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How good are you at basic electronics Steve? I'm thinking you could use a simple detector like Infared type. If you can make your own it would be much cheaper than store bought. You could make schmatic diagram of the layout on a board (or more than one depending on the size of your layout) and install indicator LEDs, related to the position of the detector. It might make the layout simple to operate by installing the turnout control switches where turnouts are indicated on the diagram. Check out this web site for some ideas and circuits. [url]http://home.cogeco.ca/~rpaisley4/CircuitIndex.html#Light[/url] As for the position of the turnouts, indicator LEDs connected to the turnout control switch would tell you which way a switch is thrown (green for normal, red for reverse). Of course you must use a capasitor discharge circuit to prevent the Atlas twin coil switch machine from burning out. Also the voltage lighting the turnout indicator LEDs would have to be reduced with a resistor. I don't have time right now but I'll try to come up with links or photos later of what I'm saying.
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