Kato to release upgraded Unitrack Crossing Gates

NorsemanJack Mar 16, 2017

  1. NorsemanJack

    NorsemanJack TrainBoard Member

    2,264
    946
    51
    Just fyi. These are now available for purchase. Not sure how quickly they will sell out / restock.
     
    subwayaz likes this.
  2. Point353

    Point353 TrainBoard Member

    2,879
    7,585
    71
    The rate at which the gates lower and raise seems a bit brisk:

     
    Jovet likes this.
  3. subwayaz

    subwayaz TrainBoard Member

    3,222
    106
    44
    Thanks $150 on Amazon; delivery estimate 24 May


    Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
     
  4. mtntrainman

    mtntrainman TrainBoard Supporter

    9,982
    10,821
    143
    $150.00 and i need 3 double track ones :eek:
    Guess I will just go "ding...ding...ding" in my head when my trains come to a crossing...ROFLMAO !! :ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO:
     
    subwayaz likes this.
  5. NorsemanJack

    NorsemanJack TrainBoard Member

    2,264
    946
    51
    Be careful. You might be buying the Japan version.
     
    subwayaz likes this.
  6. Point353

    Point353 TrainBoard Member

    2,879
    7,585
    71
  7. subwayaz

    subwayaz TrainBoard Member

    3,222
    106
    44
    You were correct. After reading here and further examination ; it sure was the a Japanese version.
    Thanks. I cancelled that order


    Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
     
  8. NorsemanJack

    NorsemanJack TrainBoard Member

    2,264
    946
    51
    Glad you were able to catch it in time. That 24 May delivery date was a pretty good clue that it was coming from Japan.
     
    subwayaz likes this.
  9. subwayaz

    subwayaz TrainBoard Member

    3,222
    106
    44
    I guess that Kato didn’t anticipate the massive response that they got for this item. All the vendors that I know of have been out of stock since before Christmas.. And no estimated date of a Restocking.
    Has anybody else read or heard any different?


    Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
     
  10. John Moore

    John Moore TrainBoard Supporter

    13,396
    12,182
    183
    I will stay with a low tech layout thank you, and far less strain on the wallet. Back where I grew up there were not any flashing lights or automatic gates at crossing. You just did the old look both ways and listened then floored it.
     
  11. Hardcoaler

    Hardcoaler TrainBoard Member

    10,677
    44,862
    142
    Kato's technology is amazing, but I think the repetitive action and sound would drive me nuts on the small railroad I'm planning.
     
  12. Point353

    Point353 TrainBoard Member

    2,879
    7,585
    71
    The Kato website indicates that a re-stock is expected to arrive next month.
    http://www.katousa.com/N/Unitrack/accessories.html
     
    subwayaz likes this.
  13. subwayaz

    subwayaz TrainBoard Member

    3,222
    106
    44
  14. NorsemanJack

    NorsemanJack TrainBoard Member

    2,264
    946
    51
    I'm glad they sold a lot of these and are ready to sell more. Whatever is good for Kato is good for N scale. I know we've had a lot of comments that state the obvious. These aren't prototypical. They aren't cheap. They could drive a roundy-round layout guy nuts. That is all true; and well covered multiple times. They are toys and meant to be fun. If you played with Lionel as a kid and have fond memories, then you might get some enjoyment out of these (or, your grandkids may get some enjoyment). The sound volume can be adjusted down to zero, if a person gets tired of hearing them.

    All that said, they are a technological marvel and require zero effort to set up and operate. Being Kato, they are ultra-reliable and impressive on many levels. Yes, I do own a set and have them installed with a four track crossing. I also no longer dink around with DCC and my sound is four Kato Soundboxes hooked up through a $70 sound mixer to two under the shelf computer speaker systems (call it a cheapo, model railroading surround sound system). It's fun, which is what I'm sure is all that any of us are looking for in a hobby. Right? At least that is what sales are apparently suggesting. :)
     
    Last edited: Mar 10, 2018
    Jovet, Traindork, Kiha66 and 2 others like this.
  15. Metro Red Line

    Metro Red Line TrainBoard Member

    2,494
    696
    46
    These are actually prototypical - in areas that get a high number of grade crossing accidents, double-gated crossings are common, usually on light rail or commuter lines, but I'm sure freight railroads can get them too.
     
  16. John Moore

    John Moore TrainBoard Supporter

    13,396
    12,182
    183
    Growing up out west crossing gates and lights were not all that common except on major busy thruways, however I do remember seeing some double lane gates, left and right gates in few of the larger cities, and this was near 50 years ago. However in those open areas of grassland and rolling hills one could see a train coming miles before it got to the crossing. City areas where often grain elevators and other structures would block your view to less than a city block crossing gates and lights were the norm. And in my hometown a set of gates covered a six track crossing of a well traveled road.

    As far as the noise factor the video showed a sound level that was greatly reduced with the last setting of the slide switch. As a critic though the gates do seem to drop at too fast a rate for prototype.
     
    Hardcoaler likes this.
  17. bremner

    bremner Staff Member

    6,268
    6,247
    106
    John, I remember areas near Los Angeles that had street crossings protected by wig wags in the mid 1990's... I am mad at myself for never taking a picture of them...
     
    Hardcoaler likes this.
  18. NorsemanJack

    NorsemanJack TrainBoard Member

    2,264
    946
    51
    It's actually a POT, not a slide switch, and it can be totally muted if desired. They do drop fast (not as fast as Lionel though :) ). Of course, if your alternative is gates that don't drop at all (which is what I've seen on most layouts), then it is a small step towards "prototypicality." (is that a word?)
     
  19. John Moore

    John Moore TrainBoard Supporter

    13,396
    12,182
    183
    I wonder if Kato has the short sections of sensor track as a item that can be ordered single. I can see several mainline routes converging into a throat and having a grade crossing at that location with more than two tracks needing multiple sensors.
     
  20. Hardcoaler

    Hardcoaler TrainBoard Member

    10,677
    44,862
    142
    Thanks for a happy and forgotten memory from my childhood -- those Lionel gates did indeed slam down in an instant and they stood 30 Feet tall. :) I still have my Lionel 262 Crossing Gate somewhere ....

    [​IMG]
     

Share This Page