Model Train Wiring

Collectors of model trains and railroads realize that model railroad wiring is one of the most important aspect and an exciting part of a model train collection. All trains ought to halt at each station and need to decelerate on every tight corner and junction. Every stop at each station, trains have a designated amount of time to simulate the loading and unloading of passengers or cargo. To make this automatic run possible when running an analog model train set, you need to do some tinkering with the wires and add a few components.

To achieve this, you have to know where to segregate certain parts of the track and to configure the circuit board wirings that will control the speed and pace of the train when it goes through a certain section of the track. A necessary accessory to be able to tell the circuit board when the train to stop is called a photo sensor.

To slow down the train, an AS-1 type circuit is necessary. A wire from the board connects to the isolated rail and one more wire should be connected to the powered rail on the same isolated track. A locomotive with a flywheel works best with this feature since it can slow down and start up gradually. The train will regain its maximum speed once it is out of the non-isolated track.

For a train to stop, slow down, and start-up again a position sensor will be required together with a DT-4, TD-1 and AS-1 circuit boards. One wire should connect TD-1 and DT-4 circuit boards. One wire from the DT-4 connects to the isolated track and one wire from the TD-1 should connect to one rail on the isolated track. A third wire should connect TD-1 to AS-1 and one wire from the AS-1 should be connected to the non-isolated track.

When the train reaches the isolated track, it would slow down and will stop as it reaches the station where the photo sensor is placed. Depending on how long you set the duration for the train to stop on the circuit board, it will re-activate which will move the train at a start pace. When it reaches the next track, it will pick up speed.

For a model train to go in reverse, an AR-1 circuit board will do the job and two position sensors. Two individual wires from the AR-1 should connect to both rails on the track and one more pair of wires connects to the photo sensor.

If you don’t know anything about wirings, then getting a Digital Command Control train set would be a better option. DCC enables you to direct the train’s speed and path without getting any additional components and wirings.