Hi Chuck,
Thank you for your compliments, and Welcome to the forum !
Well, you are in need of some kind of "Marklin digital beginner's guide".
This thread is more dedicated to "driving a layout with a software", which is too much advanced for what you are looking for. The only common point with your expectations, is you need a full digital layout being set before allowing computer driving, and especially automation...
Anyway, I'll try to give you some first answers. Then, I suggest you either to browse the forum (or use the search function), and/or create a new post (or many) in the "Digital" section. You will find that many people have the same questions as you, and most of the answers are already there.
I begin with a bit of history. I think it will be useful to understand where we come from... Even if I'm not strictly exact or some infos are missing, the general idea is correct.
1) The beginning
Marklin has created the first digital system for model railroad in the early 1980s.
The technical ideas are:
-Many locos on the same electric circuit can be driven at different speed, each loco separately and regardless of each other
-The speed of a loco is no more linked to the voltage level provided by the voltage regulator of an analog transformer.
-Instead, the voltage level is always "Vmax" in digital system. To be able to drive each loco separately, a special electronic device (a loco decoder), must be embedded in each loco. This decoder analyzes special binary information, which among other infos provides the speed level...
-To "speak" to each loco, a transformer (analog) is not adequate. A specialized "command center" must be used to be able to "speak" with each loco decoder. Each loco on the same electric circuit is different from another one by the address (numeric value) of the decoder. The address of a loco is set by 8 micro-switches in the decoder. The "language" spoken from the command center to the decoder is called a "protocol" (how the binary information must be sent to be understandable). The first protocol was called "Motorola" protocol, then later called MM1 protocol.
-The first "command center" was the 6020 (central unit), then a bit later the 6021 (control unit). The command center (6020) was a "black box", without any button on it. You must at least add one device allowing human interaction, equipped with a rotating knob and a set of buttons allowing to enter the address of a loco decoder, and a button allowing to activate / deactivate the lights of a loco. This device what called a "control 80" (6035). The 6021 was a 6020+6035 in one box. 80 addresses were available for locos.
-To drive the switching of the turnouts and/or the signals in digital mode, specials external devices must be added. This device is called a decoder for electromagnetic devices. The name was K83 (6083) for temporary pulses (solenoid devices) and K84 (6084) for permanent circuit flip-flop (for instance, provide some light to buildings). Each K83 was able to drive 4 different turnouts/signals; Same thing for the K84 which allowed to permanently switch 4 distinct electric circuits. A total of 255 addresses is available for electromagnetic devices. Each K83/K84 decoder has 8 micro-switches inside allowing to change the base address.
-To allow human interaction with the turnouts/signals/light circuits, a specialized command box "Keyboard" (6040) was added to the 6020/6021.
-The last novelty created, was about feedback occupation of the tracks by loco/coaches/wagons. The goal was to be able to provide some basic (and sometimes advanced) automation features. A special electric circuit separated of the main digital power is used. It is called the S88 circuit (or S88 bus). Special decoders (S88 decoders), each having 16 distinct input plugs, are used for feedback information. A maximum of 31 S88 decoders may be chained together.
-To allow human interaction in setting a sequence of turnout/signals switches based on feedback information, an additional box was mandatory with the 6020/6021. This box was called the "Memory" (6043).
-Finally, an other additional box allowing a serial connection at 9600 bauds from a computer to the 6020/6021, was called "Interface" (6050/6051).
2) from the beginning to 2004
-Other manufacturers have also created electronic digital systems, mainly in the 2-rail world. They also started to develop an other protocol, called the DCC protocol. It allows much more addresses (today, around 10000 addresses for locos, and 2048 for solenoid devices). The S88 bus was unchanged, and became a "de facto" standard.
-Marklin enhanced a bit the number of functions available for a loco, with 4 more additional functions (F1 to F4, loco lights is called F or F0)
-Marklin launched a new track system, called C-Track (beginning of 2000's)
3) from 2004 until now
-Marklin created an all-in-one command center called the CS1 (central + 2*control80 + 128*keyboard + memory + interface) (ref 60212), with a 8-inch yellow/black sensitive screen, 2 command knobs, many functions buttons and an ethernet interface to computer. The CS1 was manufactured by ESU. The CS1 is a mini computer dedicated to model railroad command.
