I have an EZ command unit and it was working great for several months.    ..then my mother-in-law came to town.   My son(almost 3) loves and respects the trains and knows enough to ask for help and wont run them without me.  My mother-in-law knows everything there is to know about everything and is a self proclaimed expert at everything.   One day while I was out of town and she was in town, she decided she was an expert on trains.  I had suspected that this might be a problem so I had actually unplugged the EZ command unit and set it on an adjacent shelf.  This was not a strong enough hint or deterrent.  I came home to find the unit plugged in and trains all over the tracks and derailed all over the place.  Things had obviously been dragged all around by hand and she flatly told me "I think somethings wrong with it, I couldn't figure it out."   
Now, I have no idea what happened, but the unit has no signs of life when I plug it in.  I do recall in the instructions that it explicitly said to connect to the track before connecting power.  Is it possible that if that was not done that she may have let the majic blue smoke out and the unit is cooked for good?   I took the cover off hoping to find a fuse or obvious fried connection and was unable to see anything that looked obvious.   After repeated pleas of "Daddy fix??" I had to tell my son that I couldn't fix it now.....  The look on his face was heartbreaking. (so far he thinks daddy can fix everything)   
Any suggestions or do I have to buy a new unit?

I was recently in Colorado on business and the beautiful drive from Hot Sulphur Springs to Grandby with the tracks opposit the river really gave me the urge to get a ticket just to see the rest of the scenery.   At the very least, later this summer I want to take my son somewhere cool to watch & see trains.
I live in Wisconsin, but there is something special about mountain passes....

If anyone has any recommendations for things to go see & do, I'd love to hear it.
I will be in Grand Lake, Colorado from July 18th to Aug 9th with the family.   I really wanted to catch the 844 from Denver to Cheyenne for the rodeo and thought that maybe I could even talk my wife into it as she would love the rodeo.  She did nix that as she thought it would be too much of a production and all day(and a long one at that) affair with an infant and an almost 3 year old. 
I did also look into an Amtrak ticket from Fraser to Grand Junction and return, but it looks like that would involve a two day trip and hotel one night or a one way trip and driver to come retrieve us. 
All that being said, anything close and simple would be great.  When the boys are older we will surely do the Cheyenne trip as well as the Silverton Durango, but for now, short attention spans and naps limit the day...

Any and all suggestions are welcome.   I'd even like to hear suggestions for southern Wisconsin (I'm near Lake Geneva) if anyone has any. 
PS- Matt loves Steam!
Thanks in advance!

What is recommended for adding sound to a Bachmann Spectrum 2-10-2?
I would like to run it on DC and DCC.

I have heard some discussions about people 'cooking' or 'popping' decoders.
Can a bad derailment lead to a short that will damage a decoder?
Right now I am running a small layout that I finished for the kids.   It is EZ track and I am having a hell of a time with the switches.   I can run deisels without too much trouble, but  the steam engines and rolling stock derail like clockwork on 4 out of the 7 switches.
The kids like the steam (as do I) and I have a few DCC locos on order and planned.  Will I be loosing the magic 'Blue smoke' that makes all electronics function (you know, once the blue smoke comes out, it doesn't work, ergo, it must run on blue smoke.)

Another issue altogether is that the EZ track switches are a huge source of frustration right now..... all track laid, wired, semi ballasted and landscaped and then I started having trouble.  The rivets at the pivot of the switch is loose on  the 3 problem switches. It is so loose that the switch rail moves 1/16" from side to side and causes locos to stall and/or derail.   The point of another switch simply broke off about 3/32" leaving a blunt edge and guaranteed picking of the point.   Examination of the bit that broke and the remainder showed tiny little cracks in the whole thing near the thin end....  Even my 'good' switches get picked often.  I've tried filing/beveling the very tip of the point to help the situation and it is minutely better, but still worrisome.
Help....  I'm getting tired of re-railing rather than running my locos and rolling stock.
I really hate to have to ripp it all up to get the three bad switches out.   Has anyone had similar issues with the pivot rivet?  How do you fix it other than replacing it?

I recently opened a box of locos from my childhood and found a Bachmann 4-8-4 Northern, Burlington Route w/ smoke.  This has been in abox for about 15-18 years and I suspect that the engine was purchased about 22-25 years ago.  In the box I found a little note that I left myself that read "Rear axle broken...again.  Look in white parts box"   I found another wheel set with a broken plastic rear axle.  It appears that the replacement 'part' was the entire set of drivers.   Does anyone know if the new drivers will fit this old model?   I had great memories of this loco and woud like to salvage it if possible, but also wondering if the cost/time is worth it?     Thoughts or ideas??
The next step is to dig deeper in the myriad of boxes to look for the tiny wrenches.... 

As a kid, we had a large HO gauge layout that took up 1/2 the basement.... (must have been about 5 4x8 sheets, 3 levels and 2 turntables w/roundhouses).  My parents moved years ago and it's long gone (the family that bought the house wanted it all torn out.) but all of the locomotives and rolling stock and some buildings are in boxes and my oldest son is now infatuated with trains (imagine that!). 
I need to start over and need some recommendations.

1. What is a good minimum track radius to keep to for main line?   Keep in mind that my father, son & I all love the large steam locos....   (I'm pretty sure there is a Big Boy, Mallet and perhaps Challenger class in those boxes among others).  Even if I can't run the big articulateds, I still would like to be able to run some nice 4-8-4's and similar....
2. I like the idea of the new DCC, but how do I best run some of my old stuff and gradually integrate the new?   Will I need to replace my old transformers?  Will my old engines run on the new systems?  Will a new DCC equiped run on my old equipment until I upgrade?
3. Does anybody have a good layout plan that might be contained to roughly 2 4x8 sheets, but would allow for possible addition later?  I like multi level and some mountain scenery (bridges, tunnels, etc).  Initially, I'd like to look for a good long runner and can always add switching yards later.
4.All this new fast track looks like a quick way to get something my son would enjoy, but I'm leaning toward the more traditional track on roadbed.   I'm just not sure I have the free time with work and two little ones.   Does anyone have thoughts on pro's & cons of either approach?   Can you start with the fast track and replace it sectionally?  Does someone make a 'transition piece' or can you just but the fast track & traditional roadbeds and work your way around as you 'upgrade'?   ...or just stay away from the 'click & go' all together?

Sorry for the barrage of questions, but it's been a long time and I appreciate any & all input.
Thanks,
Erich