Model trains work the same as full size trains in many ways, but in many more ways they are their own mechanical contrivances. Let's take a look under the shell and see what makes these little metal monsters go.
I will explain the basics of model locomotive mechanisms, how electric motors work, and different methods of motor control including DC control, DCC control, and AC powered models. The trains featured in this video are all HO scale, but the principles are almost universal across the scales from N to G.