A few thoughts on postwar and modern era remakes of postwar accessories --
I like the 497 coaling station. It's reliable, self-contained, and easy to repair/maintain. Furthermore, the simulated coal generally falls where it's supposed to. I like the 397 coal loader; however, it delivers the simulated coal not only to the car but often to the area surrounding the car. My 3356 Santa Fe horse corral has always worked reasonably well. The floodlight towers (8 and 16 bulb versions) make for good lighting.
Due to can motors, modern remakes of postwar accessories are often good additions -- generally they work more smoothly/reliably than the postwar versions. Nonetheless, the PW 497 coal loader's growling motor is satisfying.
Examples of modern era remakes: The TMCC only (no hook up wires needed) Bucyrus-Erie triple action gantry crane (6-82097) is fun and reliable, but expensive. The crane comes with motorized wheels; consequently, it can move back and forth. The modern era #38 water tower (6-14086), burning switch tower (6-14104), and operating control tower/weather vane/rotating men tower (6-24153) are all good additions. Finally, at York, you can buy die cast 1/50 vehicles, e.g., police cars, fire engines, ambulances, trash trucks, etc., that have been wired with red/blue/clear/amber flashing lights. Perhaps, these modified cars, etc., are available on online.
I parked the emergency vehicles around the burning switch tower. The Lionel Line radioactive waste car (6-29829 remake of the 6805) and Menards nuclear disposal box and hopper cars are parked in front of the burning tower. Makes for a nice nuclear disaster scene.
