How It Runs

This isn’t the simple DC train set that circled the Christmas tree in years past.

The Alpine & Western Pacific Railroad operates on state-of-the-art Digital Command Control (DCC) — a constant-power, 24 Volt AC system, where digital signals are sent through the rails to precisely control locomotives, switch motors, and accessories. With advanced Zimo DCC decoders onboard every locomotive, each train is driven independently, allowing multiple consists to run simultaneously at different speeds and in different directions — all with synchronized sound and lighting.

They draw power and command data directly from the rails, eliminating the need for extra wiring. More than 30 turnouts use MD-DWA all-weather switch drives, also powered and signaled directly from the track. Train movements and switching functions can be operated with ease via the Roco Z21 app on a smartphone or iPad.

For nearly two decades, this infrastructure has endured:

Yet the system continues to perform like new — with minimal cleaning and virtually zero maintenance. Track, turnouts, and reversing modules remain outdoors year-round; switch motors are only occasionally removed during winter for cleaning.

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