QUOTE: There is a good discussion of the requirements for lift-up sections on page 57 of 'John Armstrong on Creative Layout Design.' (Incidentally, he gives some very compelling reasons to use a drop-down leaf, rather than a lift-up.) Track on the leaf can be powered in the ordinary manner; just use flexible wire connections between the leaf and the fixed benchwork. Microswitches, operated by the latch that holds the lift in operating position, can be wired to kill approach tracks so unattended trains won't pull a Wile E. Coyote.
Tom
QUOTE: Originally posted by bnnrailroad Tom Bryant, I've tried XTrkCad and for some reason (I really need to read the directions...LOL!), when I do the 11.5ft x13.5ft layout, I can't zoom in on the lower edges. Need time to play with it!