Apart from servos controlled by ardriuno or similar complex electronic devices, are there simpler ways to operate a semaphore signal? I have thought of two. 1. Use a relay, by soldering a piece of wire to the moving contact, you can then attach that wire to the actuating arm of the semaphore to operate the blade/arm. My prototype (South African Railways) used upper quadrant semaphores, so I simply have to push the arm/blade up and keep it up till the train has passed and triggered an optical sensor to disconnect the power to the semaphore which will then reset it to danger. 

Working on the final details on the CN Intermodal Yard on my layout, the Trenton Subdivision in N Scale. 
Work crews have been busy installing the lights and security cameras. 

Some more scenery completed, light posts installed. For depth perception for some of the trees I have shaved off half of the foliage. This allows me to place them directly against the back wall.
The pencils stabilize the trees until the glue is fully set.

This blog will document my journey into 3D printing.  I am starting from scratch, so I figured that documenting my journey may assist others into "jumping into the pool".