The East Penn Traction Club

Trolley Modeling Tips & Techniques

This page contains a growing collection of articles, presentations and material on trolley modeling, some with particular emphasis on working with the East Penn module standards as described elsewhere on this web site. It is hoped this material will answer questions or provide new ideas for enjoying the hobby. Contributions to this page are welcome and should be sent to the EPTC Webmaster.

Some links of interest:

Intro to Trolley Modeling Page

Light Rail Vehicle Modeling Page

Trolleyville archive page donated by George Huckaby

Page of East Penn members' projects

Check out the "Trolley-Cam" photos including a full motion video of the trolley-cam in action!
Browse (or contribute to!) the growing Trolley Modeling Article Bibliography.

Articles and Plans

Notes: This table of East Penn articles is sorted by primary author.

All of the files presented here are saved in Adobe's® Portable Document Format (.pdf). The use of the .pdf format ensures the document you obtain and print will be formatted exactly as the original author intended. To view/print them, you need Adobe's Acrobat® Reader software. This software is available at no charge and there are versions for most computing platforms including Windows, DOS, Macintosh, OS/2, UNIX, etc. To obtain a free copy of Acrobat Reader, click here: .

File Name Size Date Author(s) Title and Contents

Bowser_derailment_allman2022.pdf 278K 7/2022 Rich Allman Bowser derailment - Correction of Bowser trolley issue.

Disp_of_Trolley-Traction-related_Collections_Allman2024.pdf 150K 11/2024 Rich Allman Disposition of Trolley- and Traction-related Collections

Part_1.pdf
Part_2.pdf
Part_3.pdf
9MB
21MB
11MB 11/2021
(updated 7/2022) Larry Bosler Philly Trolleys - An overview of the trolleys in Philly through different agencies.
Part 1: PRT
Part 2: PRT cont'd, PTC, FPT, Suburban, P&W
Part 3: Red Arrow, SEPTA, Buses, Trackless Trolleys, MFL, BSL, DRPA, PATCO

modeling_light_rail2.pdf 36K 5/2009 Chris Bradley Modeling Light Rail - This is an EPTC Meet clinic presentation.

overhead.pdf 29K 10/1997 William Brandt Hanging Overhead Wire - This "Trolley Tip" provides information on tried and true techniques for hanging overhead wire for modules.

PolePanOperation.pdf 1.5M 4/2012 Rich Crooks "Some Tips for Pan and Pole Operation," shown at the April 2012 EPTC meeting.

interurban_box_trailer.pdf 275KB 03/2012 Chuck Crouse Interurban Box Trailer - A scratchbuilding article.

compress.pdf 10K 5/1995 Bob Dietrich Compression Type Insulators - This "Trolley Tip" provides instructions on building semi-prototypical compression type insulators suitable for any scale.

insulate.pdf 12K 9/1996 Bob Dietrich Overhead Wire Insulators - This "Trolley Tip" provides instructions on a technique to make "de-wire proof" insulators in the trolley overhead.

standards.pdf 188K 4/1997 EPTC East Penn Model Trolley Layout Module Standards - This is a copy of the East Penn trolley module standards (It is the same document as can be found on the module standards page of this web site.).

decals.pdf 28K 2/1997 Bob Dietrich Do-It-Yourself Decals - This "Trolley Tip" discusses the techniques for making your own custom trolley decals using the laser printer decal paper available from Micro-Mark.

