new train owner, help connect lighted train station to train set

[judy c]

Can anyone help me figure out how to connect train station.  There is a red wire with bare wire on the end.

[Joe Satnik]

Hi, Judy.

Welcome to the hobby.

There would have to be a second wire, possibly a different color, coming from the station.

Is it possible that your red "wire" is actually a two conductor cable?

Electrical current travels from one terminal of a power source to the station's bulb on one wire (or conductor), goes through the bulb's filament, then returns back to the second terminal of the power source on a different wire (or conductor). 

Trace (follow) your red wire into the station's bulb and tell us what you see.

Any photos would be helpful.  (Upload to photo hosting website, then provide the link here.)

Thanks.

Sincerely,

Joe Satnik

[Doneldon]

Judy-

Your train station lights, and sound if you have a station which "announces" train arrivals, operates on what we call an accessory circuit. Accessory circuits are independent from your train control. Typically, they are run off of fixed voltage AC terminals on the back of a power pack. However, sometimes they need a whole different source of power because there are no accessory terminals. That's true for DCC operating systems, or at least most of them. DCC systems usually (maybe always but I don't know that for certain because I haven't inspected every DCC system ever made) only have a track power output.

If you are running DCC and your system has no accessory terminals, you'll need an additional low-voltage power source. An old power pack will do or a surplus wall wart from a dead cell phone or old electronic something. Look for an output of about 10-12 volts and a half amp (same as 500 milliamps) or more. Don't go higher on the voltage than 12 volts or your bulbs will burn out very quickly. You can have greater ampacity without a problem but lights, especially LEDs which are more common in model railroading every day, don't pull a lot of current. If you have lots of lights you should either look for a wall wart with more amperage of use several power sources with separate lighting circuits. Note: You can run a wire(s) around under your layout with your accessory circuit(s) with jumpers up to the various lights and structures, or you can run your accessory circuit to one place under your layout and attach accessory feeders to that, like the hub and spokes of a wheel.

Good luck with your project. Please let us know about your progress. And, welcome to the hobby and this board. I look forward to hearing from you as time goes by.
                                                                                                                                                                      -- D

[GG1onFordsDTandI]

You didn't list the scale of the train acc. It helps. If the base frame of this station is metal, the frame may act as "the second wire". This was seen mostly on old tinplate, but.... A wire may have come off too.
Also, with O & 0-27 tubular track and stations, the track touching the station frame is how the non existent "second wire" could be omitted.