will stay tuned for more!!!! D. Muse (WTCMRR)
Hi David, Thanks for your comments and subscribing. The Georgia Northeastern is a prototype short line railroad in North GA, from Marietta to the state line in McCayesville. It really is a neat operation and perfect for modeling. If you have any questions about my layout you can contact me at tklimoski@gmail.com and I'll be glad to answer them.-Tom
Hi SB, Thanks for your comments. These everyday "obstacles" add interest to an operating session and a prototype detail that is not normally modeled.-Tom
Hi SB, Absolutely correct and it helps my small layout operate much larger than it really is. As you know switching the prototype takes time and replicating those little details adds time to an ops session. One other thing that really helps slow down an ops session is using the ProtoThrottle. I have found it adds 10 to 15 minutes to a normal ops session as the crew has to slow down to operate realistically using the ProtoThrottle. Thanks again for your comments, it is always good to hear from a professional railroader that I am following the prototype procedures. You can also find out more about the layout on my website at www.thomasklimoski.com. -Tom
ThomasKlimoski I’ve had my eye on that throttle. That throttle combined with a camera on the engine would provide a unique experience. The engineer could actually be in another room. It would be interesting to tinker with if the technology works. The engineer would have to look at the ground moving on his display to get a sense of distance for coupling car counts just as a real engineer does.
@@sauced2007 That is a unique concept using a camera with the ProtoThrottle to get that in cab experience, I think it would work. Hopefully you'll have a chance to try one at a train show or on a friends layout that has one. The only problem is that once you start using a ProtoThrottle the regular knob throttle just doesn't seem right anymore.-Tom
Thanks for your comments. You can use Legos for so many things. I just built a ramp using Legos for the main form and then glued stone wall casting to them. Check out my new web site for information and photos of my layout. tklimoski.wixsite.com/thomasklimoski Tom
Thanks for your comments. Building the operating mechanism is not that difficult, but you are right it does require a lot of patience to get it to work just right. It took some trial and error to get it right but it adds a lot of fun to an ops session to have the crew open the gates.-Tom
Hi John, Thanks for your comments. I hope my video inspires you to build an operating gate or derail, it really adds a prototypical step to an ops session.-Tom
+Small layouts Hello, I wrote in article for Model Railroader on the steps I took to do the scenery. The article, From grass mat to weed patch, appeared in the January 2012 issue. If you are a MR subscriber you can also find the article on line by typing in my name in the search bar and it will come up. The grass is the Heki wild grass fiber material (1575 and 1576) sold by Scenic Express. The trees are Super Trees covered with various leaf flock. Hope this answers your questions. -Tom
+Small layouts I will definitely consider making a video the next time I do scenery work, although I am working on structures in the next few months it might be awhile before I get back to scenery work. It really is easy if you use the Heki wild grass mat products. -Tom
Hi, The possibilities are endless with what you can do with Legos. The key component is the gear reducer, which you can find on E-Bay if you don't have one in your collection. -Tom
+TheGomes412 The "pavement" in the lumber yard is .060 styrene butted up against the rails. I used sheet cork to raise the ground level up to the tops of the ties and then installed the styrene on top of that. I use code 70 rails so the .060 styrene leaves the rails just slightly above the styrene. I used the same styrene in between the rails leaving a slight gap for the flanges.-Tom
Thanks for your comments. Lance Mindheim used a old locomotive wheel set to operate a gate on his Miami Downtown spur layout. I used the Legos gear mechanism because it is what I had on hand and it allowed a lot of flexibility when hooking up the unit to operate the gate. -Tom
Do you have a way to prevent the train from crashing into the fence if it were to show up before you see it or do you just have to be 100 % cautious? I may try this on my layout but, only if I can control it. That is an amazing idea there!
Thanks for your comments. I follow the same procedures they use on the prototype, crews must open the gate prior to entering the siding. The conductor will open the gate and then line the switch for the industry before requesting the locomotive to approach and couple to the cars on the siding. The gates are only located on sidings so any movement will be slow. I have heard stories on the prototype where the gate was damaged when a car that was being switched rolled into it. I try not to replicate that incident, but it is possible to duplicate it on my layout :) -Tom
ThomasKlimoski that sounds good. I saw your methods in the Model Railroader magazine and I saw your roll up door operation. Both will be really good! I’d love to try it out. Your operating roll up door inspires me in a way! I’ve been thinking about creating a method to open service bay doors on car wash and auto service center structures. Most of those structures come with the doors fixed in place or you have to decide how to permanently glue them in.
