Exceeding current draw of adaptors: does it damage them?

You are certainly not doing that adapter any good by overloading it to that degree!  Electrical devices won't draw more current than they need if the source has more current capability than the load requires, but you can certainly cook the supply if you demand more current that it's rated for.

If you have a bunch of these, why not add a DC power distribution bus and supply them with one large power supply?  You can use an old discarded PC power supply and one of these inexpensive ATX Breakout Boards to supply enough power for all the buildings and then some.  The beauty of this arrangement is if the PC power supply craps out for any reason, you can simply replace it with another one and plug it into the breakout board and you're back in business.

This board supplies 3.3V, 5V, and +/-12V.  For 4.5 volts, a single large diode in series with the 5V output will give you a nice 4.5 volts for all the buildings.

Onyehn 2pcs 24 Pin Benchtop Power Board Computer ATX Power Supply Breakout Adapter

For anything requiring 4.5 vdc I use the 5 vdc tap from a computer power supply with a diode. This includes Miller signs, Menards, and Lemax’s street lights. Use correct wire size for larger amp draw. I use the 12 vdc tap for all my other buildings, lights, and signals.

I see John was posting while I was typing. What He said....

I admit in being a bit confused on the suggestions...without seeing all the components that are being discussed it's challenging to know exactly what I'd need.

Find an old desktop computer and scavange the power supply from it.  Purchase the breakout board and you have excellent DC power to spare.  Edit:  These PC power supplies also have a lightning fast(instant) breaker.

You need a power supply from an old computer with its main connector intact and, also, its power cord. Then you need to buy a "breakout board" like the one(s) shown.

The computer power supply then plugs into a standard wall outlet using its own cord and its connector plugs into the new breakout board. The output side of the breakout board has multiple taps of different voltages that you can then use to power items on your layout.

Thanks everyone. If I was starting to install the Menards buildings then I would likely pursue a sole power source and distribution blocks like those presented, however 9/10ths of my wiring work is currently finished via means of Menards and Lemax power adaptors. This represents many hours of work due to cutting wire and re-soldering those PITA barrel plugs. The big York hotel is the remaining question - and I just confirmed it needs 5 amps, so will need to buy either the Menards 5 amp adaptor or another brand. Can anyone recommend a good brand adaptor? Preferably one that is regulated (switching I think it is termed).

I made a DC Power Supply from an old PC Power Supply and AC Power Supply using a Lionel CW-80 Transformer then fused all the outputs and used banana jacks and put banana plugs on cords with test probes. I have +12 V, +5 V, +3.3 V, and -12 V DC from the PC Power Supply, and Adjustable 0-18 V AC for both Track and Accessory Power from the Transformer for doing testing on my workbench before putting it on the layout. Works Great! It won't win any awards for looks but it does the job. That is a 10 ohm 10 watt Power Resistor mounted on the outside right side for the load required to trigger on the PC Power Supply.

USB C type power supplies for laptops have outputs for 20 VDC, 15 VDC, 9VDC, 5VDC, between 2 and 3 amps each depending on the manufacturer.

They have short circuit protection and Female USB Type C breakout boards are available. Another way to go.

Update:   Further research has found that the only the standard USB voltage ( 5 VDC ) is available from USB Type C power supplies by adding 5.1K ohm resistors ( marked green, brown, red, gold or silver ) between the CC1 and CC2 terminals and ground to enable the power supply.

There are 4 VBUS connections and 4 grounds. Each VBUS to GND connection can handle 1/4 of the 3 amp supply.

If you need all 3 amps to power one circuit, you''ll need to connect the four VBUS terminals together and the four GND terminals together so as not to overload the powersupply to breakout board USB-C connector. Similarly, for 1.5 AMPS you'd connect two sets together.

5 VDC between VBUS and Ground

A configuration controller on the CC1 and CC2 connections is needed to get the other listed voltages.

https://www.arrow.com/en/resea...-for-the-power-brick