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Jessica, I do not have this kit, although from the outside of the box and the review in MR it looks great. I just can't afford it right now against other things I need. Because I don't have the kit you should take what I have to say with a grain of salt ... Another type of switch you could try is a mercury switch. You can get these at Radio Shack or other places. The problem is that it will likely need to be installed in another location in the kit; possibly hidden in the counterweight. Then you will have the problem of hiding the wires which go to the switch. Mercury switches have a small dab of mercury in a tube with two fillaments. When the switch is tilted far enough the mercury flows to the other end opening the switch by breaking contact with the fillaments. There are other ways or doing this, but I think this is worth checking out. As for part two, I think feeder (or jumper) wires are your best alternative. Unfortunately, you will have to hide these as well. Finally, I think it will be Very difficult to hold the bridges in position without some external support like a central pier. I design bridges for a living and I cannot think of any bascule bridge of this type with two sides and no central pier. It is possible but very unlikely because there are other more economical ways to get over a channel. The biggest problem I can think of in real life is that when a train is approaching from one side, how does the bridge not deflect excessively on one side so that it permits the train to pass from one side to the other without an excessive bump. I can think of some possible ways to overcome this but I would have to be able to put my hands on the kits to see exactly what is going on. I would also have to know what you were willing to compromise in appearance to achieve this. I would supply a false pier of some kind which you would use when the railroad is in use but stored out of the way at other times. I am still working out my layout plans since I am trying to find a new house with a basement for railroading. One thing I am considering at the doorway is a cosmetic trestle concealing a board across the doorway. The back of the door would be painted (or a poster) to look like the James River in Richmond VA. There is a double track trestle on the CSX (formerly C&O) running parallel to the James for quite a streach and I would try and disguise the (probably 1 x 4) board to look like this trestle by glueing Micro Engineering 50 ft plate girders to the near side. Whenever I thought I was 'safe' in the choo-choo room, I would close the door and set the board over the gap. If I were worried someone may come in without knocking, I would just set up the board but leave the door open. I might even paint safety stripes on the other side to keep someone from running into the bridge. I hope you can solve the problem to your satisfaction. Good Luck - Ed
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