Ordering of 022 controllers on control board. Sequentiallly? Spacial order? Logical Groupings? Or What?

I drew a schematic of the layout on white butcher paper and mounted it on the control board, then I put the controllers where the switches were shown on the board.

Does your layout have room for a control panel that can show the track plan...what the real railroads call a "model board"?  If so, you could mount the controllers on the track diagram as they appear along the track.  I would mount them temporarily, with double sticky tape, in both ways, and see what you find more comfortable and logical.

Thanks.  My control board will have a schematic of the layout painted on it, but the board and that diagram will not be big enough to allow me to mount the controllers in the diagram itself.

I have enough room to mount about 15 controllers, side by side, along the bottom of the control board.  I started mounting them, and then said, "Wow, better stop and figure out what the best order would be!" 

Mannyrock

How about...line them up in an order that is as close to logical as possible, along the bottom of the control panel, and draw a thin line connecting each controller to the location on the track diagram that it controls?  Use a different color and width than what you are using for the track, to avoid confusion.  I suspect that over a short time, you will learn which one does what.

SPACING  that the reason I when with DZ-2500Cs; those Lionel throws are nice if you have a couple but when you have many they take up way too much room.

Mine are in a logical order from left to right. I numbered them in order with some A's and B's. Example- Sw 7 off the main leads to my team tracks, so the second switch for the two sidings is 7A.

I put a schematic on my control panel too.

Ditto the left to right logical sequence. My switch controllers are on three separate panels around the inside access area of my "G" shaped layout. On each panel they are laid out more or less as the appear on that part of the layout, from left to right. Yard switches are in one grouping by themselves. Seems to work quite well.

I recently re-organized one panel to improve operability. Helped quite a bit. A couple of years ago I connected 20 of them to two AIU's so I could set up routes and stuff that sounded like it would be fun. But it has turned out that this gets used very little, like hardly at all. I prefer to operate the switches from their respective controllers as needed. And I really don't like preset routes that much. It's much more fun to keep it loose and make it up as your go.

Rod

Lots of good ideas here.  It is great to see that there is some flexibility based on utility.

Mannyrock

The controllers for the outer loops are closer to the ZW - 1-2-3 going away, furthest is controllers for upper level. And then, left & right corresponding for left & right switches in comparative positions on the layout, closest pairs 1st/nearest, then moving away from panel to furthest switch pair in each loop.  It really keeps us hopping if we are moving two trains between loops or running trains through the reverse loops(3 & upper).

Rob, that is EXACTLY what I meant by logical groupings.   I think our animal brain works innately by logically grouping pairs and systems, while our upper brain function want to number everything and line them up in sequence.

Here's how Jim Steed did it...

My control panel is a work in progress.  I am incorporating a track plan on the panel, where I will install on/off toggle switches for sidings, but will not have switch controllers within the diagram.  I am using the 022 switch controllers because they are just too cool looking to not use them.  To help remember which switch is which, the upper row of switches on the control panel is for the upper level of the layout, and the lower row of switches on the control panel are for the lower level of the layout. Then I try to match the order left to right as logical as possible.  It is also really helpful to install a number tag on the layout to the corresponding 022 controller.

I installed Lionel and look-alike K-Line switch controllers on my L-shaped O-gauge layout - all mounted in a numerical row on a slide-out control board.  I applied stick-on numbers to each switch controller. 

I bought "animal ear tags" at the local Tractor Supply Store, applied numbers to each one, and mounted one at each switch for reference at a glance. I've attached an article about "animal ear tags" idea for your consideration. It's attached.

Mike Mottler     LCCA 12394

@Mike H Mottler I remember you replied to my control panel thread with your animal ear tag idea.  It is a great way to tie the physical layout to the control panel. 

Hey Rob; I bet this is a picture of you as a kid running trains??

Rod

@Rod Stewart posted:

Hey Rob; I bet this is a picture of you as a kid running trains??

No, that would be my son. He's 22 & 6'1" 310 lbs. now.

I hope you've cleaned up that basement by now.  :-)

One other note- I have all of mine wired so down is for the main route and up is the divergent route.

@ADCX Rob posted:

No, that would be my son. He's 22 & 6'1" 310 lbs. now.

Wow Rob, you must have been feeding him "linebacker" diet the whole time he lived at home! But I am sure he is a fine young man.

Rod

@Mannyrock posted:

I hope you've cleaned up that basement by now.  :-)

It's always in flux.