The Truckee project, part 6: Building a swing gate entry section

[@eukaryon]

This is very helpful as I figure out my own swing bridge. The key part is off setting the hinge, and firmly anchoring the hinge leg to the wall

[@scottsmith7051]

I love that swing gate! Of course the term hinge gate also makes perfect sense and the terms can be used interchangeably imo.

[@mpeterll]

All gates are hinged. I want to distinguish between one that swings horizontally, and one that moves vertically. Most people immediately think of lift or drop flaps, which are never as good where there is a choice.

[@samdean5465]

Wow! So many great ideas. From the extended hinge on the gate, to the flipping of 2 sections of flex track to keep it from moving, to the wood blocking for underpinning the ends of the tracks on the curves. All good stuff I'm going to use on my lay out. Thank you.

[@PatDY-oh1sp]

Excellent tutorial!!! Thank you for sharing!!! Patrick

[@normanrowe2831]

Hello Peter, swing gates, if done properly, are the best remedy for doorway access. Yours is perfect. Merry Christmas to you and your family. See ya next time.

[@mpeterll]

Thank-you. Merry Christmas to you too.

[@modelrailroader5619]

Yay, a train! That is a beautifully engineered swing

[@mpeterll]

Train? Where?

[@modelrailroader5619]

😊

[@wrbergner]

A great solution. Terrific alignment solution with wood shims. Merry Christmas!!

[@7APT7]

Hi Peter, great blog, love the photos of how you done the opening entrance and how you wired and hinged the door, it looks superb, always love to watch you blogs and progress on jobs in hand you are working on. 👍Thumbs Up👍 Have a great Holiday and New Year!

[@brucew.5177]

Boy, you make it look so easy . And beautiful . . .

[@littlewingpsc27]

I've always seen blocks of wood used under the tracks for doing moveable sections like this where the track interface is critical. Makes for very stable track work. Have you ever considered large pogo pins and copper clad contacts to carry the track power to the swing section instead of worrying about having a wire lead long enough and routed such as to not pinch? I've seen that done on a number of layouts near me and it seems to work really well. I've also seen that plus a relay used to "kill" the power to the tracks nearest both sides of the swing out section, when the section is open, so that you don't accidentally have a train go over the edge. Adds in a safety feature especially if the swing out section isn't fully closed properly.

[@fentoncentral-ngauge]

You promised and delivered. Just what I wanted explained. Many many thanks!

[@zas5892]

You're quite the carpenter I love the style and type of wood in the shape you use and the way the hinge works with the train layout I see how it gets itself out of the way when you open it I love that yes you really think everything through if I'm going to do something like a train that I'm going to have to do the same thing because time and space is precious even after raising 5 kids

[@heavyj4805]

Peter, its wonderful to follow your shows, your approach is always so professional and well thought out, i like how you process an issue, thank you, JohnS

[@riff2072]

Master craftsmen make everything look so easy. Like that piano hinge, it must hold the gate in place well. Happy Holidays guys and gals.

[@jimtedesco]

Thank you, I have been battling track alignment issues with my tip up section which also curves. The wood block is brilliant, don't know why I didn't think of it. Anyway, the layout is looking pretty good so far. Merry Christmas to you and your family. Jim

[@mpeterll]

Merry Christmas to you too, and I'm glad you found a possible solution to your problem.

[@scotth4760]

Great tutorial on building the gate I needed ideas for my new layout thanks

[@wilzdart]

Another great informative video.... your bench work is great and as we all know it is also the key to a great running layout. hope you and yours have a great holiday

[@FougarouBe]

This is reallly cleverly designed !

[@craigsummers131]

you are inspiring me to get back to my layout , you always makes things look so easy .....l

[@markschumacher6630]

It's a beautiful layout Peter , nice work and Merry Christmas!

[@Puni_19]

Hi Peter. Another great video, thank you! Could you please tell me at 6:48 what are the connector you use to connect the swing gate feeder wires to the bus wire? Thanks!

