new layout with no name

[FCIN]

Would the grade crossing need protected by gates (different railroad crossing) which the switch crew have to open/close(these could work via servos) and would add a bit of interest to operations,keeping the road crossing clear would also add interest.

Ray;
You could have something like this:     This is the L&N (now R J Corman) crossing of NS (SOU) on the Bloomfield Branch in Shelbyville, KY. That's a Loram rail grinder train passing on the NS in this photo. The Bloomfield Branch is nothing more than a industrial spur serving a couple of industries in Shelbyville south of the NS crossing.

As you can see, there is a split rail derail on this side of the crossing along with the gate. On the south side, there is simply a locked derail protecting the NS crossing. There are no signals governing the RJCC at the crossing and the crew must call the NS dispatcher about using it. Once they get clearance to cross, a crew member must open the box you see on the left at the base of the gate, actuate it and wait 5 minutes before the gate can be opened and the derail lined for movement.

Here's a shot of the crew shoving a plastic pellets covered hopper over the crossing after the rail grinder train cleared the block:     As you can see, the gate is now across the NS, which does have signals on either side of the crossing. Once the train clears the crossing, the gate is re-aligned for normal movement over NS and the derails placed back in derailing position. The crew then calls the NS dispatcher to report clear of the crossing.

I've also see a similar gate protected crossing operation on the Crab Orchard & Egyptian Railroad in Marion, IL. The COER crosses a lightly used UP (ex-MP) line there and the crew simply stops clear of the crossing and if no UP train is in sight, they swing the gate and go on through. Then align the gate back for movement over the UP. They don't call the UP dispatcher on that operation.

It would certainly make for an interesting detail to include on your layout, although the only problem I see would be that while you're switching your industries on the left side of the crossing, you'd have to foul the crossing the whole time. Not to say that couldn't be done if the other line was lightly used, but it would get old really fast if you had to constantly stop, open and close the gate as you switched. I sure like the idea; not something you often see.