A Highway Crossing Gate lowers over a highway to block cars from the train tracks when a train is approaching and present. It raises when the train has passed.

The Lionel 252 Crossing Gate was produced from 1950 to 1962.

It has an arm for the roadway, 9" long, making it a 1:48 scale model of a 36' long crossing arm.

The base is black plastic. The arms are white plastic with black painted striping. Weights on the short side of the arm are diecast metal. A clear plastic piece and and red plastic "bulbs" on the arm transmit light from a clear bayonet bulb (363) in the base. (Click number for bulb specifications.)

Wire connections are made to two fahnstock clips under the base. Recommended operating power is 12-14 volts, AC: a little voltage adjustment is usually needed for best operation.

The Lionel 252 Crossing Gate is best operated with with Three-Rail Innovations' Two Relay Controller .

The Two Relay Controller features of Off/On and Limited can be used to operate a crossing gate. The electrical coil can overheat, so some operating time or power limitation, as provided by the Limited feature, is prudent.

Additional features that allow activation with two short isolated outside-rail track blocks can reduce the need for constructing a long isolated outside-rail track block. Useful for some track systems.

Click to see one example for operating crossing gates as part of a One 2RC Highway Crossing .