I have been out of the loop for a couple of years and getting back into it so please bear with me. My layout is about 15 x 15 and consist of what I call, two towns. I have a Z4000 and each handle powers a town. I also use 2 bricks to power my 13 switches, drawbridge, and 5 uncouplers. The only thing that I use the DCS remote for is to control my 4 PS2 engines. I also have 2 older Lionel conventional engines that I can control by using a toggle switch and going into conventional mode and moving the handles on the Z4000. I also have a control panel with a print out of my layout and this is where I can control my switches, drawbridge, and uncouplers. I either run a PS2 engine in DCS mode or switch to conventional mode and run an older engine. I just bought Barry's book, the 2nd edition, and even though my brain is completed overloaded, I think I need to make some big changes. If I am correct, I need to go to Radio Shack and get a separate power supply for the TIU, and then I need to set up Z4k tracks, and then I need to buy 2 AIU's. After re-wiring the layout, I will be able to add some accessories and really enjoy my layout. I know that I have a lot of work to do, but please tell me that I am on the right track.
