Abstract: The present invention relates to a switch monitoring method and a switch monitoring system, a railway line management method and a railway line management system. Electric signal of a switch motor during pulling of the switch can effectively reflect status of the switch, when the switch is in a stable state, electric signal of its motor is very steady during pulling of the switch; however, when the switch is in an unstable state, there will be different degrees of fluctuation in electric signal of its motor during pulling of the switch. Thus, the invention may be used to identify state of a switch by monitoring electric signal of a switch motor, and further take different measures based on different states of the switch. With these measures, accidents due to switch failure may be effectively reduced, and train delay time may also be reduced through proper line management.

Abstract: A railroad crossing gate height adjustment assembly and method for establishing or reestablishing a height of the crossing gate of a railroad crossing gate apparatus. The assembly includes an elongated smooth pipe having a smooth exterior surface and a sliding coupling slidably engageable at a lower end along a length of the smooth pipe. A larger, upper end of the sliding coupling is threadably engageable with a coupling previously secured at a lower end of a wiring conduit of the gate apparatus whereby the length of the wiring conduit is adjustably increased by an exposed length of the smooth pipe. A lower end of the smooth pipe has an external thread which is threadably engageable into a threaded hole formed into a top surface of a gate base of the gate apparatus for supportively receiving a lower end of the smooth pipe.

Abstract: A railroad crossing gate height adjustment assembly and method for reestablishing a height of the crossing gate of a railroad crossing gate apparatus. An elongated externally threaded pipe has a reducer threadably engageable at a lower, smaller end thereof onto, and is adjustably positionable along a length of the threaded pipe. A larger, upper end of the reducer is threadably lockable with a coupling previously secured at a lower end of a wiring conduit of the gate apparatus whereby the length of the wiring conduit is adjustably increased by an exposed length of the threaded pipe. A bushing having an external thread is lockably engageable onto a top surface of a gate base of the gate apparatus after the coupling and connected wiring conduit are removed, the bushing also having an external thread thereon for supportively receiving a lower end of the threaded pipe.

Abstract: A rail finder for railroad bridges is compactly and uniquely designed to minimize false signals and decrease replacement and maintenance costs. A weighted lever mounted on switch-box rotatable shaft that is perpendicularly disposed with respect to the rail, has an offset portion directly engageable by a horizontal plate mounted on the inner surface of a rail on a bridge. The plate holds the lever in a horizontal position in the down position of the bride. When the bridge raises, the weighted lever follows the plate and rotates the switch box shaft to where cams move switchable elements from a set of contacts. The contacts of the set are in circuit with green lights permitting train passage when the cams are out of contact with the switchable elements. The compact arrangements allow a pair of rail finders to be mounted side-by-side within the gauge and thus out of the path of loose or low third-rail shoes of electrically-powered trains.

Abstract: An accessory bridge for use with a model train set, a model car race set, or the like, wherein the vehicles traverse a path of travel defined by a specific track layout. Particularly, the bridge accessory is designed for use with a track layout having a cross-over point where one segment of the track crosses over another segment, such as a "figure 8" configuration layout. The bridge accessory includes a pivotally mounted bridge portion which supports the upper or cross-over track segment at an elevated height above the lower or cross-under track segment. The bridge is movable by a selectively actuatable drive unit between a down position where a vehicle may pass over the bridge and an up position where a vehicle may pass under the bridge.