Best O gauge accessories with automatic or mechanical moving figurines or parts?

Hi Manny!

Lionel's oil pump is one of my favorites. Scale looks and an intriguing constant motion.

Note that I have "sunk" mine into the scenery to enhance the appearance. The building is a Berkshire Valley resin kit.

Oil derrick, gateman and semaphore. Available from many manufacturers. 

If you want to install a few switches and set up a small industrial area you can have a lot of fun switching the cars into position - loading or unloading them as the case may be and then switch them back out to form up a train.  To that end almost any of the Lionel or Flyer accessories will do the trick - Flyer barrel loader, Lionel ice depot, Lionel milk car/cattle car/horse car/log car/side dump car, Lionel culvert loader/unloader, the Lionel coal ramp and the coal loader in combination (both of these combos give an endless cycle of load/unload) same for the Lionel coal tipple, etc.

I enjoy the Automatic Milk Cars.  I have four so far.

Bill

I don't solely stare at mine. I'm usually fidgeting with something and watching casually; like a tv that's on but doesn't have your full attention, or watching a campfire while talking, etc.

The electromagnetic cranes are #1 for actual using vs viewing. (I hate using my hands to load and always wanted a good crane. I have a $20 plastic tower crane from a toy isle that works out ok, but the magnet would make me much happier, not to mention looks (yellow plastic and modern crane cab; yuck).... "someday" maybe.)

I think the overhead lumber loader with trolley type crane is realable and interesting to watch. 

Barrel loaders too.

Culvert loader and unloader as well if you don't mind fidgeting a bit more.

An oil derrick is kinda cool to have clicking in the background when things go quiet. (a steam tender with sounds simply parked makes some similar rythmic cycling sounds I like too) The PW oil tower/derrick with bubble tube, lit up in the dark, is also very cool. (adjustable power to them helps to dial in a nice rythm)

If there are ever any kids to entertain,a #90 button and the Lionel news stand with dog racing around the hydrant will occupy little hands. Even toddlers will point and say "doggie". The potty humor is universal 😉 and if ever a #90 was worn out, I bet the news stand was involved. (can also operate under isolated rail triggers or #153 pressure contacts or combination of "on" methods)

  You might try a station stop circuit. You can make one, or try one of the stations equipt with it (or simply buy the stop assembly alone.)  A train will stop, wait a minute or two, then procede. For timing, they work off of bi-metallic heat strips like a breaker(Lionel/NOMA) or by motor and cam operating switches (AFlyer City Station). It might be set to stop the whole line wherever you choose, or be limited to one or two tracks at a station(s) or platform(s).

There are some hobo camps/shacks with lit fire that might appeal to you for some dessert fodder vs a camp.  I also like the welding accessories that flash a blue/white strobe for a plasma arc. (change to green if you like aluminum welding )

Maybe the AF "cow on track"? (train stops until the cow moves it'self)

There is a Wylie Coyote and The Roadrunner version too..? ( )  (I think there was a Canadian Mountie version and damsel in distress done too... i.e. Dudly Do-Right but not with cartoonish figures)

Station with disappearing crowd?(newer) (i don't think "they" did a freight version; shame on "them", eh?)

Maybe a mail pouch pole & mail car ? (bag has a magnet, so does the car)

Sooo much to choose from; I know I'm forgetting something "big". 🤔

Postwar Lionel water tower with water pump that uses real water. I think it's #38.

Arnold

See operating videos:
Lionel Maiden Rescue

Lionel Mel's Diner

@Adriatic posted:

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The electromagnetic cranes are #1 for actual using vs viewing. (I hate using my hands to load and always wanted a good crane. I have a $20 plastic tower crane from a toy isle that works out ok, but the magnet would make me much happier, not to mention looks (yellow plastic and modern crane cab; yuck).... "someday" maybe.)....................

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There is a Wylie Coyote and The Roadrunner version too..? ( )  (I think there was a Canadian Mountie version and damsel in distress done too... i.e. Dudly Do-Right but not with cartoonish figures)

Station with disappearing crowd?(newer) (i don't think "they" did a freight version; shame on "them", eh?).................. 🤔

Have to agree on magnetic cranes being one of the coolest in terms of play value.

Wylie Coyote and Roadrunner was a Gateman variant.  Same mechanism, just the figures of Wylie and the Roadrunner. 

The "Canadian Mountie" thing is similar to the "cow on track".  Was called the "Maiden Rescue" accessory. (here are two on the Lionel site)

If you mean what I think, it was MTH that made the little station platform with the passengers that "disappear".  I believe they did make a freight version as well.  Basically the passengers or freight are on an "arm" that swings up and hides under the roof line when you flip the switch.

As for things I like that have not been mentioned yet, I tend to like items that add a bit of height to the action (things that move above the level of the tabletop/trains).  My votes go for Radar Towers, Control Towers, Beacons, and Airplane Pylons (any modern flavor - single plane or the dual ones they made for the Red Baron era or the other one with WWII era planes - or even the "special" ones for Christmas or Halloween).  These all run by themselves and don't interact with the train, so there isn't a lot of fidgetting to do. 

I like a lot of the operating accessories that load/unload items with the train too, many of which have been mentioned above.

-Dave

The most recent operating water tower from Mth is well done.

These are now tough to find but I believe there might be another batch on its way.

Got to have that maiden rescue accessory!  A guy has a Youtube you can watch, where he switched Batman for the Mountie!

Probably a "Clix" figure from Hero gaming. They are about 1:48.

Here's a whole bunch, they are all cool to watch.

https://youtu.be/vxc-PycmYps

I'm partial to the 362 barrel loader. It takes up some real-estate though.

We love the MTH Railking Operating Coaling Tower...we use it as part of our quarry (obviously a long way to go on the quarry)...my son likes to use jelly beans/M&M's.  We pair it with the Bachman operating coal dump car with remote control (not in this picture...just got that car...love it...really smooth dumping operation).

My favorite is the #282 Portal Gantry Crane. 

Even in the background it is imposing and industrial-looking:

The view from the operator's cab:

I added transverse movement to mine, creating a winch from the guts of. sacrificial #282. The cab in foreground shelters the winch drum:

I also added nighttime lighting and a red LED to warn that the electromagnet is energized:

My other favorite is the Lionel Pump-Jack with it's scale appearance and nice slow motion operation:

ALL great suggestions!