Power Recommendations

You've got a good start for your layout power. Here's what I would recommend with what you already have, plus some extra things.

1.) Track power: Use the 180W PH Bricks. They have plenty of power for multiple Legacy locos. You will need one brick/lock-on for each loop of track. You can use the MTH Terminal Block for either track or accessory power hook-ups. You could also forgo the Terminal Block and just use bus wiring. Basically, all you have to do is run a pair of wires under each loop of track and have power feeds to the track from the buses every 4-6 feet.

2.) Accessory/switch power: Keep your two CW80s for accessory/switch power. With 10-12 volts for accessories/switches, the CW80s will be more than adequate. I assume you have remote or command-controlled switches, right? Again, use bus wires to distribute power to each accessory/switch. It will make your life easier.

3.) Make sure your transformers are in phase. Lionel made a video a few years ago that explains how to do that. It's really not that hard.

4.) I assume you already have a Legacy Command Set or Cab-1L/Base-1L to run all your trains, right? Read the instructions. Using the system is not really hard, and it is really fun. I use Legacy, and I love it.

5.) Soldering is a good idea, but the female connectors work too. I use them on my current layout.

@Dylan the Train Man posted:

1.) Track power: Use the 180W PH Bricks. They have plenty of power for multiple Legacy locos. You will need one brick/lock-on for each loop of track. You can use the MTH Terminal Block for either track or accessory power hook-ups. You could also forgo the Terminal Block and just use bus wiring. Basically, all you have to do is run a pair of wires under each loop of track and have power feeds to the track from the buses every 4-6 feet.

Why do you need a brick for each loop?  I certainly didn't do that with my layout!  If you're running command, you just need to allocate the bricks so that the tracks each brick feeds gets enough power for the anticipated running.  Truthfully, with his planned layout, I'd use two 180W bricks, that should be plenty.

Thanks for this info!

My takeaway right now is that the ideal (with a little overkill) is 3x 180 PowerHouses. 1 for the big O72 loop and 1 for each of the O60s + O48s.

And for the wiring, I should wire from the PowerHouse to a terminal block and then from the block directly to the track? And that I don't need the TMCC Direct Lockon?

And for the big 072, I'll need to run wires from the terminal block to the track every 6 feet while the O60 and O48 should only need 1 connection.

Does that sound like a solid plan?

I didn't mention the switches because I didn't want my post to have too many questions, but do I need to provide direct power to the command control remote switches, or can I just use track power? I've seen that I can wire them directly to power, but I thought that was optional. I did want to run them remotely rather than use the physical switches.

As for the Command Set, I don't have one. I've been using apple devices to run everything. I can't justify spending $1000 - $1200 for a used set. I have a Base3 on preorder with Trainworld but who knows when that will show up.