Making a portable control station

Bruceg, I believe your idea will work, it's exactly what I'm planning to do. A rolling cart with a reasonable length of attaching wires that are also "quick disconnectable" for servicing.

Steve

A rolling cart will work fine. One of the clubs on here use a protable cart with their modular layouts. Check posts from @Putnam Division and @Gilly@N&W . Here is their thread.

I think that's a good idea and should work well for you. All my layout power, DCS, Legacy, volt & amp gauges, etc. is on a cart and it works just fine.  I used a Mianne transformer cart (matches my benchwork). The cart is unpowered, but I added a couple of power strips to the back of the cart. Also added a strip of wire tray on the back to tidy up the cart wiring. Six feet of extra wire from layout to cart all bundled together sounds like it should be plenty.

If you're not totally wedded to Postwar, may I politely suggest that you consider the Lionel LCS (Layout Control System)?  You can run your whole railroad, lights, switches, accessories, etc. from an iPad.  And I have found the CAB-2 hand-held controller to be very satisfying, especially with Legacy locomotives.

It's a new paradigm for sure.  But I've staffed many public display layouts.  Facilitating reach to the transformers for wheelchair-bound visitors was always a challenge.  The CAB-1 and CAB-2 brought a whole new measure of convenience and interactivity.  Really excited for you and look forward to hearing more about your project!

Lots of helpful tips here already. As for choice of main transformer, I'm following the advice of Bobby Allen, who has built layouts for clients around the Southeast and is also a collector. He not only will install the wiring for me, he repairs transformers. He recommended the ZW 275 for its power and simplicity, with more than enough juice for my layout while giving me the flexibility to run some family heirloom Postwar locomotives with the throw of a switch. When it comes to turnout controls and other buttons and switches, I prefer hands-on devices. I think kids like them, too. They have enough touch-pad stuff as it is, in my opinion. But maybe I'm just an old .

I do have a Legacy controller and enjoy all the interactivity options and wireless convenience. I'm blown away by the sounds, smoke, realistic performance, and detailing of the Wheeling & Lake Erie 2-8-2 that I recently purchased.

RSJB18 posted:

A rolling cart will work fine. One of the clubs on here use a protable cart with their modular layouts. Check posts from @Putnam Division and @Gilly@N&W . Here is their thread.

Just noticed the posting. One of our club members is a master cabinet maker. He built the cabinetry. I'm a retired electrical engineer. I mounted and wired all of the hardware. We got the idea from National Capital Trackers. The power cart that has been seen here is a 24" version that is used with our 12x15 layout. I'm in the process of building-out a 42" version for our big layout. @Putnam Division has posted the finished 42" woodwork. I'm still drawing the prints. As the new cart progresses, I had planned to start a new thread and show it.

In the meanwhile, if you have any questions that I can help you with please let me know.