HOliner.pdf 121K 10/2000 Bob Dietrich HO Scale Nickel Plate Products Liberty Liner Conversion - This article details how to convert a Nickel Plate Products HO scale Liberty (or Electro) Liner to take sharper radius curves and to run better.

switchho.pdf 130K 6/2000 Bob Dietrich Single-point HO Switch Construction - This "Trolley Tip" provides instructions on building single-point switches in HO using modified Richard Orr components.

bachmann_peterwitt.pdf 2MB 01/2008 Bob Dietrich Bachmann Spectrum Peter Witt in HO - This tip shows how make improvements in the Bachmann ready-to-run Peter Witt car in HO.

repowering_ho_cars1.pdf 1.9Mb 5/2009 Bob Dietrich Powering/Repowering HO Cars; Adapting RtR Trolleys to East Penn Modules - This is an EPTC Meet clinic presentation.

flexi_window-guards.pdf 145KB 03/2010 Bob Dietrich Flexible Window Guards - This tip shows how make Flexible Window Guards for streetcars.

NotesonHOScrantonElectromobilefromShapeways.pdf 1.4M 3/2016 Bob Dietrich Bob shows how he created a Scranton Electromobile with Shapeways components.

Bowser_drive_assembly.pdf 1M 4/2016 Bob Dietrich Bob shows his method of assembling Bowser drives with improvements.

GetGoingInHO.pdf 1.9M 4/2012 Bob Dietrich
Rich Allman "Getting Going in HO Traction," presented at the 2012 Boston Trolley Meet.

Duncan plans Arthur Duncan Trolley plans

building_ho_trolley_turnouts.pdf 4MB 05/2007 EPTC Building HO Trolley Turnouts - This tip shows how to build HO turnouts using Orr girder rail available from Custom Traxx.

dcc_clinic.pdf 25Kb 05/2003 Dave Gairo DCC Clinic - This document is the handout provided at the 2003 East Penn Trolley Meet clinic on wiring trolleys for DCC control.

switch.pdf 17K 9/1997 Dave Gairo Single-point Street Switches - This "Trolley Tip" provides instructions on scratch building single-point switches for street trackage in either HO or O scales.

HO_trolley_bypass-Hentz.pdf 382K 2/2018 Charley Hentz HO Trolley Bypass - This article shows a way to automatically control two trolleys passing each other on a DC layout without overhead.

HO_elevated_railway-subway_by_Charley_Hentz.pdf 288K 10/2021 Charley Hentz HO Elevated Railway - This article describes the addition of a transit line to a club layout.

HO_Trolley_Modif_Clinic_V4_Oct2015.pdf 8.1M 10/2015 Mike Junod HO Trolley Modification Clinic - These are slides from a presentation Mike did on improving performance of HO trolleys.

automatic_control_RKerr_2013.pdf 688K 5/2013 Rich Kerr Automatic Control of East Penn Trolley Modules - This is an updated text of several previous documents published on the subject of implementing automated block control (and signaling) for East Penn modules. The practices currently outlined in this document can been seen in action on several of the 'O' scale modules belonging to members of East Penn.

uninsulatedwheels.pdf 733Kb 01/2007 Rich Kerr How to Un-Insulate Wheelsets - This article shares technicques for un-insulating wheelsets for use with block control signals requiring them.

freight_cars.pdf 34K 1/1999 Rich Kerr Trolley Freight Car Tips - This "Trolley Tip" provides information on operating long freight car trains on model trolley layouts.

car-wire.pdf 63K 1/1991 Rich Kerr Model Trolley Car Wiring - This excellent multi-part series covers many of the unique aspects of wiring model trolley cars. (P.S. Stay tuned for the remaining chapters!)

arduino_by_cpl_1.pdf 3.1M 9/2015 Charles Long Using an Arduino to Control Switch Servo Machines - The Arduino is a progammable microcontroller that can be used for many tasks and this article details a way of controlling servos used for switches.

controller.pdf 37K 11/2001 Charles Long Port-A-Pike II Controller - This article provides the schematic and parts list for building a momentum transistor throttle connected to a full-scale controller and brake valve.

ho_overhead.pdf 28K 11/2001 Charles Long HO Overhead Construction - This article provides information on hanging overhead wire in HO that was presented at a Modeler's Workshop.

LarryCombine.pdf 362K 4/2016 Larry Loyko Bowser Truck Modifications - This article illustrates a modification to Bowser trucks for improved operation.

