Power, control and railroad info

​​​​We are using MRC's Prodigy Advance 2 (marketed by Gaugemaster in the UK) as this is the most fully featured system for the money and is the most intuitive to use. All points are motorised with Tortoise switch motors, they are near bullet-proof in reliability and have useful built in switches for panel repeater lights etc.

The second largest railroad system after the Pennsy. Had some of the largest passenger steam engines and was also famous for it's streamlined locos and matching Budd stainless steel coaches used on trains such as the '20th Century Limited. The NYC also bought in diesels of untested types to replace relatively young steam locos.​

The B&O built itself up to a considerable size by swallowing up many other roads, but kept many of the odd locos going as well as building and rebuilding their own types. They also were one of the first big railroads to start using diesels for main line trains from the mid 30's onwards, but still had steam as late as 1957.​

The smallest of the four roads modelled, but still interesting in it's own way with it's fast freight services and unusual small Hudson locos with 'elephant ears' smoke deflectors. Like the B&O it's change to diesel was more gradual and favoured EMD and Alco products in the main.

The largest railroad in the US during the first half of the 20th century in terms of traffic flow, also the largest company in the world at that time. Had a mainly home built fleet of steam locos featuring belpaire type boilers where most other companies had radial stay boilers. Bought in diesels from every manufacturer in the rush to dieselise....