Encoder/decoders with Arduino

Greetings oh great ones. I have heard of Arduino but never used the product which by all accounts is extremely versatile. My question is regarding the feasibility ..... is the following possible using Arduino. I am a model railway enthusiast. I have 30 points/switches on my layout and a turn table requiring 8 positions. I would like to be able to change any one or a combination of the points (left or right) and position the turntable at a specific point (controlled by a stepper motor) by means of entering a number on the keypad (which ideally should be displayed on a digital readout screen).

Furthermore, if possible, I would like to send the signals to these devices down a single 2 or 3-wire bus which means (I assume) that some sort of decoder would be required at each device along with the encoder at or in the Arduino module.

Question 1: Is the above achievable within a reasonable price;
Question 2: What equipment would be required;
Question 3: Where would I find the information in novice terms that would guide me in achieving the objective as I don't have a clue as to what terminology I should use within my searches.

Thanking you all in advance and regards

Andrew .... the electronic idiot

AndrewMabin:
Question 1: Is the above achievable within a reasonable price;
Question 2: What equipment would be required;
Question 3: Where would I find the information in novice terms that would guide me in achieving the objective as I don't have a clue as to what terminology I should use within my searches.

Yeah it's totally achievable with Arduino.

The board you should use here is Arduino Mega 2560 as you have to use a lot of I/O Pins or you can use shift registers if you wanna use Arduino UNO but that would be a little difficult.

So, if you use Arduino Mega 2560 then you need to interface keypad first and then connect your 30 switches with digital pins of Arduino. Make sure switches are working at 5V.

You should make a search for keypad with Arduino, how to use serial communication with Arduino.

Shift registers or port expanders, placed near the actors, will reduce the amount of long wires and consequently the number of input pins. Use SPI or I2C to control many actors and sensors with as few as 2 wires and even the smallest Arduino. The turntable should lock onto local switches, a stepper motor without such switches or markers can be unreliable.

See the many railroad topics in the Arduino and railroad forums.

Thanks guys. Really quick response. This will at least push a novice Arduino aspirant in the right direction.