K-1_Article-V2_Website_Copy-FMiller.pdf 2.4MB 8/2018 Fred Miller K-1 Controller - An article about the construction of a model K-1 controller for model trolley car operation.

Moore plans Paul Moore Trolley plans

www.torontotransitmodels.org 1/2017 Steve Olsen O scale CLRV kit - A website documenting the construction and review of the Berkshire Car Shop O scale CLRV kit.

bldtrolleymodels.pdf 9K 10/2008 Charlie Pitts Building and Finishing Trolley Models - This article is intended as a guide that a modeler can use to organize trolley model construction.

bldtrolleymodels2.pdf 10K 10/2008 Charlie Pitts Things to Consider During Model Building - This article lists a few important items to consider when building your model trolley cars.

nscalewirehanging.pdf 996Kb 01/2007 Alex M. Postpischil Hanging Trolley Wire and Catenary in N Scale - This article shares technicques for hanging operating trolley wire and catenary in N scale.

windows.pdf 1.4Mb 11/2001 Manny Reider Window Details for Structures Along Your Trolley Routes - This "Trolley Tip" provides some ideas on how to decorate the building windows that line your trolley route. Includes full color photos of several detailed building fronts.

painted_backdrops.pdf 2MB 01/2008 Manny Reider Painted Backdrops for Non-Artists - This tip shows how those not artistically inclined can make realistic painted scenery backdrops.

mod-tips.pdf 118K 4/1995 Gary Reighn Module Building Techniques - Module Legs and Overhead Wire - This document contains the slides used at the clinic on Module Building Tips and Techniques from the 1995 East Penn Trolley Meet. It provides some clarification as well as new material on building modules to the East Penn standard. It is recommended reading for anyone attempting to build an East Penn type module.

freight1.pdf
freight2.pdf
freight3.pdf
rmc.pdf
534K
211K
321K
151K 4/1994 Charles C. Robinson Hands-off Trolley Freight Switching - This excellent article is taken from a clinic on the subject presented at the 1994 Boston Trolley Meet. Also included is a reprint of an article on the subject from Railroad Model Craftsmen magazine circa 1946 (reprinted with permission). Note, due to the large number of graphics in this article, it has been broken into multiple files for easier downloading and printing.

pwr_supl.pdf 108K 5/1994 Fred Weigle 4-6 Amp Trolley Power Supply - This "Trolley Tip" provides instructions on constructing a 4-6 Amp regulated power supply ideal for powering model trolley modules.