Hi Zack, thanks for your comments. The Legos are a simple and effective way to automate the gates and I have recently used the same drive mechanism to make an operating overhead rolling door. Your imagination is the only limit as to what you can use them for.-Tom
Hi, The Alexander Scale Models Hayes Derail Set #120-9501 is available from Walthers and it is currently in stock for $6.30. Type in the model number in the search box on the Walthers page and it should come up. I primarily use the derail casting in the kit and modify it to be a flip over style derail. The kit has four derail castings, two each for left hand or right had applications. Hopefully my video will provide enough information for you to make your own flip over style derail. Good luck on your project.-Tom
Hi Lukes Junction, yes the derail is used during operating sessions as they would on the prototype. Crews must remove the derail before the line the switch to the industry and must restore the derail after they have switched the industry. If crews forget to remove the derail, they do work and will derail a car or locomotive. You can see the sequence of operations using the derail on some of my other operations videos.-Tom
Hi, A derail is used to prevent cars on a siding from fouling the main line if the brakes on the car don't hold it. The derail lifts the wheel of the car up and off the rail thus causing it to derail in a "safe" location instead of on a main line. Although accidental derailment is damaging to equipment and track, and requires considerable time and expense to remedy, derails are used in situations where there is a risk of greater damage to equipment, injury or death if equipment is allowed to proceed past the derail point. They are a very prototypical detail that you can add to your layout.-Tom
Thomas... If you could just make your fisherman, at the end of the video, swing his arm back and forth as if fly fishing ... Just joking. Keep up the good work.
+Cameron White Camron, That fly fisherman has been there for a year and still has not caught anything! Maybe if he puts the line in the water he might be successful. There are some great fishing spots here in GA although the Long Swamp Creek may not be one of them. Thanks for the comments.-Tom
I love that the gate is a manual mechanism rather than just a servo motor. Gives you a little bit more actual work to do and provides just the right amount of extra time needed in your ops session.. It really looks good from the topside of the layout.
Hi Jared, Thanks for your comments on my gate. You are correct, the action of manually cranking the gate open adds a little more time to the operation. Since I made this video I have added a padlock on the cover of the gate control panel. A key for the lock is hung on a hook nearby the gate control. Operators have to open the padlock before they can open the cover to access the hand crank.-Tom
Great creativity! Thanks for the details explanation. I will order derails from your friend Scott. I should easily be able to fix it to the rail with 2 nails. Thank you again for your great videos, encouraging us to keep on the great pleasure of this hobby .
Hi Luke, The derails that Scott produces are very nice. You do have to paint and assemble them, but they look much better than the ones I made. Having operating derails is a nice way to slow down an ops session with a realistic procedure.-Tom
Top Marks for your inventive genius, you make realism, reality.
Sorry for the late comment Thomas , Two worlds colide Lego and Model Railways !! Was searching for a simple mech for gate opener read some ideas but not smooth or foolproof till I came across your vid !! Thank you Sir ...😊
Hi Matt, Glad to hear you found my UA-cam video on building the gate. If you have any questions as you build your gate you can contact me through my website at www.ThomasKlimoski.com Good luck on your gate project.
Durango Press sells an operating Hayes derail - looks and works great.
Hi, When I made my operating derail there were no derail products on the market that operated. Since then MAC Rail has an operating derail that was originally designed by Scott Thornton. macrailproducts.com/shop/ols/products/operating-derail-flip-type---the-scotty-2-pack. I have two of them on my layout and they work and look great, much nicer than my version. I like the prototypical operation and how it increases the realism of an operating session as crews have to remove and then reapply the derail.-Tom
Fantastic ideas and work!
Hi Eric, Thanks for your comments. You can see more about my layout on my website at www.ThomasKlimoski.com where I have a blog and links to all my videos.-Tom
another great idea that I must incorporate into my layout. Thanks for posting these videos and sharing your ideas.
Hi Michael, Thanks for your comments. It just takes a little imagination and engineering to make the gates and derails work. I hope I have given you a few ideas to try on your layout. Good luck on your project.-Tom
I wonder why Lego would discontinue such an neat mechanism.. such a simple and excellent use of such a piece. Really great stuff.. thank you for sharing. Tom
Hi Tom, Fortunately, you can still find the Lego gear reducer on EBay. It is a neat mechanism that has multiple uses. Thanks again for your very nice comments.-Tom
@@ThomasKlimoski thank you..I'll look
That is so cool, What a neat idea. PS the fence looks really good too.Thanks for posting.Darick
+DClavalois Darick, Thanks for the compliments. The fence is scratch built with .020 music wire and tulle. -Tom
Great job Thomas...nice explanation... Thanks.
Very Impressive!
Hi Dave, Thanks for your comments. I had an article in the March 2018 issue of Model Railroader where I describe building the Capitol Building Materials facility as well as the operating fence gate. Let me know if you have any questions if you decide to build one.-Tom
I am a new subscriber to your channel! That is a brilliant way to use Lego to help make your layout more realistic with operating gates!
