Welcome to the forum!
You can power the layout with multiple power packs as you suggest, using one terminal track for each.
Using a CW-80 or any other AC transformer to power the layout is also feasible. Generally it is advised to feed power to the track at 3 foot intervals to even out power distribution on larger layouts.

Larry

Tom,
The need for extra feeds to the track comes with experimentation and the observation of how your trains run. With new, clean track you may find that you can run your trains with only a single power connection at the center of the layout.
At the yard section, if you are using new switches with tight connections, the switches will pass the voltage to the tracks after them, and you may not need any extra connections. The same with the reversing loops.

In the end, assemble the track into your configuration, and start with one power connection and observe how your trains run. If they run satisfactorily, then no further connections may be needed. You may add more power connections if you wish, but it may not be necessary unless you see a marked decrease in performance at a certain point on the layout.

Larry

I'm a newby to this forum and I didn't think you can mix lionchief with a cw-80 as the first is dc and the later ac. This is why i'm getting rid of my lionchief set. You can't mix the 2 unless your in blocked sections. I like ac control as I can run all O gauge lionel trains from any era and also use accessories without a hassle. I tried to put a remote uncoupling section on my lionchief layout and all it does is short out the operation. However if you are keeping your layout strictly lionchief,it's a great technical breakthrough as you can run multiple engines on the same track almost like dcc but you may have to power accessories with an ac transformer until lionel comes out with dc accessories. You can run separate loops within your layout and mix the 2 as long as they stay separate in every way.