Does anyone have the book "Wiring your Toy Train Layout"?

[Anonymous]

CTT keeps advertising this book, but I am leary to purchase it because it shows what I THINK is MTH wiring on the cover. I have TMCC and want to use that exclusively. Anyone know if it covers TMCC TPC, SCII's and the rest?

[Big_Boy_4005]

From the description, it sounds like it doesn't spend a lot of pages on command operation at all. Have you tried your local hobby store to browse a copy? [:)]

[Anonymous]

Wiring---TPC, TMCC,SC-2s,ASCs---you can get all of that answered on the OGR Forum.[:)][:)]

[Anonymous]

Jack, I have the book and would recommend it to anyone. I'm still a beginner, but I've talked to more experienced folks who keep a copy around.

CTT sells a book called "Command Control for Toy Trains" that goes into depth on that subject. The Riddle book describes sound practices for any wiring infrastructure.

[Anonymous]

Thanks all. No, I have never seen the book in the store before Elliot. Thanks Rick. I'll buy them both! Welcome to this side of the tracks!

[CNJfan]

I recently purchased the book.
I have not had a chance to read it yet, but a quick scan tells me it includes all your basic wiring information. Things like wiring the track with and without blocks. Wiring switches and accessories. Building a control panel. Automatic Train control and Troubleshooting.
It does appear to have information about TMCC and DCS but not very much that I can tell.
Hope this helps,
Tim

[Anonymous]

I have the book but have only scanned it. It is typical Peter Riddle, focused on basic electricals--layout/accessory wiring ,train control but little on TMCC or DCS. But, along with Neil B's book on Command Control it will provide a "newbie" with a pretty good starter library for about a $50 investment.
(It does recycle much from his three prior books on Basic, Intermediate and Advanced Toy Train electricals).

[CNJfan]

I forgot to mention earlier. I found the book for half price on Overstock.com.
At the same time I purchased "Toy Train Layout, From Start To Finish".
Both books shipped cost me $32.00
Tim C.

[Anonymous]

I have the older version of the Peter Riddle book, "Wirng your Lionel Layout" or something like that. I believe the new book is also written by Peter Riddle. The book was very well written and easy to read, and didn't cover command control wiring techniques.

Regarding command control, even though you may not be interested in DCS (I currently am not), TMCC works just as well when your layout is wired using the "star wring" method that DCS requires. The point of this method is that there are two equal length wires going to each block / power district from a central point. This somehow makes the DCS signal strength stronger in each block. I don't know why this is, but it supposedly does.

TMCC has no trouble working on this scheme, and, if you ever do decide to go down the DCS path, you won't have to do any re-wiring. In theory. You may have bad spots that require rewiring, anyway

In any event, using the star wiring method is not an endorsement of MTH, and they don't have any patents on it. Many computer networks are wired using this scheme. It does have advantages in signal propogation.

Tony