Beginner's Guide to Model Railroading

What Is Analog Control?

An analog control system allows only one locomotive at a time to be operated on the same tracks. A single locomotive responds to electric current by moving forward or backward by moving a switch in one direction or another.

Generally, current flow is reversed by simply moving the switch on the power source (or power pack). If there are two locomotives on the track, both locomotives will move forward or backward and at the same speed and at the same time. The locomotives cannot be operated independently of one another with an analog control system.

The rotating knob on the analog power pack illustrated above controls the speed of the train, and the switch to the right of the knob controls the forward or backward motion of the train.

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What Is Digital Command Control?

Old Technology

The analog power pack shown on this web page represents old technology, but it can still be used for simple train layouts. It's easy to operate just by turning on the power, rotating the speed knob, or flipping a forward/reverse switch. If you are running a single locomotive pulling rolling stock behind it on a single track system, an analog power pack will do the job. More elabotate layouts, like multi-track systems and independent operation of two or more locomotives at the same time require DCC operating systems.