Hi, Thanks for subscribing. The operating gate is a neat project that enhances an operating session. I also have an operating overhead rolling door using Lego parts. Be sure to check out my website at www.thomasklimoski.com to see more about my layout, links to my videos, and subscribe to my blog where I post more frequent updates on projects.-Tom
WOW!!! Totally awesome. Adds a lot of realism.
Will
+william mosher William, Thanks for your comments. -Tom
Very ingenious using lego technic. Very nice.
Okay, just finished watching 5 videos of yours and had to subscribe to your UA-cam channel. The name of your railroad and the ideas you have used really caught my attention. Very well done and really like the opening fence, that is a great idea and not anything to complex. Thanks again for the videos and will stay tuned for more!!!! D. Muse (WTCMRR)
Hi David, Thanks for your comments and subscribing. The Georgia Northeastern is a prototype short line railroad in North GA, from Marietta to the state line in McCayesville. It really is a neat operation and perfect for modeling. If you have any questions about my layout you can contact me at tklimoski@gmail.com and I'll be glad to answer them.-Tom
I’ve opened more gates and flipped derails in my time as a conductor. Nice use of various items to accomplish your goals!
Hi SB, Thanks for your comments. These everyday "obstacles" add interest to an operating session and a prototype detail that is not normally modeled.-Tom
ThomasKlimoski it also slows down the pace, adding time to the job and making things seem bigger so to speak
Hi SB, Absolutely correct and it helps my small layout operate much larger than it really is. As you know switching the prototype takes time and replicating those little details adds time to an ops session. One other thing that really helps slow down an ops session is using the ProtoThrottle. I have found it adds 10 to 15 minutes to a normal ops session as the crew has to slow down to operate realistically using the ProtoThrottle. Thanks again for your comments, it is always good to hear from a professional railroader that I am following the prototype procedures. You can also find out more about the layout on my website at www.thomasklimoski.com. -Tom
ThomasKlimoski I’ve had my eye on that throttle. That throttle combined with a camera on the engine would provide a unique experience. The engineer could actually be in another room. It would be interesting to tinker with if the technology works. The engineer would have to look at the ground moving on his display to get a sense of distance for coupling car counts just as a real engineer does.
@@sauced2007 That is a unique concept using a camera with the ProtoThrottle to get that in cab experience, I think it would work. Hopefully you'll have a chance to try one at a train show or on a friends layout that has one. The only problem is that once you start using a ProtoThrottle the regular knob throttle just doesn't seem right anymore.-Tom
Awesome work Tom
Tim
+Seaboard Central Tim, Thanks for the comments. Keep up the good work on your layout. -Tom
Great video! Glad to know I’m not the only one who uses Lego stuff for used like that!
Thanks for your comments. You can use Legos for so many things. I just built a ramp using Legos for the main form and then glued stone wall casting to them. Check out my new web site for information and photos of my layout.
tklimoski.wixsite.com/thomasklimoski
Tom
Really enjoyed the video!
Outstanding! Thanks so much for posting this!
+John Prescott Thanks John. Hopefully this will inspire others to build operational gates and derails. -Tom
Excellent, thanks for posting that
Wow , wish I had the know how and the money and the patiences to build stuff like that for mine
Thanks for your comments. Building the operating mechanism is not that difficult, but you are right it does require a lot of patience to get it to work just right. It took some trial and error to get it right but it adds a lot of fun to an ops session to have the crew open the gates.-Tom
Pure genious! Thanks for sharing!
Thanks for the compliments. I hope the video inspires you to build one.-Tom
Definitely, I need two of then and I was a little bit at lost how to do it.
unbelievable! teriffic work!!! very nice detailing. i watch the rest of the videos, wondering what you built on your layout!
+19scamps92 Thanks. You can see more about my layout in Model Railroad Planning 2016. Stay tuned for more updates. -Tom
thanks for the ideas
Thanks for your comments and I hope I have given you a few project ideas to try on your layout.-Tom
Very cool use for Lego .
Very cool!
Hi John, Thanks for your comments. I hope my video inspires you to build an operating gate or derail, it really adds a prototypical step to an ops session.-Tom
This is Sooooo Cool.
Thanks for your comments. It really is an easy project and has a very high "cool factor".-Tom
Awsome, would you mind making a how to on how u do your scenery and what materials? I love it
+Small layouts Hello, I wrote in article for Model Railroader on the steps I took to do the scenery. The article, From grass mat to weed patch, appeared in the January 2012 issue. If you are a MR subscriber you can also find the article on line by typing in my name in the search bar and it will come up. The grass is the Heki wild grass fiber material (1575 and 1576) sold by Scenic Express. The trees are Super Trees covered with various leaf flock. Hope this answers your questions. -Tom
It does thanks for the help
+Small layouts I will definitely consider making a video the next time I do scenery work, although I am working on structures in the next few months it might be awhile before I get back to scenery work. It really is easy if you use the Heki wild grass mat products. -Tom
This is just great!
