i think the problem with books like these is they often explain just one approach. today there is of course DC, cab control, DCC and possibly dead rail wiring.
another aspect of wiring is finding shorts. even wiring for DCC can benefit from blocks or power districts, both to limit shorts due to derailed equipment or shorts due to mis-wiring or gap closures due to expansion.
i think i was fortunate to get an HO Railroad that Grows in my teens. Linn Westcott just needed a chapter or two (pre-Atlas) to describe how to build a cab control system
there are of course many web pages on model railroad wiring
i think the NMRA can do better than Wiring. the advantage of a web page is improvements can easily be added over time.
greg - Philadelphia & Reading / Reading
The Atlas book appears to rely on their products naturally, which may be ok depending on your needs.
Those other two books may offer useful info, but they look like they are from the 1950's or 1960's. Some more recent books, say written in the last 20 years may be able to discuss and take advantage of some modern things including modern connectors and hardware that wasn't common way back when dinosaurs roamed the earth.
Rio Grande. The Action Road - Focus 1977-1983
I am going to agree with RRBELL. The Atlas wiring book has all the basic information you need and should be your first choice for the basic nuts-and-bolts.
The old Kalmbach book HO Primer had some very good basic information on DC wiring.
Avoid the Kalmbach book How To Wire Your Model Railroad unless you are 100% sure you are getting the newest edition. Old editions of that book contain way more than basics and are overly complex and outdated.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
Atlas book on wiring.
Happy St. Patties, all. My question is which book about wiring a layout you would consider the EASIEST TO UNDERSTAND, like an idiot's guide. Not the most complete, not the one with the sweetest schematics, and not the one that goes into the most detail about outlying scenarios that I probably won't be pursuing... but the one you would consider most easy to grasp for someone electronically challenged but that still covers essentials for basic wiring of a DC layout.
Plus points if it also covers DCC but I want to start with electricity as God first created it.
Note: If you're an electrical wiz, empathy will be required to answer this question properly.
Thanks in advance for any opinions offered. I'll check back daily.
-Matt
Returning to model railroading after 40 years and taking unconscionable liberties with the SP&S, Northern Pacific and Great Northern roads in the '40s and '50s.