Got my new DCS100 and have been splicing it in. Am thankful that this was a planned change -- although I had not anticipated reaching this point so quickly. Multiple sound locos and the illuminated cars of the Rapido Canadian (a beautiful train, really worth the wait...) did make a dent in the 2.5amp put out by the Zephyr. This becomes a throttle and booster for the yard and the DCS becomes the command station for the layout. Am also installing a BDL168 for block detection in the hidden track areas. Fortunately, both of these changes were planned from the start, so the surgery is relatively minor.

The layout is divided into four zones fed through a PM42. Input power went to a terminal strip with jumpers and then fed individually to the PM42. Adding the new booster was a matter of removing one pair of the jumpers -- so the Zephyr feeds zone four and the DCS100 the other three zones. Wished the PM42 breakout board had been available when I started -- oh, well, what I built is larger but just as flexible.

Block detection is really happening in two zones -- one with a reversal loop controlled by an AR1. Using some auto four conductor wire to the individual blocks in place of the feed line with drops. Probably could have cut the rails when the track was going in but didn't.

One problem that I have been having is that the rail gaps on curves (almost the entire layout is curves) tend to creep apart. I have tried spiking them but there is enough give in the cork for it to creep anyhow. Am contemplating making a curved plastic block to support the rail on the outside of the curve -- wondering if anyone else has had these issues?

And wiring of the rats nest behind the control panel continues. SInce starting, I have seen a few examples of a similar approach that was more flexible. I should have left the LEDs behind the lexan instead of what I did -- and the switches should have been screwed to the backing, so the layout artwork could be changed. Oh, well. I may get fed up and redo it someday but being 2/3rds through with the wiring suggests I may as well finish it.