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Railroad Track Circuit Installation

A transformer converts a household's 120-volt power to a lower voltage for your model train set wiring. The model railroad transformer carries power to the tracks through connected power wires. The train engine car receives the power through wheel contact. The track becomes a part of the electric circuit in a model railroad. The configuration of the track layout is subject to various loop designs that keep the power circulating.

Things You'll Need

16 gauge wire
Wire cutters

Instructions

- 1
  Clip the connector to the model train tracks on train sets that do not have wires attached to the track. Several Lionel Models use a connector called a Locton that clips to the outside and center rails of the track.
- 2
  Strip the ends of a pair of 16 gauge wires with wire cutters to reveal 1/2 inch of bare wire for train set wiring. Clip one wire into each of the wire terminals on the track connector for tracks without wires attached.
- 3
  Connect the power wires to the model railroad transformer. Use the wire color coding on model trains with wires attached to connect both wires to the correct terminals on the transformer or power pack. Use the track connector terminal markings to show which wire goes to which transformer terminal on tracks without wires attached. Connect the wire from terminal "1" on Lionel connectors to terminal "A" on the transformer. The wire on connector terminal "2" connects to transformer terminal "U".

Model Railroads