http://www.lkorailroad.com/lighting-system-operational/

The last "control panel" I had was about 6-8 years ago to control a hidden staging yard  It was two rotary switches to line the turnouts at each end of the staging yard and 6 toggle switches to kill the power in each staging track.  No track diagrams or indicators.   You just dialed up the track you wanted, made sure the power was on in that track and you were done. 

The only layouts I can think of in my area that use a "control panel" are those that have some sort of hidden staging yard or have an interlocking tower with a tower operator.  On my new layout, there are a couple interlockings so I might have a couple small control panels just for the interlocking towers.

Here's a few of panels from my previous railroad and the link to my blog entry on the installation:

http://model-railroad-hobbyist.com/node/6961

The panels are constructed from a piece of 1/8″ thick Plexaglass which has a piece of double sided sticky film between the back of it and the front of the printed paper with the route and text.  Since the outer most part of the panel is the Plexaglass this will keep the printed paper section clean and protected.  The LEDs are in series with the Tortoise(tm) switch machine.  A 2 pole rotary switch is topped off by a “chicken head” knob which also clearly indicates the position of the turnout. 

The simple panel Rick shows is the kind of thing I had in mind for my layout, making it obvious which way each turnout was thrown.  Except I was planning to mainly use manual control of the turnouts via a mechanical linkage I have been designing to try out.  It would still use the "chicken head" style knob to show direction, because since it is mechanical I had not been anticipating using the LEDs (although I'm thinking with the power-routed turnouts from Peco I could probably wire from just past the frog in each direction to the LEDs and if the track is powered the LED would light - I may try that.)

My question is, if others do not use panels for turnout control/position, what do you do instead?

-Ed

See a previous blog entry of mine for super easy control panels as well as other examples.  Here is the link (I'm not sure if I referenced the link properly).  http://model-railroad-hobbyist.com/node/7237

http://model-railroad-hobbyist.com/magazine/mrh-2011-Feb/turnout_controls

Galen

When I get to that point, I will post my design in a topic.  Saw the other article before, but I am shooting for a total cost per manual turnout control of $1.00 or less.  If my design doesn't work, then control rods may play a part in my second design. Regardless under $2.00 each for sure.

-Ed

Alan, your small lighting control panel has a nice, classic look to it with that wood frame.

Dave, if you have no panels, how are you installing your controls (or is everything manually controlled)?

Rick, your idea has merit as well for the small panels.

George, thanks for that link to your post.  The small panels you feature are exactly what I had in mind.  I'll also have two larger panels (14" wide x 11" deep) for my yard ladders.  Your idea is pretty slick...kind of an abbreviated version of the Masonite/print/acrylic sandwich....using the fascia itself as the Masonite layer.

All good ideas.  Thanks to all for your posts.  Anyone else care to show what they're doing?

My O scale layout used ground throws in the yard and switch stands with targets on the mainline. One just threw the handle to match where they wanted the train to go. My N scale layout has Bluepoint controllers under the table. I might link the switch throw bar to target stands but since the targets would be so small it might be easier to just look at the rails and see which route they are aligned for then reach under the table and throw the switch if necessary.Hopefully I'll have nothing on the fascia cause that means I had to build and maintain less stuff...DaveBranum

Yard control panel. controls track power, and turntable:

Main Line panel controls turnouts: