About this site
About DCC Train Automation
DCC Train Automation is an independent UK guide to Digital Command Control on model railways — from fitting a first decoder to running a fully automated layout from a computer. It covers every common scale, from N to O.
What you’ll find here
- Step-by-step guides with what you’ll need, numbered steps, wiring diagrams where they help, warnings and a list of sources.
- Tools: a CV calculator for long addresses, CV29, speed tables and momentum.
- Reference: decoder plugs and sockets, control software compared, wiring diagrams, a glossary and an FAQ.
How the guides are researched
Each guide is written in our own words from published sources: NMRA standards, manufacturers’ manuals and product pages, and the documentation of open-source projects such as DCC-EX and JMRI. The sources are listed at the end of every guide with the date it was last checked. If we can’t confirm something from a source, we leave it out.
What we don’t claim
We haven’t tested every product or program mentioned here ourselves, and we don’t publish test results or star ratings. Comparisons are based on what the makers say, and we tell you where to check the details. Decoders and command stations vary, so the maker’s instructions for your own equipment always come first.
Who runs it
DCC Train Automation is owned by Steven Smith. The site isn’t connected with any manufacturer, retailer, club or standards body, and is paid for by affiliate links — see our affiliate disclosure.
Found a mistake?
Use the “Report a problem” form at the bottom of any guide, or email us. We check every report against the sources and update the guide and its checked date when something needs fixing. If there’s a project you’d like explained, suggest a guide.