I have built a portable DCS test board for use with my test track. I use this system to test engines and load new and updated software.
The board has an MTH TIU and an MTH AIU. I have added three sets of prewired convenience terminal blocks for wiring to the AIU. This makes it very easy to set up a demonstration of the DCS system when using with the AIU. The terminal blocks provide 60 connections for connecting to either the SW terminals or the ACC terminals on the AIU.
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Note: All the components on my Control System Boards are firmly mounted using the mounting holes provided by MTH on their TIU and AIU. These control boards can be easily picked up and transported as necessary. Eventually they will be permanently mounted near the layout which is now under construction.
The TIU and AIU are raised as shown to allow for a "wireway" beneath each unit where the communication cables are run.
My DCS system is built as convenient modules:
A companion AIU Patchboard contains 2 AIUs which can be placed adjacent to the Test Board. The cables are then all run via the common wireway.
See the photo attachment for my AIU Patchboard.
Looks like you have the makings of a fine "Here's an Idea" article for the magazine that could earn you a couple of hundred bucks for the effort. Contact me if you might be interested.
You are so organized!
I'm ashamed.
I just throw a TIU on the desk, drape some wires around, hook the transformer up to a wall plug, fire up the old IBM Thinkpad (and I mean OLD), and away we go ...
Looks like the mad scientist's lab ...
Goes well with my unshaven sleepless look .... mucking around with toy trains in my PJs .... :-)
Me to, I just grab a TIU and connect a transformer to the inputs, clip the outputs to a section of test track, and have at it. 
I confess that I do have an old TMCC command base connected in permanently on the test bench, but I didn't want to dedicate on of my TIU's to that task.
The main reason I have built all these modules is to make it easier to connect, troubleshoot and modify as I add more components. In addition I have plug-and-play interconnecting cables between all the modules. I also have extensive circuit protection including fuses and circuit breakers on everything. While this is added work it sure makes life easier when something fails.
Note: I also have extensive circuit protection on the transformer input and output side as well.
Considering the cost of these model railroading control systems all this effort does provide some comfort knowing it will not all go "up in smoke".
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