All topics

What Digital Command Control is, how it differs from analogue DC, and how to get started on any scale.

Choosing and fitting decoders, plugs and sockets, addresses and configuration variables (CVs).

Sound decoders, speakers and setting up sound projects.

DCC systems and controllers, boosters and programming tracks — including open-source DCC-EX on an Arduino.

Running a layout from a computer with JMRI, iTrain, Rocrail, TrainController, Traintastic and others.

Knowing where trains are: current sensing, block occupancy, RailCom, infrared and Hall-effect sensors.

Colour-light and semaphore signals, aspects and driving them from DCC or a computer.

Point (turnout) motors, accessory decoders, frog switching, lights and other accessories.

Track bus and droppers, power districts, boosters, circuit breakers and reverse loops.

Step-by-step projects: shuttles, automatic stations, fiddle yards and fully automated running.

Finding and fixing faults: shorts, stalling, decoders that won’t program and more.