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Lots of good info. If I may add a couple of observations: [quote]QUOTE: You should wire one track to be a programing track. This track is disconnected from the rest of the system. You can wire the program track using a DPDT switch. That way when a engine is finished being programed you flip the DPDT switch and let the engine run off under DCC control onto the system tracks. The programing track must have gaps in both rails keeping it disconnected from the system tracks at all times. [/quote]My DCC owners manual specifically warns against this set up. They reccommend making the program track completely seperate from layout trackage, The reason is that the programming track uses low voltage in programming mode, if it sees regular DCC track voltage (while in program mode) it will fry the command station. While the DPDT should solve this problem, it is possible to run a loco onto the program track (while the track is in program mode) from high voltage trackage and short the gaps with the wheels, also possble to accidentally run cars with metal wheelsets onto the programming track with the same effect. A section of track between the programming track and the rest of the trackage wired in tandem with the programming track that is dead when the program track is program mode is extra insurance if you want to have the programming track hooked up to the rest of the system. [quote]QUOTE: In the yard, you can get shut-off capability without extra wiring by using power-routing turnouts (such as Peco, whose small-radius turnout is great for yards), so that the only track that's powered is the one the turnouts are lined for. Did this on my staging yards and it works perfectly.[/quote] In my experience power routing turnouts (that rely soley on the points for power transfer) do eventually have problems routing power. As they age and get dirty, they become less reliable and start having continuity problems causing dead sidings etc. A solution is to wire a switch on the switch motor that switches the power independently of the points. However, I think it might be simpler just to put in feeders and hook up kill swtches for the sidings. I have switches on all of my staging tracks just so I don't have the decoders constantly powered up while the locos are just sitting there. As for the yard (I haven't built mine yet), most of those tracks will not have power switches because I will be storing mostly cars there. The round house and loco servicde tracks will also have some switches to kill certain sidings. Even with the extra wiring for these switches, it still beats wiring for cab control in DC. Guy
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