[@mpeterll]

They are called "posi-taps". part number PTA1218M.

[@Puni_19]

mpeterll thank you!

[@aussiefrenchman-hobbytable9960]

Hi Peter can't believe I missed your video, just fantastic! Have a Merry Christmas to you and your family 🎄🎄🎄🎄looking forward to seeing you in the new year😄down under Australia

[@JohnPW22]

Such a simple solution, and perfect for my layout. Thanks for sharing your skills, and Merry Christmas!

[@mauriziogamuzza1373]

Hello very Beautiful Video merry Christmas 👍👍👍

[@charlierumsfeld6626]

Very informative. Merry Christmas

[@MrBsHiawathalandRails]

Looks great as always! Sure works smooth.

[@lionellance]

Wow... Peter great idea.. I could use that on my layout.. thanks for sharing and keep up the great work.. Lance.. Merry Christmas 🎄🎁

[@OGaugeCNR]

Looks fantastic, love your KZbin videos. Merry Christmas

[@riff2072]

Merry Christmas Bill.

[@CM-ARM]

Sir that is really impressive. Hope when the time comes I can refer back to this for help.

[@mpeterll]

Just hitting the "like" button adds it to your list of favorites. If you have many liked videos and you want to keep just a few of them highlighted, just create a playlist and add those videos to it.

[@CM-ARM]

Already did. Thank you for your help. I'm looking forward to the point that I need to make my own

[@Leviathan609]

Very nice job. To avoid the issue of wires getting crimped, have you ever considered contact pads and pogo pins? I use them on the drop section in my layout. When everything is closed up, the section energizes.

[@mpeterll]

With the wires going through as I did it there's no chance of a wire getting crimped. The way you suggest is possible, but it's a lot more complex and takes longer. Most customers don't want to pay the extra cost.

[@canyonpast]

Just cool, thank you for the inspiration you provide.

[@joeraderblackrockcentralrr]

very well done. love your work

[@bcsferromodelismo3822]

Hello Mr. Peter! I hope you are well! Please, at 3.08 minutes, show the track cut at an angle. Are the rail sleepers the original plastic ones? How do you prevent them from breaking when disassembling and reassembling the layout?

[@mpeterll]

For track running across any kind of moving section, I remove the last plastic tie and insert a PCB one, to which the rails can be firmly soldered.

[@bcsferromodelismo3822]

@mpeterll Thank you Mr. Peter! Thank you your feedback!

[@waltercarpenito1737]

I wonder how you are going to get that FLOOR clean a big blower I guess -grate job lots of work building a layout -- have to love it -going to keep watching thanks wc--ca -usa

[@mpeterll]

The best way to clean the floor is with a large broom (after the layout is packed up for delivery).

[@uptownphotography]

Very nice job and well done. I am getting ready to build a swing gate and just at the planning stage. My problem is that my gate will be located in a corner with two levels of track (about 12 inches of height difference between the tracks) and both tracks are on a full curve section. (The joints on each end of the gate will have fully curved track at about a 30 inch radius). I ripped out the previous track in this corner as I wanted to have easier access to the main fuse/breaker box in the basement. I haven't worked out a plan yet how to make this work. Any advice is welcome. Again, very nice job on your gate and very well explained. Thanks. Phil New Jersey

[@mpeterll]

Check out the "Dining Room Central" layout build. I built a swing gate with 4 levels on that one.

[@uptownphotography]

@@mpeterll Thanks I will check it out. Phil

[@James-Railyard]

I never thought to have a gate. I just figured to use a lift off or a swing up/down.

[@cprtrain]

Well done!

[@jamesburba1995]

Very nice !

[@andarno01]

Not a train modeller but love your vids. Makes me want to build one, Just a thought and it may not be possible but could you put a micro switch on the swing gate to the control/signalling to stop trains if the gate is open?

[@mpeterll]

Yes it's possible but it takes longer and therefore costs more.

