Grade Crossing (Straight) for O Gauge Tubular Track V2

thingiverse

This wooden grade crossing is specifically designed for O gauge tubular track. It consists of two OpenSCAD programs: one creates a straight crossing and the other produces curved crossings for O-31, O-42, O-54, and O-72 rail configurations. The design showcased here is the straight crossing; for the curved version, visit https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2832224. Each piece represents wooden boards bolted together to form the crossing, with four pieces making up each crossing. The two center pieces align alongside the central rail, while the outer two are placed outside the outer rails. Curved crossings accurately match actual track dimensions; inspect the OpenSCAD program for values used in calculating diameters for the various curves supported. To ensure accurate measurements, RR-Track software was utilized to measure the center-to-center diameter of a loop, yielding effective results as finished curved crossing pieces can be directly glued onto both central and outer rails. Each crossing piece features diagonal sides designed to clear ties and center rail insulators. Determining an optimal "space" for wheel flanges on the inside edges of outer rails proved challenging. After measuring several tracks, approximately 0.55 inches was found between inner rail edges; however, a gap of 0.15 inches was implemented in the design, resulting in crossing pieces measuring 0.4 inches wide. This dimension may need to be adjusted for larger flange gaps. The grade crossing pieces should sit about 0.07 inches below tubular rail tops. In the OpenSCAD program, users can select desired crossing lengths; 4.5 inches is suitable for rural roads (1 lane), while 6.0 inches works well for town roads (2 lanes). Despite featuring diagonal sides, printing this design should be possible without support material. With version two of the grade crossing, an optional feature allows printing ramps leading up to the crossing, facilitating easier integration with scenery in some cases. Note that you can print either the grade crossing or the ramp; if both are desired, separate STL files must be created.