model railroads resources


Micro Controllers - How These Inexpensive, Clever Little Devices
Can Be Used To Add Excitment and Interest to Model Railroads

Model railroading has developed hugely since it was first invented. The evolution included progressing from clockwork operation to electrics, through to DCC, and now LED, JMRI, and Arduino micro controllers. For some these developments might seem somewhat daunting, but for many (including teenagers and the techno savvy among us), these changes have opened up a whole new range of exciting possibilities.

The big advantage for the future of the hobby is that products like micro controllers are attracting a whole new generation to model railroading.

Apart from the amazing things that can be done with Arduino micro controllers, they are also incredibly cheap to buy (as are the accessories). It's like when you bought your first microwave oven or video recorder - when they first came out they cost a couple of thousand dollars. Micro controllers are basically mass produced mini computers so are inexpensive to buy and use. These videos (and the excellent ebook) explain the electronics and how Arduino micro controls can be used on model railroads.

 

More details at http://www.modeltraincontrols.com

 

arduino model train computer

 Arduino micro model train controller (see ebook top right for more info)

Fascinating Rail Journeys

 Hobby groups in the USA include:

Alabama: Azalea City Model Railroaders, Bay Area Rail Roaders, Central Alabama Model Rail Road Club, Coosa Valley Model Railroad Club, Redstone Model Railroad Club, Southeast Alabama Model Railroad Club, South West Alabama Railroad Modelers, The Wrecking Crew.

Arkansas: Central AR Model Railroad Club, Eureka Springs & North Arkansas Railway.

Arizona: Arizona & Southwest Model RR Society and Tucson Ntrak, Cochise & Western, Flagstaff Model Railroad Club, Grand Canyon State Model Railroaders, Maricopa Live Steamers, Ponderosa North Model Railroad Club, Scottsdale Model Railroad Club, Southern Arizona Society of Model Engineers, Sun'N'Sand Model Railroad Club, Thunderbird Model Railroad Club.

California: Alameda County Central Railroad Society, Amtrak Employees Model Railroad Club, Angels Gate Hi-Railers, Antelope Valley Model Railroad Club, Antelope Valley N'Scalers, Bay Area Lego Train Club, Bay Area NTRAK Model Railroad Club, Bay Area Garden Railway Society, Belmont Shore Model Railroad Club, Black Diamond Lines Model Railroad Club, California Southern Model Railroad Club, Capitol City NTrak, Carquinez Model Railroad Society, Citrus Empire Model Railroad Club, Coachella Valley Model Railroaders, Coastal Valley Lines, Corona & Temescal Canyon Railroad, Black Diamond Lines Model Railroad Club, East Valley Lines, Eel River Valley Model Railroaders, Glendale Model Railroad Club, Gold Coast Modular Railroad Club, Golden Empire Model Railroad Club, Golden Gate Model Railroad Club, Golden State Model Railroad Museum, Goleta Valley Railroad Club, Group 160 Ntrak Club, San Fernando, Highland Pacific HO Model Railroad Club, High Sierra Model Railroad Club, Joshua Tree & Southern Railroad Club & Museum, Lancaster andNorthwestern Railroad Club, Live Steam Clubs Of Southern California, Los Angeles Live Steamers, Los Angeles Live Steamers Railroad Museum, Los Angeles Model Railroad Society, Los Angeles N-Scale Association, Modular Railroad Engineers of Ventura County, Monterey Salinas Valley Railroad Modeling & Historical Society, Napa Valley Model Railroaders, North Coast Narrow Gaugers, North County Model Railroad Society, North Valley Live Steamers, Oahu Sierra Railroad Engineers, Orange Coast Railroad Club, Orange County Model Engineers, Orange County Module Railroaders, Pasadena Model Railroad Club, Pomona Valley Model Railroad Club, Poway Station All Scale Model Rrailroad Club, Redwood Valley Railway, Riverside Live Steamers, Roseville Roundhouse Model Railroad Club, Sacramento Model Railroad Historical Society, Sacramento Modular Railroaders, San Diego Garden Railway Society, San Diego Model Railroad Museum, San Diego Model Railroad Club, San Diego Society Of N Scale, San Joaquin Valley Garden Railway Society, Santa Susana Railroad Historical Society, Silicon Valley Lines, Slim Gauge Guild Model Railroad Club, South Bay Historical Railroad Society, Southern California LEGO Train Club, Southern California N Scale Council, Southern California Traction Club, Tehachapi Loop Railroad Club, Tri-City Society of Model Engineers, Walnut Creek Model Railroad Society, Western Sierra Model Railroad Club,

Colorado: Boulder Model Railroad Club, Coal Creek & Southern Ry, Denver Garden Railway Society, Denver HO Gauge Club, Golden, Denver N Scale Model Railroad Club, Estes Valley Model Railroaders, Longmont Area Railroad Modelers, Pikes Peak 'N' Gineers, Rocky Mountain Railroad Club.

