B-176 / 4733 Railway Crossing with automated barrier arms
Kit 4733 was based on an existing item B-176 which was already in the program but now added a one-peice molded base which has a 2-lane AMS roadway crossing a single lane railway line.
The mechanical operation of the Barriers was also changed to use a fine thread or string rather than the plastic linkages of the former kit. The motor assembly was basically the same and a variation of this crossing was still available as recently as 2007 as kit 120174 and which has some compatible parts useful for spares or conversions if you already have the molded AMS base.
The single railway line has a discrete centre rail with connectors to suit operators of Märklin, but the two outer rails are also isolated from each other to suit operators of 2-rail systems (such as Fleischmann).
With correct wiring and by isolating the AMS track sections, the Crossing can be made fully automated whereby the approaching train will automatically trigger the barrier arms, and at the same time cut to supply to the AMS track. You would need to take care that the road circuit is wired and isolated correctly so that any autos already on the crossing could continue and not stop across the track but any following autos should stop before the barrier arms.
This item was in the program from 1963 until 1969 as item 4733, and then from 1970 the code changed back to B-176 but the kit still contained the AMS base as recorded until 1975 and it probably remained available for many years after that as old stocks were sold.
This crossing has variations in the motor drive design. Shown here is a style incorporating a full gearbox almost identical to that used in the 402 Container Terminal with the 'Block Motor' similar to the earlier Slot Cars prior to the Pancake motor. The Block motor is DC and a selenium rectifier is fitted to this. Electrical contacts on a yellow disc control the motor operation when wired correctly to the railway track, and with further addition of a suitable relay, the AMS track power can also be controlled for additional safety.
The alternate drive mechanism utilises the properties of AC directly whereby the armature vibrates or oscillates rapidly and a blade pushes against a rubber tyre causing rotation. I will add a photo of the AC motor when I get a chance to unpack it.
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Electrical Wiring Schematic (fully automated)
Kit assembly sheet (links to the text instructions are at the end of these images)
Text Instructions for above diagrams (full size, opens in new window)
Part 1a (German/D, Spanish/E, Swedish/S) - Part 1b (German/D, Spanish/E, Swedish/S)
Part 2a (Dutch/NL, French/F, English/GB-USA) - Part 2b (Dutch/NL, French/F, English/GB-USA)
INSTRUCTIONS
VERSION 2 - WIRING DIAGRAM / SCHEMATIC
INSTRUCTIONS VERSION 2 -
TEXT DESCRIPTION
** Additional info pending update - more to come. Last update Jan 2013
Feedback always welcome for corrections, additions etc.
