Thanks for the ideas. Most of the stuff I had mentioned use a dedicated voltage from various taps on the transformer and the common AC ground.
hey flintlock id recommend flea markets and resale shops usually you can find people who just want stuff gone i bought a box of O-27 like 12 peices clean no rust for 7$ at a flea market event. another man sold me 3 marx switches and a huge box full of o-27(roughly30+peices(didnt count rough estimate) for 20$ cause he sat on it over a year said he has more in storage and if he finds them their mine.
ive even gotten G guage before at flea market the emmet kelly jr circus train animals in cages flat car for cages and cages the steamer the tender the passenger car and included a bunch of LGB track i think somewhere around 45-65$ the steamer dont work but still not a bad deal plus i got a extra boxcar and reefer car for like 10 ea for the G scale.
another advantage finding vintage/no longer produced items. like a hotwheels mayflower truck or tootsie toys, or nylints. and sometimes in almost new or like new condition. and when it comes to stuff like transformers switches etc most sellers throw them and sell it as misalanious railroad electronice throw a 15$ price tag on it and call it a day. ive bought totes of model railroad items for 10$ ea one came with 12 premade buildings, random trucks couplers etc, a few hallmark store tenders that fit ho tracks, and other random various junk including dirt and some dirty green greasy foam blocks at the bottom
That and the insulated outside rail are by far the more reliable method for activating signals. 
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When people asked about trains at any of the 67 garage sales I had I said “no, but if you want a peek at MY collection that’s fine” 
I do remember one guy looking for Flyer Hudsons.
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Oh, absolutely! At the DC Big Flea in Chantilly VA a few years back I found a complete K-Line Hershey’s 100th Anniversary steam set for $85! AND six months later at the next one found an MTH 4-4-0 “Texas” for $70! I haven’t had any luck at resale or thrift shops but that doesn’t mean I don’t look if there’s one in the area and I have time to spare. You never know.
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I found a Marx Nickel Plate wedge tender once for 5 bucks. That was exciting for me 
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I picked up my KW at the Hartville flea market for 50 bucks. That one is well worth attending. I saw at least a half dozen people walking out with real railroad signals, lanterns and other goodies.
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