Connecticut: Connecticut S Gaugers, Housatonic Model Railway Club, Mohegan - Pequot Model Railroad Club, New Haven & Derby Railroad Club, New Haven Society Of Model Engineers, Silk City Model Railroad Club, The Stamford Model Railroad Club, Torrington Area Model Railroaders, Valley HO Trak Model Railroad Club, Valley Ntrak of Connecticut, Delaware: Nordel Model Railroad Club.

Florida: Big Bend Model Railroad Association Tallahassee, Consolidated Model Railroaders (CMRX) Panama City, Florida Citrus Model Train Society Fort Lauderdale, Florida Nature's Coast Model RailRoad Club Brooksville, Greater Florida LEGO Train Club, The H. B. Plant Railroad Historical Society Plant City - Florida, Miracle Strip Model Railroad Club - Florida, Model Railroad Club Wildwood, Ocala Model Railroaders Ocala - Florida, Orlando N-Trak Orlando, Palm Beach Model RailRoaders West Palm Beach, Pensacola Model Railroad Club Pensacola, Ridge Live Steamers Dundee, Sarasota Model Railroad Club Sarasota, Scale Rails of Southwest Florida Fort Myers, South Plantation Train Club Plantation - Florida, Sun City Center Model Railroad Club sun city center, Suncoast Model Railroad Club Largo, Palm Beach Model Railroaders West Palm Beach, Florida.

Georgia: Flint River Model Railroad Club Albany, Metro Atlanta N-Scalers Atlanta, Middle Georgia Model Railroad Club Warner Robins, North Georgia Modurail Atlanta, North Georgia LEGO Train Club, Northwest Georgia NTRAK Kennesaw, GA.

Idaho: Eagle Rock Railroad Historical Society Idaho Falls, Pocatello Model Railroad & Historical Society Pocatello, Rocky Mountain Hi-Railers.

Illinois: Chicago Big Train Operators Chicago - Illinois, Chicagoland Area Garden Railway Society Chicago, Chicagoland Lionel Railroad Club Chicago, Elmhurst Model Railroad Club Elmhurst, Fox Valley O Scalers Elgin, Illinois Live Steamers, Illinois Tech Model Railroad Club Chicago, Lake Shore Model Railroad Association Chicago, Little "Q" Model Railroad Club Aurora, Midwest 'N' Pioneer Model Railroad Club, Mississippi Valley N Scalers St. Louis, Northwest N-Trak An N Scale, Northwest Trainmasters Model Railroad Club, Oak Park Society of Model Engineers (OPSME) Oak Park, Salt Creek Model Railroad Club West Chicago, Stateline S Gaugers Rockford, Will County Model railroad association Joliet, IL.

Indiana: Big Train Engineers Model Railroad Club Of Indiana Indianapolis, Columbus Area Railroad Club Columbus, Indiana Live Steamers Martinsville, Naptown & White River Model Railroad Club Indianapolis, Purdue Railroad Club, Ridge Model Railroaders Griffith, St Joseph Valley Railroad Club Mishawaka, Union Station Railroaders Association Indianapolis, IN.

Iowa: Cedar Valley "O" Scale Modelers Cedar Falls, Central Iowa Railroad Club Des Moines, Iowa State Railroad Club Ames, IA.

Kansas:
Northeast Kansas Railroaders Atchison, Topeka Model Railroaders, Inc. Topeka, KS.

Kentucky: K&I Model Railroad Club, Radcliff Model Railroad Association Radcliff, The shOw Modular Model Railroad Club Bowling Green, KY.

Louisiana:
Arklatex Modular Club, Baton Rouge Model Railroads Baton Rouge, Crescent City Model Railroad Club Metairie, Cresent City S-Gaugers New Orleans, Midsouth Railroad Club Baton Rouge. Maine: Eastern Maine Model Railroad Club Inc. East Orland, Great Falls Model Railroad Club Lewiston, Maine Track N-Scale modular group in Southern Maine, Portland Terminal Modular Model Railroad Club Scarborough.

More groups listed on other pages.

 

arduino micro controls for model railroads

dcc questions

N scale track plans

HO scale track plans book

 scale model structures buildings

model trains help ebook

model railroads scenery