Yesterday I saw (and edited) the final proofs for an article that will be appearing in the January 2012 issue of Classic Toy Trains, due on newsstands 6 December.
The article, “Smart wiring for the gateman,” shows some different ways to wire the venerable Lionel gateman accessory, first introduced 75 years ago.
The article runs two pages, and goes a bit beyond running wires. I also presented a simple electronic circuit, made from Radio Shack parts, to make the accessory run more quietly and reliably.
I write a lot of how-to/tips-and-tricks stuff–I always have–and that’s exactly what this is. It was fun designing and building the circuit, as that’s something I don’t think I’ve done since I was in high school.
This is the first time I’ve written something train-related for a national publication. The gateman isn’t a bad way to start.
David Farquhar is a computer security professional, entrepreneur, and author. He started his career as a part-time computer technician in 1994, worked his way up to system administrator by 1997, and has specialized in vulnerability management since 2013. He invests in real estate on the side and his hobbies include O gauge trains, baseball cards, and retro computers and video games. A University of Missouri graduate, he holds CISSP and Security+ certifications. He lives in St. Louis with his family.