Thanks for the shopping list

im new to this and so I am lacking in tools and accessories.  Your list provides a handy starting point.

machine pin headers

Bruce - I prefer to put the male pin connector on the component cable and the female one on the decoder cable.

The reasoning is the power is coming from the decoder, and having the insulated sockets on that cable reduces the chances of shorts when testing or working on the mechanism

Taddeoj

I suggest you look at my early columns, as they were about the tools and stuff to get started. Start with 

https://forum.mrhmag.com/magazine-feedback-was-ezines-891776

ras1

I'll have to go back and see if there was a typo. What you describe is how I intended for it to be written and the way I VERY MUCH recommend. Thanks for pointing this out.

Thanks Bruce

I will check it out.