[@SFCRambo60]

Have you ever tried the wire that is curly and springy and let it hang about 3 to 4 inches at your swing gate. I keep thinking you might still have a pinch point where it goes through the wood work by the hinge.

[@mpeterll]

There's no advantage to that kind of wire. The way I've done it is simple and has no chance of pinching. The wire routing is just something I had to mention because it might not be obvious to all viewers.

[@austinyingst5902]

The customer will be happier with the gate than a lift out that will be an alignment headache every time it's dropped into the gap and fussyabout the weather like mine.

[@mpeterll]

... not to mention a literal headache the first time a drop flap gets dropped on someone's head.

[@choochooleo]

A very nice bridge construction but I have a question for you. Why did you choose to build a swing bridge instead of a bascule type lift bridge? Was it more eye appealing or were there other concerns? Thanks for the information.

[@mpeterll]

In a word: functionality. The swing gate is the most reliable form of moving section for any given amount of effort expended. This makes it the obvious choice for a commercial layout build whenever there is room for it to swing.

[@peggyandthegreenfamily5469]

Wow how long did it take you to complete the project from start to finish including layout plans etc and all communication till installed and working ( IE up and running) best wishes ken

[@CraftedJR]

Is there a video of the track plan design for this layout?

[@mpeterll]

I didn't design this layout, so there is no design video. There is however plenty of video footage to piece together a full track plan if you want to. There was also a large print of the track plan taped to the wall above the yard for much of the build, so there is a good chance that I captured it in some of the videos.

[@seanspennywisemiserrr]

What type of connectors do you use to join your feeder to your bus wires?

[@mpeterll]

They are called "posi-taps". part number PTA1218M.

[@seanspennywisemiserrr]

@@mpeterll thank you and have a Merry Christmas

[@ZookeeperArthur]

Hi Peter, Did you think about putting in ‘soldering’ sleepers? Do they have them or sort likes on the ‘other side’ of the pond? I know a german company sells them, they have them in 2 versions and in both H0 and N scale, they are specially made for module ends and or bridges; shop.fichtelbahn.de/TrackSwell-H0 Other company’s have them also but this one i remembered.

[@the4000class]

What is the address to your website

[@mpeterll]

Just follow the link in the description above.

[@jenniferwhite6089]

that is awesome swing gate will you put in relay sensors for the gate when i did mine lay with a swing gate had a problem with the wires how i overcome that put it in a plastic tube it moved with the gate it stopped the wires broken i should in in my new place in 2021 trade school are interested in the project first class is january 6 2020 they will lean the sawing of the logs on a vintage sawmill for timber frames barns and house i can not wait to start my great-great-grandparents when the were captured in the ww2 bout 18 month apart she was captured both did not know wear each other were at my ggg-dad did not know his wife was even there she joined up to see if she could find were he had gone small village capture him short time he was in italy was a surgeon they needed a doctor at the time was the only way to get out if was was a nurse she was not in france that long she was taking away both did not know if they ever see each other they were free to do what they very what to do there but could not leave we gone back to that place this year my first time there the house they go to live in is amazing i did wonder about there ideas they wanted in my home now know why 8 weeks spend there amazing some of the people noticed them right off the bat too i see why they did not escaped from that place the had 3 of 4 children there to they lost one their when the war was just about to end American shoot my gggmom when given birth to him the bullet kill him the village was amazed that he did not whened with the american too but stayed behind with then and did not speak any english to the americans all he did was taken the dog tags for the person and couple other soldiers after the war end he when to have the american charged 4 others were charged with that too

[@mpetersen6]

Thanks for the early Christmas present. A nicely smooth operating swing gate. The issues of duckunders, swing gates, drop leaves can be vexing I suppose. One option for a swing gate to be avoided at all costs would be one actually built into a door. I can see in the middle of an operating session or simply running trains with the door closed and somebody, your wife, significant other, kids, friend, whomever opens the door at the wrong time. 🤯🤯 And given the current political climate I see your left sock is a laid back liberal and your right sock is an uptight convervative .🙄🙄