Hi Paul
A warm welcome to this great forum

Stop section in Digital on C Track
Insulating a zone of rails to stop on C Track is made using the 74030 insulation socks to be installed on both the central contacts on both extremities of the stop section
So you need four socks for each stop section.
The principle is the same whether you are in digital or analog.

NOTE: of course you know that mixing analog and digital powers is forbidden because chances are it will destroy your digital power system (60116 or equivalent)

Combining
Combining M track with C track poses no problem
Combining analog and digital locos means all are using analogue source
Attention Only white platic case transformers are allowed to avoid destroying the digital decoder on locos (No more than 24 VAC during direction change)

Automation
Standard automation are possible using contact track that command signals, etc
Cheers
Jean

Edited by user 29 December 2024 14:33:37(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified

Hi Paul
Yes you may use electro-magnetic logic (signals with contact tracks) on a digital layout.
Although Märklin does not suggest it, some (many?) modellbahners have connected a digitally controlled signal (or switch) to a contact track and there seem to be no problem.

About insulated stop sections
Yes, the lights and sounds are turned off and the stop is rather abrupt.
I started using brake modules (72442) and indeed, the stopping is smooth, lights are on and sounds remain active.
I soon discovered this is a very expensive approach (60€ per module) and it requires A LOT OF WIRING.
Then I started using Rocrail (other train control software offer similar things) and it gave me this:
- no more need for insulated stop section
- no use of brake modules as the smooth stopping and starting is standars
- simplified wiring
- no signals or relays needed to control trains. Signals are only cosmetic (can add them later in visible areas
- very easy to organise a shadow station (I have 15 trains capacity in my shadow stations)
- any train can behave as a shuttle train without any slider inversion and conducting couplers needed.
- full access to automation

And what about the cost?
- a CS2 or CS3 that I already have. Some others did it using an MS2 and additional modules (Arduino, etc)
- a CAT5 CAT6 cable (5€)
- a laptop that I already have
- a financial contribution or 12€ per annum that you need to pay ONLY if you are satisfied and wish to access the forum. You may start with FULL fonctionality without having to pay first.

In case you want to see some possibilities here is my layout https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F6WnhXPcRqI

Cheers
Jean

Yes, buying a second hand controller can save, but in the long run may be throwing good money after bad. I'm glad I couldn't afford a CS 2, and waited to upgrade from a 6021 until I could afford an MS2 and a CS3+. So in the long haul, I did also save.

Thank you to all who have posted. After considering the suggestions posted here and playing with my trains both digital and analog on C and M track I have decided to run a hybrid system. My track will combine M and C track to make it around the room. I am going to use one or maybe two M84s to control blocking also using my analog signals as dummy signals. I found a Mobile Station two for 50 bucks that I think will more than meet my needs. I am going to run one of my old transformers to power the track in addition to the MS2 track box. That way I will be able to run my analog trains one at a time until I can convert them to digital. I will run the digital all off of the MS2 and never have both powers on at the same time. That was a great suggestion by the way. Jean your layout gave me massive train envy, absolutely beautiful! Rocrail is not for me yet. When I get some more time I might consider it for a fun project. Thanks again to all that offered help!
Paul