Wiring
Avoid any faults in your trackage by ensuring the right wires are crossed, all controls are functional and the power keeps flowing. There’s nothing worse than having operations derailed by an untimely short circuit, so learn from the masters how to hook up your railroad.
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3:59The invention of railroad signaling systems was introduced when automobile traffic became more prevalent in the 1900’s. Signaling systems are a crucial part of the railroad today. Detection and signaling prevent collisions, keep the trains on schedule and support a safer environment. Due to the high importance of signaling systems, they are critical for your… Read more »
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9:48
Conrail New Jersey’s builder/operator, Matt Snell, tells Model Railroad Academy’s Allen Keller that adding sound was a natural outgrowth of observations that his nighttime operations were too quiet. So he added various model railway sounds via modules with speakers spread throughout his basement and his layout came to life! In a step-by-step tutorial, Matt shares… Read more »
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4:11
If you enjoy model railroad switching operations like Stony Creek & Western’s Gil Freitag, you’ll often find you need two hands to hold the cab throttle and speed knob, and a third hand to uncouple with a pick! Gil has come up with a solution to that problem, and he shows Model Railroad Academy’s Allen… Read more »
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3:05
When it comes to model railway wiring, Lee Nicholas – owner/operator of the Utah Colorado Western – keeps it simple. He shows Allen Keller his method for hooking up his bus and feeder wires. Lee has two bus wires of different colors running beneath his layout, but when it comes to attaching feeder wires, he… Read more »
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2:23
There’s probably no single advancement in running model railroad locomotives in the last half-century more significant than Digital Command Control, or DCC. It simply has revolutionized the way we run and control not only trains but signals, turnouts and many other functions – all from a hand control throttle known as a cab. Veteran modeler… Read more »
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9:28
For those modelers who are intimidated by the thought of installing a model train decoder, watch as Ray Grosser takes you step by step through the process with an HO steam locomotive. He begins by separating the superstructure (boiler, etc.) from the frame, including the wires where they’re connected to the motor. He gently unsolders… Read more »
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1:20
Want to add some fun and a great bit of realism to your layout? Consider adding model railroad signals. Watch as modeler and DCC expert, Steve Barkley, describes how a signal driver card operates your model railroad signals system. Actually, they operate like a decoder for your signaling system. Steve grew up in the 1950s… Read more »
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4:16
Every modeler has their preference for how they like to control the turnouts on their layout. Some like to go through the trouble of installing wires for automatic switches, while others opt for the less complicated method of building manual throws. Master modeler David Holl is one of the latter; he likes to utilize built-in… Read more »
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2:09
Once you’ve wired the trackage on your model railroad layout and programmed your locomotives with onboard decoders, it’s time to hook up throttles to the digital command control (DCC). To do so, you’ll need to install panel connectors, which are available in a few basic types, and the type you choose dictates the kind of… Read more »
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