Trackside accessories have contributed to the action and appeal of toy trains since the first electric powered trains circled Christmas trees. Even early trackside accessories were activated with an included section of isolated-outside rail track. Three-rail track provides the toy train operator with a distinct advantage for sensing a train's position and activating an accessory. How Isolated Outside-Rails Work.

Scroll down for some toy train history for the insulated outside-rail, examples of using Three-Rail Innovations' products to operate trackside accessories, and descriptions of available trackside accessories.

The use of an insulated outside rail of three-rail track to control train accessories has a history that starts with a 1915 patent. This web page gives the highlights, including clicks to images of related Lionel paper and patents.

The appeal of the added action of trackside accessories operated by moving trains has been supported by a great many products. Click a following bar to see a particular category of trackside accessory, or scroll down to browse.

All described trackside accessories can be operated by Three-Rail Innovations' Universal Trackside Accessory Controller or Two-Relay Controller . Accessories can be operated with isolated outside-rails implemented with any three-rail track system. See Track Systems .

Lighting accessories and lights in trackside accessories can be operated with the Two Lighting Relays controller.

Lionel 153 Block Signal

Lionel 151 Semaphore

Model Power 991 Three Light Block Signal

Lionel 140 Banjo Signal

Lionel 154 Crossbuck

Marx 423 Crossbuck

Lionel 77 Crossing Gate	Lionel 152 Crossing Gate	Lionel 252 Crossing Gate
Lionel 6-22947 Crossing Gate	Lionel 262 Crossing Gate/Flashing Crossbuck	Marx Crossing Gate

Americal Flyer Warning Bell

Lionel 69 Electric Warning Signal

Marx 417 Wig-Wag Warning Bell

Lionel O45N Gateman	Lionel 145 Gateman
Lionel 356 Operating Freight Station	K-Line K-122 Diesel Fueling Station

Lionel 71 Lamp Post

Lionel 58 Goose Neck Lamp Post

Lionel 394 Beacon Light

Lionel 395 Floodlight

Three-Rail Innovations' products are designed to operate trackside accessories using isolated outside-rail track sections. Review the examples to see how you can add operating trackside accessories to your train layout.

Railway signals automatically operate as your trains move around the layout. Operation with Three-Rail Innovations' products can range from prototypical to fanciful and high-action.

A highway crossing train tracks provides an opportunity for lots of trackside accessory action. Flashing crossbucks, crossing gates, banjo signals, and gatemen can all operate as trains on one or more tracks approach a highway crossing.

Accessories like an operating freight station, water tower, fueling station, dispatching billboard, gateman or animations implicitly operate when a train is stopped. Three-Rail Innovations' Two Relay Controller provides a "Train Stopped" feature specifically for these accessories.

Lighted accessories and structures add a lot of appeal to the toy train layout. They are even more eye catching when lights come on as trains move into parts of the layout, cycle on and off, and respond to visitor push buttons.