As we get ready for the official on-line unveiling on the Lionel 2012 Signature Catalog, I thought it be fun to highlight one of the fun aspects of the hobby....accessories. Post your likes and dislikes, any manufacturer, any era. For me, they represent a big part of my enjoyment in the hobby.
Peter
Here's one that I don't think gets the recognition it deserves, the LTI era Steam, Clean & Wheel Grind Shop.
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Peter I agree with you on the Steam Clean and Wheel Grindng shop but also love the intermodal crane and the LLC Lift bridges.
How does the steam clean and wheel grind shop run? I have an entire set, mint in the box, just removed the cover to see everything.
3 of my LTI favorites too! Only thing missing is the Burning Switch tower (another favorite of mine, but I know they have done that one to death over the last 6 or 8 years).
An Updated crane would be cool. I'm thinking with TMCC/Legacy Control. They did TMCC for the magnet crane, wouldn't hopefully be too much more work for the extra controls for the intermodal crane.
And I love Don's install of the TWIN lift bridges! 
I think the SCWGS is a good effect. The sparks from the "grind" part are probably hard to see from too far away (unless the lights are out!), the smoke "steam" is pretty decent, and the rollers for the "clean" look good with the sounds and flashing lights. While it's not obvious from Peter's post, the other neat thing is that all 3 sections can be installed separately (though close enough for the controller to be near all), they do not need to be in the neat square that is shown.
-Dave
The Lionel Swing Bridge is one of my favorites - just takes a little creativity to work it into a layout - especially a 5'x9' layout....
I was doing some research into Engine Facilities and saw that the Lionel Backshop was a hard bidded and fought for item on Ebay. I followed the trail and learned that this item may have had too thin walls and some issues with electronics.(Bay doors opening and closing?)
Some suggested the Grind Shop as a Alternative. It will be a good one with a Engine house of your choice.
I think it's the accessories that make Lionel etc. really stand out from the rest of the model trains out there.
I think this is especially true on this side of the pond as Hornby has nothing to compete.
Regards
Nick
Love 'em all!
Jon 
The moving trains are great action but I also enjoy any type of accessory. These are my favorites. I just picked up a 3656 cattle car and corral. I will probably install it this spring.
I think it's the accessories that make Lionel etc. really stand out from the rest of the model trains out there.
I think this is especially true on this side of the pond as Hornby has nothing to compete.
Regards
Nick
I believe it's not just Lionel, but with O gauge in general - animations and accssories function much better and are easier to see. I had Tyco and Bachmann HO trains and had several accessories - operating crossing gates, pipe loaders, coal loaders; they never worked as reliably as Lionel's or MTH accessories.
There was one HO accessory that did work well and was a long time HO favorite... a Tyco culvert unloader.
I like the Lionel accessories too. I think the often over-looked value of the older Lionel trains and the accessories is the educational value. The older open-frame style motors in the prewar and postwar trains required quite a bit of maintenance and was an educational experience to mechanically disassemble the engine and diagnose and repair the problem. Similarly, the mechanisms in the accessories are easy to disassemble and repair.
Can-style motors in modern engines rarely require any servicing and the electronics are rarely serviceable and are basically just remove and replace (at great expense).
Earl
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