-At the same time a new protocol called "mfx" was launched. Its main feature is the automatic recognition of a loco (no more need to set the address with the micro-switches)
-Loco decoders, then later accessory decoders, started to be programmable by software, using a set of CV (Configuration Variables)
-In 2008, a new CS was launched: the CS2 (60213). Its features included a full redesign, a color screen, and the ability of speaking multiple protocols (MM1, mfx and DCC)
-The last CS were the 60214 and 60215 with no major enhancement compared to the 60213 (more recent firmware, more output power and a galvanic insulation)
-Marklin stopped the production of M-Tracks; MM1 protocol was enhanced to allow 255 loco addresses (on very recent locos), and 320 addresses for solenoid devices.
-A new set of devices, replacing K83/K84/S88 have been launched last year. They are called M83/M84/L88... I don't know them, except M83/M84 support MM and DCC and mfx protocol.
4) Back to your questions
4.1) M-Track
4.1.1) normal tracks
Some members say it's better to switch to K or C. Others say the opposite and say digital is working fine with M.
My personal opinion is "I don't know", as I've switched to K-track 30 years ago. I think that if the tracks are in good condition (no rust), it should run fine most of the time.
Advice: browse the various threads related to M-track and digital and/or create a new dedicated thread in "Digital" section.
4.1.2) turnouts
-A K83/M83 must be used to drive 4 turnouts/signals
-About the lantern, it should run without trouble, except you are wasting "digital power for locos".
Advice: Search for more infos on this topic or use a dedicated booster to drive accessories
4.1.3) contact tracks for feedback
-M tracks use special contact tracks 5115/5145 for feedback, which have the 2 rails insulated from the metal (in a normal track, both external rails have the same "0" potential)
-They may be difficult to find. Other solutions are "reed" feedback + magnet or "control" tracks.
Advice: browse the forum about this topic, answers are already there
4.2) K or C-track
-Both are fine for digital (avoid 2100 K-track series, use 2200 K-track series instead)
-Common problem: the turnout engines for both K and C-track have many trouble (not reliable). The problem exists since a long time. No definitive solution yet (except use of 'servos') but workaround exists. Browse the forum, many many posts discuss this topic.
4.3) Getting rid of a million blue boxes
-The CS2 has 128 pages of 16 entries to drive 2048 turnouts (320 with MM protocol); no more blue boxes needed... but if you're in a hurry to switch manually turnout 8, 99, 268 very quickly, you first have to switch with the stylus to the good page before... which may be too late...
Advice: go to marklin web site, go to the "Tools & Download/Product database", then search for item 60215 and download the user's manual of the CS2.
4.4) Converting a loco from analog to digital
It's a vast topic !
-a loco decoder is mandatory. Many brands are available. I recommend either Marklin or ESU (my personal choice is ESU). You need soldering abilities and a solder iron for electronics. It's not very difficult but you must be careful.
-The main problem is the mechanical part, which depends on the model you want to upgrade. This topic may be long to discuss in general, so provide either the reference of the loco to convert and/or its type, and browse/ask the forum how to convert such a loco... Generally, with recent decoders, at least the magnet must be changed. ESU has magnets for standard Marklin engines. When converting an analog loco, the inverter must also be removed. If your loco has a standard Marklin engine AND a standard brush plate, you may use Marklin conversion kits (engine only) 60941, 60943 or 60944 depending of the engine type, then add a decoder of your choice.
Advice1: An engine cleanup is recommended if the loco hasn't run since a long time. You must disassemble the engine for this. Lighter fluid is adequate to clean it up.
Advice2: Some Marklin dealers are able to convert analog locos to digital. Ask them...
4.5) Which "Central Station" ?
-I know 2 brands: Marklin and ESU. Many others exist but I don't know them. I personally own a CS2 (60214) and I'm pleased with it.
-Marklin have a smaller version of the CS2, called the MS2 with less features.
Advice: Browse the forum to learn more infos on MS2 (I don't have some), and to decide if a MS2 is enough to start (MS2 price is 100 EUR, CS2 price is 800 EUR !)
4.6) Discard the block process until you're fluent with all digital basic behavior
5) Misc. infos
Marklin is planning to publish the long awaited "Beginner's guide" (ref 03081). See there:
http://www.maerklinshop....in-maerklin-digital-bookI hope you are able to read German...The planned delivery date for this item is November 2015.
I hope this basic information will answer some of your expectations.
Cheers
Fabrice