Understanding Digital Model Trains

2nd edition - Now even more up to date as of January 2024!
You love model trains, you want to learn about or understand digital better (including DCC)? This is the book for you!

Have you ever heard about protocols (DCC, Märklin Digital), boosters, decoders, and wondered what these are?

Do you want to understand how CVs really work?


Whether you are new to model trains, or just to digital, this book is here to help you understand how digital model railroading works, and why it makes our hobby so much richer.

An essential guide to help you choose a digital system or upgrade yours, it will present all the important topics, in plain, simple language and with illustrations, including:


- Protocols (DCC, Märklin Digital...)
- Decoders
- CVs and programmiung
- Command stations
- Boosters
- Buses and digital accessories
- PC control and programming



After reading this guide, you will have all the information you need to become an expert with your digital layout!



This book has been written for all toy train enthusiasts. It mentions systems common in Europe, America and elsewhere. The content will be useful no matter which scale is your favorite (HO, N, Z, OO, TT, 1, G…), no, or whether you use a 2-rail or a 3-rail system (Lionel, Märklin…)