Thanks for your comments.-Tom
Awesome! I gave your video a thumbs up and I subscribed to your channel also. Happy railroading!!!!!
Thanks for your comments and subscribing. -Tom
I got tons of Legos still. Nice.
Hi, The possibilities are endless with what you can do with Legos. The key component is the gear reducer, which you can find on E-Bay if you don't have one in your collection. -Tom
So awesome! I would really like to know how you were able to embed your track in your paved lumber yard. Whats your process?
+TheGomes412 The "pavement" in the lumber yard is .060 styrene butted up against the rails. I used sheet cork to raise the ground level up to the tops of the ties and then installed the styrene on top of that. I use code 70 rails so the .060 styrene leaves the rails just slightly above the styrene. I used the same styrene in between the rails leaving a slight gap for the flanges.-Tom
Zack, What a neat idea. Thanks for sharing. I would guess a scrap wheel set would work for a substitute with some minor mods. Do you think so?
Thanks for your comments. Lance Mindheim used a old locomotive wheel set to operate a gate on his Miami Downtown spur layout. I used the Legos gear mechanism because it is what I had on hand and it allowed a lot of flexibility when hooking up the unit to operate the gate. -Tom
Thanks for your response Tom as it is appreciated.
Very clever!
Do you have a way to prevent the train from crashing into the fence if it were to show up before you see it or do you just have to be 100 % cautious? I may try this on my layout but, only if I can control it. That is an amazing idea there!
Thanks for your comments. I follow the same procedures they use on the prototype, crews must open the gate prior to entering the siding. The conductor will open the gate and then line the switch for the industry before requesting the locomotive to approach and couple to the cars on the siding. The gates are only located on sidings so any movement will be slow. I have heard stories on the prototype where the gate was damaged when a car that was being switched rolled into it. I try not to replicate that incident, but it is possible to duplicate it on my layout :) -Tom
ThomasKlimoski that sounds good. I saw your methods in the Model Railroader magazine and I saw your roll up door operation. Both will be really good! I’d love to try it out. Your operating roll up door inspires me in a way! I’ve been thinking about creating a method to open service bay doors on car wash and auto service center structures. Most of those structures come with the doors fixed in place or you have to decide how to permanently glue them in.
Thanks again. I am glad that my article and video inspired you to make your own operating door. Good luck on your project.-Tom
Legos save the day again.. then prove that they are functional and educational
Hi Zack, thanks for your comments. The Legos are a simple and effective way to automate the gates and I have recently used the same drive mechanism to make an operating overhead rolling door. Your imagination is the only limit as to what you can use them for.-Tom
awesome!!!
Hi Christian, Thanks for your comments. I hope you try to model an operating gate or derail on your layout.-Tom
wow you 1 away to get 400 Subscribers!!!!!!!
Where do you get the derail kit?
Hi, The Alexander Scale Models Hayes Derail Set #120-9501 is available from Walthers and it is currently in stock for $6.30. Type in the model number in the search box on the Walthers page and it should come up. I primarily use the derail casting in the kit and modify it to be a flip over style derail. The kit has four derail castings, two each for left hand or right had applications. Hopefully my video will provide enough information for you to make your own flip over style derail. Good luck on your project.-Tom
Can or have you used the derail properaly
Hi Lukes Junction, yes the derail is used during operating sessions as they would on the prototype. Crews must remove the derail before the line the switch to the industry and must restore the derail after they have switched the industry. If crews forget to remove the derail, they do work and will derail a car or locomotive. You can see the sequence of operations using the derail on some of my other operations videos.-Tom
What is the purpose of a derail?
Hi, A derail is used to prevent cars on a siding from fouling the main line if the brakes on the car don't hold it. The derail lifts the wheel of the car up and off the rail thus causing it to derail in a "safe" location instead of on a main line. Although accidental derailment is damaging to equipment and track, and requires considerable time and expense to remedy, derails are used in situations where there is a risk of greater damage to equipment, injury or death if equipment is allowed to proceed past the derail point. They are a very prototypical detail that you can add to your layout.-Tom
@@ThomasKlimoski Thanks! That was an interesting piece of information.
Thomas... If you could just make your fisherman, at the end of the video, swing his arm back and forth as if fly fishing ... Just joking. Keep up the good work.
+Cameron White Camron, That fly fisherman has been there for a year and still has not caught anything! Maybe if he puts the line in the water he might be successful. There are some great fishing spots here in GA although the Long Swamp Creek may not be one of them. Thanks for the comments.-Tom
Great idea using Legos.
Hi Mike, Thanks for your comments. It really is a simple project that adds a prototypical step to an ops session.-Tom