Mike's Railroad Crossing Forum

Just curious, what do y'all base this "like v/s dislike" on? Looks? What you perceive from the outside? Try to figure out, and work on a ridiculously designed hydraulic gate mechanism, try to adjust a WCH gate mech -and keep it in adjustment afterwards, and have to be aggrivated with their contacts and sticking cover doors, try to keep a long, heavy gate arm from slipping the clutch on a GRS gate mech, or try to keep a gate up without power with a WABCO gate mech, then come back and tell me how much you still love them.

Safetran hands down has the absolute best gate mechanisms in the industry, they perform strong, smoothly and continously under extreme conditions when given even minimal basic care. There really is no comparison.

When you get out there and work with them for a while, then come back and tell me why one is your "favorite" over another.

....Is "Triangle" a gate mechanism??

I think we all just got schooled!

But on this one I agree... you can't simply say something is your favorite just by watching it work or looking at it. That would be like saying a certain food is your favorite without ever eating it.

WHICH MOD JUST RESET THE GODDAMN POLL
Everyone resubmit your vote.
By The Way, ITS GRISWORLD/RECO/SAFETRAN EM.
Also WRRS has the model 10. GRS has the type D and B which has both logos (GRS/WRRS on it)
DON'T EDIT IT AGAIN!!!! I'll do it this time.

Anyone have any pics to compare the WRRS types?

weatherdan882002 wrote:Anyone have any pics to compare the WRRS types?

WRRS Model 10


GRS Type B

GRS Type D
http://www.rxrsignals.net/Illinois/A-K/Dupo/Davis/9.JPG

IDK, I just chose the WRRS Model 10. Truth be told, I like any mechanism made by WCH/WRRS/GRS. My biggest pet peeve is when they install gate holders with weight hookups on both sides and they only use one. IMO, it looks stupid, but it looks like it's all they make all these days. I wish they still made this kind (with the weight mount on only one side):

Very informative post, Kody. I learned a bit from it. Mind if I ask a couple of comparison questions?

How do these mechanism stack up in terms of differences and preformance?

- Transport Products
- RACO (the non Hydralic ones)
- GRS Model D
- Safetran (early)

They all look very identical to me, but I have no idea how they would preform if hooked up side-by-side as the Safetran and WCH mech are in previous posts. I assume that the older mechanisms would be better, but my suspiciousions still lead me to ask. (if you wouldn't mind explaining)

I'm holding off my vote for now until I feel more educated and happy with what I choose.

I can say that I have US&S Model 95, EM, and Hydralic gate mechanisms off my list.

Cheers,
Joshua

Thanks. In addition, I'd like to point out that the new Invsys by Safetran mechanisms are still S-mechanisms. The two models are the S-40 and the S-60. I've been told the S-40 is the better mechanism. Both use an LED-based system to alter of gate mechanism status and of any failures. I'm not too sure how effective this is, but I'd assume fairly.

Kody,
That's very surprising to hear that those GRS type Ds are actually semaphore motors in an aluminum box. They lower pretty darn good, so I'd say they're good mechanisms... when they want to be.

Now, final question (for now, lol), what is the Harmon gate mechanism? I have never seen a gate mechanism with the Harmon/GE logo slapped on it.

Again, thanks for the informative reply. If I knew the right signal maintainer for the UP, I could get those differences between the RACO and the Safetran gate mechanisms...

Cheers,
Joshua

I know the S-60's have the circuit boards and all with the fail-release feature, I haven't seen an S-40 with that.

MD2020 wrote:I know the S-60's have the circuit boards and all with the fail-release feature, I haven't seen an S-40 with that.

The S-60s are awful gate mechs UP has a few out here, CSX seems to love them, go figure.
I love the Safetran S-40s and WCH 3597 for modern days gate mechs, as far as oldies GRS type D.