Info needed on conventional layouts

Looks like it will be a great layout. Good luck and we like lots of pictures.

Looks like a great plan. I would get Barry's book on DCS for your future plans. It's easier to add Legacy to DCS wiring than the other way around. I found a lot of help in this book by Peter Riddle when building my layouts.(blatant sales pitch)

ELECTRICAL REFERENCE MATERIALS & MANUALS under this section has lots of miscellaneous information.

I would leave it open for a while using conventional control, then after all accessories at in place and you are set with the configuration and you haven't gone to using remote contol, then you can make a sound decision on blocks , track activation etc.

Traditional BLOCK wiring is useful for operating trains in conventional mode; especially for parking trains at passing sidings, stub sidings, or yard tracks.  If/when you add Lionel's LEGACY technology and LEGACY-equipped locos, the blocks are less necessary -- probably useless if all locos are LEGACY-equipped.  With LEGACY, you can "park" a loco anywhere; it will remain there until addressed again. Meanwhile, other LEGACY-equipped locos on the layout can be separately addressed and commanded with a CAB-1, CAB-1L, or CAB-2 hand-held controller.

Lionel's simpler yet effective LionChief control system offers basic functions for wireless control of LionChief-equipped locos; kinda like a mini-Legacy system but without all the features (and price tags) of the top-of-the-line LEGACY system.

Your proposed layout plan includes many points of interest. Is there some "logic" to mixing Ross track with tubular track? Maybe you're using some tubular track because you already have it on hand; thus it's "free." 

All the best,

Mike   (ritrainguy)
mottlerm@gmail.com

Thanks all for your feedback.  I do intend to run conventional for a while.  The accessories are really to engage my kids (5 YO boy and 8 YO girl).  Will look at all references suggested.  The use of tubular is because I have boxes and boxes of that from auction.  Plus it's what I had as a kid.  Ross track/switch was a more recent auction purchase... already weathered by prior owner and at about 35% of the new price I saved hundreds of $.

I suggest you do a search on this forum for Barrys "10 Commandments"