How to Wire a Model Railroad for Block Operation

Model trains get their power from the rails, so to isolate the trains with DC control, you need to isolate the tracks. You need a small break in the rails to accomplish this. You can cut one rail -- called common rail wiring -- or both. Locate the gaps carefully.

Model Railroad Wiring

Using a Track Power Bus in Model Railroad Wiring A bus is a large 12-14 gauge wire that can serve as a common or ground wire to which a large number of feeder wires can be attached. 14 gauge should be the minimum size used for most layouts. If you have more than 80 feet of track, 12 gauge would be better.

Wiring | National Model Railroad Association

The standard way of wiring model railroads is to have the positive on the right hand rail when the loco is going forward. Just put the leads on the track so that the engine moves forward and to the right when the direction switch on the power pack is to the right. Swap the leads on the back of the pack if you need to.

How to wire a model train layout fast and easy

How to install feeder wires for a model train layout. It is a simple process that dose not take make much time and makes your layout run much better. If you ...

Model Railroad Wiring Tips

Specially-made wired metal rail joiners can be purchased and used as track feeder wires for your model railroad wiring. However, I usually do this myself by soldering one bare end of the 18-20 gauge feeder wire to the outer side of the track rail after I have threaded the wire through the layout.

How to wire a layout for two

Cab control wiring: A method of wiring a model railroad using two or more power packs and track electrical blocks to allow independent operation of two or more trains. Common rail: An electrically continuous rail that connects both power packs to complete the common electrical circuit.

Model Railroad Electrical Accessories

This is an MRC Railpower 1300 Model Train Powerpack for operation of HO and N gauge train sets. It's for ages 12 and over. PL 10E Switch Machine w/Extended Drive Pin Model Railroad Electrical Accessory

Model Railroading For Beginners

In this episode Mark Hache, from M&M Rails explains how he wires his model railroad layout with Atlas components with five isolation blocks to keep multiple locomotives running on his 4x8 HO Scale...

Wire Gauge Standards for Model Train Layouts

It is best to use at least two different colors for your track wiring (one for each rail). White and black are common selections. Lionel uses red and black (red always for the center rail, black for the two outer rails) as a standard in its instructions and most 3-Rail O Gauge layouts are probably wired this way.

Track Wiring

Good news! In at least one respect, wiring a three-rail model railroad is easier than wiring a typical two-rail system. In all two-rail systems, something must be done to switch the polarity of the reversing track, balloon track, or wye. In a three-rail system, you don't have to do anything special!