[Camborner]

I would go for plan B, I just like it better.
As for DCC, I would say it would be good to have it there, as you'll have a reletivly large amount of locos in one area at the same time. Don't bother with insulators for DCC, if you do that, you may as well have DC.

[BromsMods]

Don't bother with insulators for DCC, if you do that, you may as well have DC.

Absolutley NOT!! If you are using live frog points (Electrofrog) you MUST have insulated rail joiners or you will have short circuits that will render the layout inoperative.

With Insulfrog points insulated rail joiners are not as necessary, but you must have power supply to every siding so that all of the track is live all of the time - that is the point of DCC!

Regards

John R
Bromsgrove Models

[Camborner]

Whoops! Sorry! Got the wrong idea.
Note to self-don't ever comment on electrics again!

[Boris]

i would also go for B, it looks like you can do more with it.
personally, i would go for dcc, as it makes shunting easier, and it does not cost too much anymore.
about the insulation, a short circiut does not do any harm to anything, as the controller will cut out, same as the wireing in you house does. so lay the track out and plonc a controller on and see if it cuts out. if it does, then start seeing where the problem is.

[Teleman]

Its best to wire it right in the first place as finding more than one short takes a lot of time (and sends you hair grey)

[will]

I would also go for plan B. It looks like it will be more interesting to operate.

[BromsMods]

a short circiut does not do any harm to anything, as the controller will cut out

Not always the case, I'm afraid. If the response time of the cut-out on the controller is slow the short circuit can, at best, change the settings on the decoder (depending on brand, and Hornby are probably the most notably affected) and at worst blow the decoder.

Regards

John R
Bromsgrove Models