HO scale 4x6 or 6x8 scale lumber, stained with a stain marker, cut to N scale crosstie length, individually installed onto yellow glue: This Chuck Conway photo of Gross Dam Rd is the look I'm after: http://www.drgw.net/gallery/CCEastoftheMoffat/5338_Crescent
I recently learned this about road crossings. At leas I was told by some in my model RR club that all road crossings have something other than the regular pavement on the outside and between the rails. The usually model it with wooden ties. This is the way I have made my crossings: And this is the way I should have made them: I have been able to remedy this using stained 1/64 inch thick scale wood and gluing it onto the spackling along the outside of the rails. Looks pretty good if the spackling/styrene level is not too high. Well, heck! Now am to change all my crossings? I have seen photos where the wood between the rails is completely obscured by asphalt or some other repair surface. At least you can't tell it is wood anymore. Does anyone else agree with this? Seems there should be exceptions but I haven't found any photos of crossings without something other than the pavement along the outside of the rails. Comments appreciated.
Depending on the era you model, they can have wood or gravel, concrete or asphalt. Today's modern crossing can have pre-made rubber pads or concrete slabs with metal edges that are bolted into place. I've seen where they've just laid asphalt over the crossing and cleared out the flange ways.
Several of the street crossings in Kankakee, IL seem to be just asphalt over the rails, and not just on minor streets either. Here's the clearest example I could find: http://www.bing.com/maps/?v=2&cp=qv...ir=92.4&sty=o&where1=Kankakee, IL&form=LMLTCC Here's another where not only is it asphalt, it's much-patched asphalt: http://www.bing.com/maps/?v=2&cp=qv...r=92.34&sty=o&where1=Kankakee, IL&form=LMLTCC (The KB&S line here used to extend straight across the IC main, as well as having a junction curving off, so the street crossing used to be two tracks.)
Here is the crossing that I mentioned earlier where they asphalted right over the rails and then cleared them out. It's at Fostoria, OH http://youtu.be/tpLmNLrpIjk
Concerning the prototype, nothing is simple. The crossing on my N scale layout, modeled after Potter Place NH is asphalt now as it was in the era of my layout (1970's). This picture taken in 2011, shows the asphalt is butted up against the outside rails and a filled between the rails with flanges cut in. While this section is technically "abandoned" it is still used for a hi-rail or critter now and then. This same crossing in the late 1940's however, had a wood crossing. Here is modern day Monticello Illinois Museum's Southern 401 crossing a modern wooden crossing on the former Illinois Central line. Another variation of the asphalt crossing in Illinois. This time with additional rails to keep the asphalt in place and not foul things up. And modern sectional concrete as seen on the BNSF main line in Mendotta Illinois. So yeah, it really is just depending on a time and place. It requires more research, but isn't that part of the fun in this hobby?
