modern railway level crossing lights

A magnet under the train operates reed switches positioned on the track. The trigger reed switch starts the sequence by switching on the amber light, a few seconds later the two red lights start to flash. When the train has passed the level crossing it operates the cancel reed switch which switches off the lights until the next train arrives.

There is a PCB pattern for this project, but if you don't have facilities to make PCBs you can build this project on stripboard instead.

Parts Required
Level crossing lights

* resistors: 680 ×3, 1k ×3, 33k, 47k, 82k, 270k
* capacitors: 0.1µF ×3, 10µF radial ×2
* red LED (3mm best) ×2
* amber* (or yellow) LED (3mm best)
* some amber LEDs are too orange to look correct, yellow may be better
* 555 timer IC ×3
* 8-pin DIL socket for IC ×3
* on/off switch
* battery clip
* reed switch ×2
* miniature magnet - each locomotive needs one
* printed circuit board (PCB)