Mike G, regarding your control panel: Since you are back to square one, you might want to reconsider locating your switch controllers to the fascia, close to the switches. You mentioned that you were waiting on the fascia until the scenery was started or done. Putting the fascia up early would help with the scenery design as it would provide a rolling contour to attach rolling terrain. Placing your switch controls adjacent to the switch would also ease the wiring. With all the hand held controls today, such as DCS and the Lionel system, most operators are free to move around the layout and follow train operations and thus are not confined to a large control panel. When little engineers visit, stationing them at the switch would provide them active participation. This would also apply to operating accessories - place their controls on the fascia close to the accessory. Just a thought! Cheers, Dave
PS: I avoided toggle switches as they have a tendency to get caught on clothing as one moves about the layout. I do not have that problem with the rocker switches.
The red rocker switch controls the turnout, the two rockers with white dots control power to the sidings. The lighted rocker switch on the far left activates the freight station and the one just to the left of the red switch, turns on yard lights.
