Aisle Swing Gate - 5
To account for vertical alignment of the track at both the
hinged and open ends of the gate, I used wood screws when
fastening the three inches of Homasote roadbed on both sides
of the rail gaps (4). The balance of the Homasote roadbed is
glued to the plywood sub-roadbed. Adding (or subtracting)
cardboard or paper shims between the Homasote and plywood
permits very small vertical adjustments.
After 25 years, I have still not found a need to adjust the hinged
end of the gate. These tracks align very reliably both winter
and summer.
On the open end of the gate, I remove shims in the early sum-
mer as humidity causes the wooden structure to expand
slightly. As the wood dries out in the fall, the shims are put
back in place, raising the railhead to match the fixed part of
the layout. Other than the twice a year vertical adjustment, no
other adjustment has been necessary.
By placing a continuous strip of the Homasote road bed across
the entire gate area, I made sure everything started life in per-
fect alignment. I used a razor saw to cut the Homasote so there
is a close fit for the roadbed.
After checking for smooth operation with the roadbed in place,
I added the track. I used code 83 flex track for my HO layout,
but you can use any track used on the adjoining fixed portions
of your layout. I again used the razor saw to cut the gaps on
the hinged and open ends of the gate. I then filed small cham-
fers in the ends of the rails to ease wheel sets across the gaps.
Building the roadbed and trackwork across the entire gate
area, before cutting them, ensured that everything lined up.
The cam action design for the gate allows the gap between the
moving and fixed parts of the gate to increase as it opens, mov-
ing the vulnerable rail ends away from each other (8, 9). This
MRH-Feb 2013
