Slide the contactor beneath the track so that one of the track ties rests firmly
upon the contactor’s pressure plate as shown below. If your layout is fas-
tened to a board or platform, loosen several track sections on either side of the
contactor. The track must be sufficiently flexible to bend under the weight of
the train and depress the contactor. For this reason, the contactor may not
work properly when placed next to a track switch.
With no weight on the track above the contactor, terminal clip no. 3 makes
electrical contact with terminal clip no. 1. When a passing train depresses the
track, clip no. 3 breaks contact with no. 1 and makes contact with clip no. 2
instead.
Installing the contactor
DIECAST
AUTOMATIC CROSSING GATE
3
Adjustment nut
Track tie
153C contactor
pressure plate
2
No weight on track
1
2
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3
3
1
Adjustment nut
Adjustment nut
Weight of train
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71-2947-
250
Have an adult strip 1⁄4" of insulation from both ends of the three wires included
with the automatic gate, if they have not already been stripped. Connect two
of the wires to the two terminal posts on the base of the accessory. Connect one
wire to the no. 3 spring clip on the contactor and the other to your transformer as
shown below. Connect the third wire to the no. 2 spring clip on the contactor and
attach the other end to your transformer.
To connect the wires to the spring clips, press down the springy upper half
of the metal loop until the lower part projects through the slot, insert the bare
wire end into the loop, and release the upper part of the clip. Spring tension will
hold the wire tight.
Wiring your automatic gate to a power source
3 2
1
To Transformer accessory posTs (10-14 Vac)
Bottom view of crossing gate
Connecting the wire to the spring clipStripping the wires
153C contactor
Congratulations on your purchase of the Lionel automatic crossing gate.
Place it at any grade crossing on your model railroad. As the train
approaches, red lights glow as the gate comes down automatically to halt
traffic. After the train passes, the gate returns to the raised position. The
automatic crossing gate uses a 153C contactor (Lionel part
no. 690-153C-001), which is a single-pole, double-throw electrical switch
that is activated by the weight of a train passing over it. The contactor can be
attached to any straight section of track.
After all the connections are made and the transformer is turned on, the
contactor must be adjusted so that the crossing gate operates properly.
Stop the train several sections away from the contactor so that it does not
press on the contactor plate. Turn the adjustment nut either up or down until
the gate goes up. Then back up the adjustment nut just enough to cause the
gate to go down. When properly adjusted, the contactor will respond to light
finger pressure on the track and the gate will stay up as long as any part of the
train is passing over the contactor plate.
Adjusting the contactor
Insulating pin
Insulating pin
Lockon
Power
Common
Insulated rail
Limited Warranty/Lionel Service
T
his Lionel product including all mechanical and electrical components, moving
parts, motors and structural components, except for light bulbs, is warranted to the
original consumer-purchaser, for 1 year against original defects in materials or work-
manship when purchased through an authorized Lionel merchant.
This warranty does NOT cover normal wear and tear, light bulbs, defects appearing in
the course of commercial use, or damage resulting from abuse or misuse of the product
by the purchaser. Transfer of this product by the original consumer-purchaser to anoth-
er person voids this warranty. Modification of this product voids this warranty.
Any warranted product which is defective in original materials or workmanship and is
delivered by the original consumer-purchaser to Lionel L.L.C. or an authorized Lionel
L.L.C. service center, together
with proof of original purchase, will at the option of Lionel L.L.C. be repaired or replaced,
without charge for parts or labor. In the event the defective product cannot be repaired,
and a replacement is not available, a refund of the original purchase price will be grant-
ed. Any products on which warranty service is sought must be sent freight or postage
prepaid, as transportation and shipping charges are not covered by the warranty.
IN NO EVENT SHALL LIONEL L.L.C. BE LIABLE FOR INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL
DAMAGES.
Some states do not allow the exclusion or limitation of incidental or consequential dam-
ages, so the above exclusion may not apply to you.
This limited warranty gives you specific legal rights, and you may have other rights
which vary from state to state.
INSTRUCTIONS FOR OBTAINING SERVICE
If service for this Lionel L.L.C. product is required, bring the item, along with your dated
sales receipt and completed warranty information to the nearest Authorized Lionel
Service Center. Your nearest Lionel Service Center can be found by calling
1-800-4-Lionel, or by contacting our Website @ www.Lionel.com
If you prefer to send it back to Lionel L.L.C. for factory repair, you must first call 810-
949-4100 or FAX 810-949-5429 or write to Customer Service, P.O. Box 748 New Baltimore,
MI 48047-0748 stating what the item is, when it was purchased and what seems to be
the problem. You will be sent a return authorization letter and label to assure your mer-
chandise will be properly handled upon receipt.
Once you have received your return authorization and label, make sure that the item is
packed to prevent damage during shipping and handling. We suggest that you use the
products original packaging. This shipment must be prepaid and we recommend that it
be insured.
Please make sure you have followed all of the above instructions carefully before return-
ing any merchandise for service.
You may choose to have your product repaired by one of our Authorized Lionel Service
Centers after its warranty has expired. A reasonable service fee will be charged.
WARRANTY INFORMATION
Please complete the information below and keep it, along with your dated sales receipt.
You must present this and your dated sales receipt when requesting warranty service.
NAME___________________________________
ADDRESS________________________________
PLACE OF PURCHASE____________________
DATE OF PURCHASE _____________________
PRODUCT NUMBER _____________________
PRODUCT DESCRIPTION _________________________________________
© 1998 LioneL LLc, chesTerfieLd mi 48051-2493
UniTed sTaTes of america
Operating your automatic crossing gate using an insulated track
Lamp replacement
To remove the lamp from the base of the automatic crossing gate, invert
the gate, squeeze the two metal clips together and take out the entire
assembly. Twist the bulb and pull it straight out from the assembly. Replace
the bulb with Lionel part no. 600-0363-300 bayonet base lamp, available
from your Authorized Lionel Service Center or Lionel Service.
Your automatic crossing gate can also be operated by using an insulated track
section (available separately). Replace a regular track section with a section of
insulated track. You will have to remove one of the metal pins from the mating
track. Attach a lockon (available separately) to the side of the insulated track with
the fiber pins in the outer rail. Run a wire from lockon terminal no. 1 to the com-
mon terminal on your accessory. Then, run a wire from lockon terminal 2 to the
accessory power terminal. The crossing gate will be activated whenever a train
passes over the insulated track.
Lionel part no. 600-0363-300
Bottom view of crossing gate
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