Peter's Model Railroading | My Library | Magazine Authors
Magazine Articles By Mike Polsgrove

10 Steps to Choosing a DCC System

This column covers ten things to consider before buying your DCC system.

8 Ways to Enhance Operation With DCC

This article covers walkaround control, consisting, helper service, multi-train control, Rule 17 lighting, whistles, signals, fast clocks, and lighting effects.

DCC Buyer's Guide

An overview of DCC, and a listing of the various models available to model railroaders.

DCC Corner: A Word to the Wyes

Dealing with wyes when using DCC.

DCC Corner: Keep Your Trains Running with Power Districts

Information about how to wire one booster per district and how to protect blocks using automobile tail lamps.

Decoder-controlled Caboose Lighting

The author discusses what he had to do to install a Digitrax TF4 decoder in a caboose to gain a flashing amber roof-top beacon and red marker lights.

How Sound Decoders Work

How sound decoders are created.

How Sound Decoders Work

This article describes how sound is converted to digital bits, stored in a decoder, and how the sound is reproduced in our engines.

Locomotive Lighting Effects

This article discusses, in general, how to install lights in locomotives, and then programming the decoder to perform special lighting functions using Decoder Pro.

Power Buses and Districts

The first part of the article discusses the basics of good wiring and why that is important when DCC is used (as opposed to cab-control). The rest of the article discusses the benefits of well-thought out districts to help even the load and reduce total shut down in case of shorts.

Sound for Brass Steam

The author describes how he went about installing a sound decoder into a Soo Line 2-8-2 Mikado from Division Point Hobbies.

Tips for Using Wireless Throttles

Dealing with rechargeable batteries, holding on to throttles (various solutions), and picking good receiver locations.

Using DCC to Match Locomotive Speeds

The article covers speed matching, manipulating CV2, 5, and 6 to set a basic speed curve, and developing a method for locomotive speed matching.

Wiring a DCC Turntable

This article describes how to control the turntable motor using a locomotive decoder, and how to use the decoder's light function output to control the power to engine house stall tracks.

Wiring Reversing Sections for DCC

This article describes how to wire a reversing loop and a wye when using DCC.