Roadwork in Ruston

I've been working in Ruston a bit more trying to finish up the highway crossing.  I have the Showcase Miniatures Model 10 grade crossing signals pretty much built.  I decided to raise them up so that they are level with the road, I did this by gluing down some cork. 

I also picked up some of their Breakaway Bases.  I still need to create the holes to insert the lower sections of the bases into.

After doing that I decided that the depot would also benefit by being level with the track.  Thinking more about it, I thought it might also be a good idea to glue down a much larger piece of cork so that the road coming off the highway and the parking lot would all match up better with the highway and depot.

So I dug out a section of cork and got it trimmed to fit the area and got it glued.  I think this will also allow me to easier define the road and parking lot around the depot and make the area level in front of the spur where the hoppers will be spotted to unload.

A train is a coming...

so one needs lights and bell.

A few months ago Showcase Miniatures released a Model 10 crossing signal in N scale.  I had to have a few thinking this would be an awesome addition to the layout?  After getting the highway made and installed, I decided it was time to test my sanity.

These kits are fantastic.  They come with everything you need along with a few options for signs, such as the number tracks and different length crossing arms.  They even include a preprinted paper with signs and colored arms that you can cut out and apply to the proper items.

They are of course, a little tedious to assemble but frankly, quite easy.  This is the first time for me assembling something like this and I didn't have much trouble.  That said I didn't make it through the first one without loosing one small part.

Once assembled, I got it painted and then applied the paper cutouts for the signs.

I also had dreams of making them lit, well let's just say I'm still on the fence about that.  I did manage to drill out the light cases so as to thread the wires through them, I picked up some Red 402 LED's and I was talking to a buddy who loves to make electronic controllers.  So if I don't lose my mind before I'm finished, I should have these working as well.  Which will be a first on my layout.

I opted not to  use the crossarms for this location, the line does not see a lot of trains, so this should work.