Garden Railroading - ways to control your trains

1. Conventional Track Power Operation
A. Analog power supply with tethered walk-around control.
The power supply has provision for a handheld speed and direction control module with a connecting cable to the power supply. This allows you to get closer to your train, which is handy when switching cars or testing track.

B. Analog power supply with un-tethered walk-around control.
This system has a handheld transmitter that sends radio or infra-red signals to a receiver connected between a normal power supply and the track. The range is up to 300 feet and no cable is involved. Some handhelds allow you to control two or more different receivers, each running a different train on a different piece of track. Each track section must be electrically isolated from all others.

2. Onboard battery power with un-tethered walk-around control.
The power supply is a battery pack in the tender or a trailing car that is controlled by a hand held transmitter. The receiver is in the train, connected between the battery pack and the locomotive. No power is needed on the tracks but some re-wiring of the locomotive is required. Radio controlled model car components can be used.

3. Digital Command Control
A. Digital command control (DCC) with tethered walk-around control.
Instead of an analog radio receiver in the locomotive, there is a digital decoder. It receives digital signals from the tracks that are sent by the hand held controller. The controller is plugged into a socket that is connected to the tracks. However, the train continues with its last command when the controller is un-plugged, so you can move along with the train to the next socket.
Decoders must be installed in all locomotives.

B. Digital command control (DCC) with un-tethered walk-around control.
Instead of sockets, a radio receiver is connected to the track to receive the digital signals from the handheld radio transmitter.

C. Digital command control (DCC) with computer control.
A computer program sends the commands to the locomotive decoders. This requires trackside detectors so that the program knows where the trains are. The operator can also control several trains from the keyboard. You will need expert advice for this.

4. Control of a live steam engine from a distance
Radio control is a standard option on most live steam locomotives. This gives full control of stop, start, speed and direction from a distance. Standard two channel radio control equipment is used on either the 40 MHz FM or 27 MHz AM wavebands depending on the country being supplied. One channel operates the reversing valve gear and the other operates the steam regulator. A radio controlled locomotive is supplied complete with transmitter and batteries are fitted

Want a real challenge? Try live steam with or without radio control. It's fussy but fun for those with the knack for it. Low cost beginner locos (Accucraft, and Brandbright) are available as well as expensive, fine scale models (Accucraft, Aster, Roundhouse and others)