Peter's Model Railroading | My Library | Magazine Authors
Magazine Articles By Bruce Petrarca

DCC for operations

The author covers what it takes to get ready for holding an operating session. It includes a large sidebar article on setting up decoders in engines used for operating sessions.

DCC Impulses

Pondering about what DCC might be like 5 years from now, the author first looks back as to the state of DCC five years ago, before making his predictions.

DCC Impulses

Using an HO-scale Atlas RS-3, the author describes his methods for how he thinks through a DCC decoder installation.

DCC Impulses

The author starts a series on wireless DCC, covering radio-frequency-based controllers. The author covers the CVP Airwire system and using their T5000 throttle, the Tam Valley Depot DRS1 system, and the Stanton S-CAB system (the last one the author has no real experience with).

DCC Impulses

In this part two of his topic of wireless DCC, the author covers batteries used for powering the locomotives. After some theory, the author demonstrates the measurements and use of batteries in his garden-layout set-up (most of the practical set-up doesn't apply to indoor railroading, though).

DCC Impulses

In this part three of his topic of wireless DCC, the author covers the completion of the garden-railroad system, by using batteries in box cars that power an RS-3. Includes a sidebar on how to change the channels on the CVP T-5000 throttle.

DCC Impulses

Digitrax simplex system, NCE duplex system, Digitrax duplex system, and what is the difference between these systems? The author describes incorporating a couple of the new Digitrax duplex system components in his club's layout, and reports that it works fine. There is a sidebar on how to deal with the Digitrax throttles that don't have an on/off switch.

DCC Impulses

The author is retiring from writing regular monthly columns, so that he can work on his own layouts. What is the difference between the SoundTraxx Tsunami and the Tsunami2 DCC sound decoders? The author describes installing one of these decoders into a G-scale LGB locomotive.

DCC Impulses

The author, in his final column, discusses the best approaches for installing sound decoder speakers in locomotives, and compares the smaller speakers available.

Railfanning the Great Lakes Western

A visit to the PebbleCreek Model Railroad Club in Goodyear, AZ. Includes many photos of the layout, and one of their outdoor G-scale layout.