Wiring for Postwar Lionel Layout Questions

Depending on size of layout. You could run 14 guage bus then 16 guage feeders to track. Can also use terminal strips with feeders off that(star).

Good crimps to spade terminals do not need to be soldered. Don’t buy copper clad aluminum wire. Buy 100% copper. Ask.

Where can I find 100% copper 14 AWG wire?

Found the bare copper wire, but it's $180. It's called OFC wire, correct? Oxygen free copper. Even 250ft is $108.

You can do better on the price. Home Depot sells a 500' spool of 14 ga. stranded THHN for $85. Del City has different colors for $.18 per foot.

You never mentioned the size of the layout. For comparison, I wired 275' of track with about 100 feed of wire. I used 18ga for short drops to the feeders coming from the transformers.  I also bought 100' of cat5 for less than $30 to wire my switches.

Really need to know some details regarding size and configuration of the layout.  14 gauge wire might be a good idea, or it might be an unnecessary expense.

@Lioneljeff posted:

Where can I find 100% copper 14 AWG wire?

I buy from All Electronics. Look under wire and also zip cord. It's all automotive grade copper wire.

"I think I would need about 500ft of wire for my whole layout. That's for track power, accessories, 022 fixed voltage leads and other things like lights, signals, etc. "

You should probably use different color wires for different power sources....That way  when there is a problem with a powered source you can rule out different color wires as possible culprits.   

My layout is 14x12. It is U shaped. Perimeter layout. Control panel at the top of U on one side. Maybe 250ft might be good enough. Have to do my math again.