Those who are still using analog control can skip straight to the digital model railway era with the help of CTC. The transition is much easier and more cost-effective compared to switching to a digital system.

What do you need for this?

  • A power supply: At least initially, this can be the old model railway transformer.
  • A WLAN access point: For the first attempts, the private WLAN network will suffice. From around 20 modules, however, a dedicated WLAN network for the model railway is recommended.
  • A CTC locomotive module for each locomotive
  • For turnouts and signals, either a CTC turnout module or a CTC Multi-I/O Board for up to 4 turnouts/signals

Parallel operation of analog locomotives/turnouts/signals and CTC locomotives/turnouts/signals is always possible. However, the control will be done separately via control panel/control console and the CTC app. For the track section on which the CTC locomotive is operating, the control console needs to be set to full throttle.

What happens with locomotives with digital decoders?

The digital decoders are replaced by the corresponding CTC locomotive modules.

How do I start?

The easiest way is to get a starter set from us to familiarize yourself with the new world of CTC. You can start with either a turnout, a locomotive, or both.

In any case, you will receive a CTC router, the CTC modules, and the CTC app. You don’t need anything else, as your existing control console will handle the power supply. The CTC locomotive can run simultaneously with analog locomotives on the same layout, but it requires its own control console set to full throttle. The turnouts can be powered by the light connection of the control console or a separate power source.

And what’s next?

There are various possibilities:

  • Gradually upgrade all locomotives, turnouts, and signals to CTC and eventually achieve a purely CTC controlled model railway.
  • Upgrade only turnouts, signals, and feedback sensors to CTC and continue running your locomotives in analog mode.
  • Upgrade only your locomotives to CTC and possibly install CTC-IR-balises on the track but continue to switch analog.

Unless you have museum-worthy locomotives that you want to maintain in their original state, there’s no reason, in our view, to stick with analog.

What happens with my feedback sensors?

With CTC, it becomes much simpler: complex wiring or proprietary electronics are completely eliminated. Up to four classic sensors can be connected to the CTC Multi-I/O Board.

However, it is worth taking a look at the CTC-IR-balise. Two of these can be connected to a CTC turnout module or CTC Multi-I/O Board. They enable the locomotive to determine its position and possibly also receive a command (e.g., signal stop at 70cm distance). Simple automation without app intervention is possible with the help of CTC-IR-balises.

In all cases, the mentioned feedback information is transmitted via WLAN together with the status messages of the CTC modules.

Learn more about automation in the article Automated Running.