File Name	Size	Date	Author(s)	Title and Contents
Bowser_derailment_allman2022.pdf	278K	7/2022	Rich Allman	Bowser derailment - Correction of Bowser trolley issue.
Disp_of_Trolley-Traction-related_Collections_Allman2024.pdf	150K	11/2024	Rich Allman	Disposition of Trolley- and Traction-related Collections
Part_1.pdf Part_2.pdf Part_3.pdf	9MB 21MB 11MB	11/2021 (updated 7/2022)	Larry Bosler	Philly Trolleys - An overview of the trolleys in Philly through different agencies. Part 1: PRT Part 2: PRT cont'd, PTC, FPT, Suburban, P&W Part 3: Red Arrow, SEPTA, Buses, Trackless Trolleys, MFL, BSL, DRPA, PATCO
modeling_light_rail2.pdf	36K	5/2009	Chris Bradley	Modeling Light Rail - This is an EPTC Meet clinic presentation.
overhead.pdf	29K	10/1997	William Brandt	Hanging Overhead Wire - This "Trolley Tip" provides information on tried and true techniques for hanging overhead wire for modules.
PolePanOperation.pdf	1.5M	4/2012	Rich Crooks	"Some Tips for Pan and Pole Operation," shown at the April 2012 EPTC meeting.
interurban_box_trailer.pdf	275KB	03/2012	Chuck Crouse	Interurban Box Trailer - A scratchbuilding article.
compress.pdf	10K	5/1995	Bob Dietrich	Compression Type Insulators - This "Trolley Tip" provides instructions on building semi-prototypical compression type insulators suitable for any scale.
insulate.pdf	12K	9/1996	Bob Dietrich	Overhead Wire Insulators - This "Trolley Tip" provides instructions on a technique to make "de-wire proof" insulators in the trolley overhead.
standards.pdf	188K	4/1997	EPTC	East Penn Model Trolley Layout Module Standards - This is a copy of the East Penn trolley module standards (It is the same document as can be found on the module standards page of this web site.).
decals.pdf	28K	2/1997	Bob Dietrich	Do-It-Yourself Decals - This "Trolley Tip" discusses the techniques for making your own custom trolley decals using the laser printer decal paper available from Micro-Mark.
HOliner.pdf	121K	10/2000	Bob Dietrich	HO Scale Nickel Plate Products Liberty Liner Conversion - This article details how to convert a Nickel Plate Products HO scale Liberty (or Electro) Liner to take sharper radius curves and to run better.
switchho.pdf	130K	6/2000	Bob Dietrich	Single-point HO Switch Construction - This "Trolley Tip" provides instructions on building single-point switches in HO using modified Richard Orr components.
bachmann_peterwitt.pdf	2MB	01/2008	Bob Dietrich	Bachmann Spectrum Peter Witt in HO - This tip shows how make improvements in the Bachmann ready-to-run Peter Witt car in HO.
repowering_ho_cars1.pdf	1.9Mb	5/2009	Bob Dietrich	Powering/Repowering HO Cars; Adapting RtR Trolleys to East Penn Modules - This is an EPTC Meet clinic presentation.
flexi_window-guards.pdf	145KB	03/2010	Bob Dietrich	Flexible Window Guards - This tip shows how make Flexible Window Guards for streetcars.
NotesonHOScrantonElectromobilefromShapeways.pdf	1.4M	3/2016	Bob Dietrich	Bob shows how he created a Scranton Electromobile with Shapeways components.
Bowser_drive_assembly.pdf	1M	4/2016	Bob Dietrich	Bob shows his method of assembling Bowser drives with improvements.
GetGoingInHO.pdf	1.9M	4/2012	Bob Dietrich Rich Allman	"Getting Going in HO Traction," presented at the 2012 Boston Trolley Meet.
Duncan plans			Arthur Duncan	Trolley plans
building_ho_trolley_turnouts.pdf	4MB	05/2007	EPTC	Building HO Trolley Turnouts - This tip shows how to build HO turnouts using Orr girder rail available from Custom Traxx.
dcc_clinic.pdf	25Kb	05/2003	Dave Gairo	DCC Clinic - This document is the handout provided at the 2003 East Penn Trolley Meet clinic on wiring trolleys for DCC control.
switch.pdf	17K	9/1997	Dave Gairo	Single-point Street Switches - This "Trolley Tip" provides instructions on scratch building single-point switches for street trackage in either HO or O scales.
HO_trolley_bypass-Hentz.pdf	382K	2/2018	Charley Hentz	HO Trolley Bypass - This article shows a way to automatically control two trolleys passing each other on a DC layout without overhead.
HO_elevated_railway-subway_by_Charley_Hentz.pdf	288K	10/2021	Charley Hentz	HO Elevated Railway - This article describes the addition of a transit line to a club layout.
HO_Trolley_Modif_Clinic_V4_Oct2015.pdf	8.1M	10/2015	Mike Junod	HO Trolley Modification Clinic - These are slides from a presentation Mike did on improving performance of HO trolleys.
