Hi, Guys.  I'm building my 7th layout, after a move & have a Garage 13.5' x 23.5 ' that I have Insulated & wired 4 my train Room.  I have a lot of Atlas Code 100 Track that I acquired over the years.  In my new layout, which will be 2' wide benchwork Aproximately 48" H. and around the walls,  I will be changing over 2 Code 70 for my main line, & Code 55 for my sidings & Yard.  My yard will require Approx. 20 Turnouts.  My ??

 I am looking over my track plan with an eye to starting to purchase rail. Aside from asthetics, is there any real advantage to having Code 83 for the mainline and, say, Code 70 for the yards and sidings? Is there that much visual differnce once ballast, landscaping etc. is added? What about availability of various switches etc.? Cost? Transitioning?  Your thoughts would be appreciated as always.

 The benchwork on The Greater Nickel Plate is finished and we are awaiting next month's "allotment" for homosote and backdrop material - pictures to follow soon. In the meantime, I have been looking over the trackplan and have a question for those who have railroads up and running. 

I need a little help.   I'm working on a control panel to help a friend align his turnouts and keep his trains on the route that he wants them on.  The turnouts are Atlas code 83 snap switches and the switch machines are the Atlas above the table solenoids.  I'd originally wired them to the Atlas controllers but a row of controllers was confusing to him and the switches caught a couple of times and burned up solenoids.  I want to recess the momentary switches and give him a more graphic way to control the layout.