Financial Report (password required)

An Inexpensive Radio Control System

http://www.trainelectronics.com/Articles/RadioControl_multi-channel-RF/index.htm

I have done some experimenting with a few of the devices I have found on eBay, Amazon and from other vendors.  Some of these devices communicate from the transmitter to the receiver via infrared signals and other use RF (Radio Frequency).  I have limited my experiments for this article to RF devices as they generally have greater range and can operate around barriers (IR units require line-of-sight operation)

The devices to be explored also are designed to operate RGB LEDs so that one color can be used to control the engine speed while another color is used to toggle a DPDT (Double Pole Double Throw) relay to reverse the motor's direction of rotation.  If you have no need to reverse your train you can use one of the simpler, one color controllers.