Animation on a model railroad comes in many forms - movement, lights, sound, even smells! - and can be activated manually or automatically. Most animation comes from the trains themselves, which, after all, are the stars of the show!
I believe additional animation should complement the trains, and not overpower them, and should be realistic. Here's my first completed animated feature, a grade crossing with lights and sound.
I chose not to use crossing gates at this location, although the controller I used can handle them. I felt this road was sufficiently rural not to have had gates (in the 1950's, at least).
Here's a short video showing the components, and the crossing in action:
I've also been working at the bench to complete these 3 signal bridges - yes, working signals are animation, too! A lot of work here to get them pre-wired and ready to install. Nobody makes a good realistic signal bridge with B&O "CPL" (Color Position Light) style signal heads, so these were built from kits and components from NJ International. They, along with the utility poles shown, are ready to "plant", but won't be working until much later in the build. They will require IR sensors and logic controllers, much like the grade crossing signals, to be operational.
