[Coco] Computers and electric trains...

[Aaron Banerjee]

My (7 year old) son just got a real Lionel O gauge train set from his 
grandfather for his birthday/early Christmas.  I've been waiting 35 
years for a real Lionel...  Anyhoo, I was wanting to use the computer 
for command and control of the set.

I tried getting a relay board for my PC, but I was getting prices for 
relay or DAS boards of like $800 - $1600.  This is way out of my price 
range.  I must be looking in the wrong place (I tried Keithley and 
another place).

The first thing that came to mind after the sticker shock is that the 
coco natively has 4 A/D converters (JOYSTK) and a natural relay 
(cassette motor).  Unfortunately, I need more than one relay.  I 
suppose the out pin of the serial I/O could be used (in conjunction 
with a transistor) to drive a relay, but I'd need more than two.

This sounds like something someone on this list has probably done in 
the past.  Any insight/advice would be appreciated.
                             - Aaron