automatic_control_RKerr_2013.pdf	688K	5/2013	Rich Kerr	Automatic Control of East Penn Trolley Modules - This is an updated text of several previous documents published on the subject of implementing automated block control (and signaling) for East Penn modules. The practices currently outlined in this document can been seen in action on several of the 'O' scale modules belonging to members of East Penn.
uninsulatedwheels.pdf	733Kb	01/2007	Rich Kerr	How to Un-Insulate Wheelsets - This article shares technicques for un-insulating wheelsets for use with block control signals requiring them.
freight_cars.pdf	34K	1/1999	Rich Kerr	Trolley Freight Car Tips - This "Trolley Tip" provides information on operating long freight car trains on model trolley layouts.
car-wire.pdf	63K	1/1991	Rich Kerr	Model Trolley Car Wiring - This excellent multi-part series covers many of the unique aspects of wiring model trolley cars. (P.S. Stay tuned for the remaining chapters!)
arduino_by_cpl_1.pdf	3.1M	9/2015	Charles Long	Using an Arduino to Control Switch Servo Machines - The Arduino is a progammable microcontroller that can be used for many tasks and this article details a way of controlling servos used for switches.
controller.pdf	37K	11/2001	Charles Long	Port-A-Pike II Controller - This article provides the schematic and parts list for building a momentum transistor throttle connected to a full-scale controller and brake valve.
ho_overhead.pdf	28K	11/2001	Charles Long	HO Overhead Construction - This article provides information on hanging overhead wire in HO that was presented at a Modeler's Workshop.
LarryCombine.pdf	362K	4/2016	Larry Loyko	Bowser Truck Modifications - This article illustrates a modification to Bowser trucks for improved operation.
K-1_Article-V2_Website_Copy-FMiller.pdf	2.4MB	8/2018	Fred Miller	K-1 Controller - An article about the construction of a model K-1 controller for model trolley car operation.
Moore plans			Paul Moore	Trolley plans
www.torontotransitmodels.org		1/2017	Steve Olsen	O scale CLRV kit - A website documenting the construction and review of the Berkshire Car Shop O scale CLRV kit.
bldtrolleymodels.pdf	9K	10/2008	Charlie Pitts	Building and Finishing Trolley Models - This article is intended as a guide that a modeler can use to organize trolley model construction.
bldtrolleymodels2.pdf	10K	10/2008	Charlie Pitts	Things to Consider During Model Building - This article lists a few important items to consider when building your model trolley cars.
nscalewirehanging.pdf	996Kb	01/2007	Alex M. Postpischil	Hanging Trolley Wire and Catenary in N Scale - This article shares technicques for hanging operating trolley wire and catenary in N scale.
windows.pdf	1.4Mb	11/2001	Manny Reider	Window Details for Structures Along Your Trolley Routes - This "Trolley Tip" provides some ideas on how to decorate the building windows that line your trolley route. Includes full color photos of several detailed building fronts.
painted_backdrops.pdf	2MB	01/2008	Manny Reider	Painted Backdrops for Non-Artists - This tip shows how those not artistically inclined can make realistic painted scenery backdrops.
mod-tips.pdf	118K	4/1995	Gary Reighn	Module Building Techniques - Module Legs and Overhead Wire - This document contains the slides used at the clinic on Module Building Tips and Techniques from the 1995 East Penn Trolley Meet. It provides some clarification as well as new material on building modules to the East Penn standard. It is recommended reading for anyone attempting to build an East Penn type module.
freight1.pdf freight2.pdf freight3.pdf rmc.pdf	534K 211K 321K 151K	4/1994	Charles C. Robinson	Hands-off Trolley Freight Switching - This excellent article is taken from a clinic on the subject presented at the 1994 Boston Trolley Meet. Also included is a reprint of an article on the subject from Railroad Model Craftsmen magazine circa 1946 (reprinted with permission). Note, due to the large number of graphics in this article, it has been broken into multiple files for easier downloading and printing.
pwr_supl.pdf	108K	5/1994	Fred Weigle	4-6 Amp Trolley Power Supply - This "Trolley Tip" provides instructions on constructing a 4-6 Amp regulated power supply ideal for powering model trolley modules.