Thanks guys fro the comments!
I restarted working on this project. I may call it a vacation project because I only work on it during my summer and winter vacations! That's the problem when you have too much diverging interests!
I started to work on the wiring with Louis-Marie recently and sometimes, solutions are easier than first envisionned. After a while, I decided to make the layout run on DC/DCC. Cleaning the rail heads will be a pain, but at this moment, making it a battery powered layout isn't no more a viable option. And with the Canadian dollar taking a plunge, let's say the hobby budget is shrinking in such a way it would cost an arm and a leg to implement such a fancy feature. Anyway, I once tested the layout on DC (before ballast and painting) and it worked flawlessly.
Shortliner's boxcab will be merged together with a GE 44-ton drive just like Reinhard did. Not the most prototypical solution, but I think it still looked great on his layout.
Last week, we tackled the problem of electrifying the carfloat and the float bridge. The answer was to run feeders from beneath to every stock rail.
The carfloat required I drill small holes against the rail to insert the feeders. Once putty and paint completed, it should be barely noticeable.
The wires were then connected together under the carfloat sloping hull. This part is invisible when the float is on the layout, so we didn't bother making it fancier than required. A male connector will make it possible to plug the carfloat on the layout bus wires. More about that later.
Feeding the float bridge required a little bit more ingenuity. My main concern was that the bridge could be removed anytime and wouldn't be directly connected with the main layout trackage. Using rail joiners wasn't an option to me. We thus decided to feed the rails with small copper wires soldered on each rail ends. Near the turnout, it meant the wire made a loop connected to insulated wire.
Once again, a male connector was also soldered to the bridge wires to make it plug-and-play. Since we don't plan to use the layout without the carfloat, all wires are visually hidden under normal circumstances. A little paint will make them disappear.
As you can see, when seen from top, you can hardly think all this wiring is running under the structures. You can also notice I added Frenchman River Models float bridge mechanism. Quite easy to put together and bring a lot of life to the model.
Finally, we soldered a pair of female connector on feeder wires. A hole will be drilled behind the pontoon and feeders will be soldered to bus wire in a traditional way. The carfloat and float bridge will then be plugged on it.
Matt