Len thank you for your info. I have been away so am now catching up on things. I assume that the center green wire that connects to the switches is the other half of the power feed. Correct?

I am making a new control board for my layout. I would like to change the EZ track turnout controls to some type of a toggle switch for each turnout in HO scale. Layout is DC.

Good afternoon. I read your post and I have a problem with the way you you put forth your comments. So you just joined yesterday and want Bachmann to give you a free transformer and new train that you have had for some years. You have not stated if it ran good before or just recently. If it ran OK before have you taken the time to clean and oil a set that has been sitting since whenever. To come off with your first sentence as being an electrical engineer are you also a mechanical engineer that knows about dried grease and dried oil? I do not think you are even close to know what the problem is but just give me something for free because I said so.

 I had that problem on the green extension cables for switches a few years back. The solution for me was to plug the cables together as far as they would go and then use a 6" or 8" pair of channellock pliers and position the jaws so that each jaw was on one of the black plastic plugs and slowly squeeze together to seat the plugs all the way until both black plugs touched. Never had a problem.

Not sure what the op is asking? Yes you can go through the procedures that were shown to replace couplers on Talgo trucks. Is it because of the type of couplers or for another reason such as diameter of curves that cause derailments or for the length of cars that you might be using on a smaller radii  track? You can cut off the Talgo couplers from the trucks and replace them with body mount kadee couplers. Did this on some old Rivarrossi heavyweight 6 wheel trucks on passenger cars.

What I have done for this problem is just use a pair of channel locks that will clamp on the outside edge of the blocks and just squeeze them together as long as you are not on any wires. I have not had any problems and my turnouts work great.

Thank you Sid and Trainman for your reply. Still trying to understand why you would not power it?

I am making a change on my layout by adding a 44557 turnout. This will be a dead end track but I want to know should I power the frog ? What difference would it be if I power the frog anyway? Why even have the option?

Terry:
I normally do not post here but I enjoy following your posts. You have helped me a lot in my construction and I thank you for that. I wish the best for you and I feel that I will soon be seeing you posting again. Do not give up so all of us are waiting for your recovery. Hope your family is strong to assist you.

The distance from edge of layout to the outside track is at least 3 1/2". It also helps that the floor on the second floor layout is regular wall to wall carpet.

Rich1998:
               Did you mean Baltimore or actually Philadelphia PA?

Not sure but I was able to open both links with no problems.

Terry,
          I am sorry to here about the report on your illness. I hope you do not give up and try what you can to beat it. As I have not been on the forum as long as you, I just want to say I have enjoyed your layout and posts as they have given me many ideas and suggestions for mine. God Bless you  and I hope for the best. Jim

I looked up your plan in the book and put it into my anyrail  program and it does not hang off the edge. Maybe check your part numbers.

Warflight,

You said that you used EZ Track for your layout. Is that the gray roadbed with nickel silver rails? That has to be the best ballasting of that type of track that I have ever seen. I wish mine looked like that. Possibly some time can you post how you achieved that look? Again great job.