We supply OEM components for EMD (Electro Motive Division of General Motors), General Electric Transportation, and Alco locomotives. Our components are available with Certificates of Conformance providing our customers with the assurance that our components meet OEM specifications.

If you know the part number required, please complete a quote request form for a complete quotation.

Kitting Program

IRG’s experience with the supply of locomotive components has been focused on providing our customers with complete sets of spare parts in “kit” form for their repair application.

Our kitting program began with our manufacturing of complete insulation material kits for traction motor rewinds. Years ago, we supplied complete insulation spare part kits for traction motor rewinds to General Electric’s facility in Saint Louis. Today, our sister company continues to manufacture traction motor components for both EMD and GE manufacturing and repair facilities.

Our kitting program has since expanded to include not only traction motor insulation components, but a wide range of electrical and mechanical components for locomotive repair.

IRG locomotive spare part kits are assembled with an exacting attention to detail allowing our customers to single source their spare part requirements knowing that one company can provide a complete solution for quality components delivered on-time.

Because of the significant amount of money you will have invested in establishing your model train collection, it is essential that you should take all the necessary measures to ensure that it is properly cared for. You would not want to have your investment to end up in the trash.

You will find that taking good care of your model train collection will save you a significant amount of money for repair and maintenance in the years to come.

The following simple guidelines should remind you of the basic essentials of the good habits you need to develop that will help take care of your very valuable model train collection and maintain it in prime working condition:

• make sure you store the most expensive parts of your model train collection – the locomotives and rolling stock –all the wagons, carriages, etc in a safe place when they are not in use. They should preferably be in a cupboard or containers to prevent dust and moisture affecting them. If you have your model train layout in your garage or in a basement, make sure it is damp proof;

• make sure you always wipe dust and dirt off the model train collection components. Use a soft cloth or a soft sponge when doing this. This will help prevent dirt accumulating, particularly in many of the surface ridges. An accumulation of dirt can potentially, over time, destroy the paintwork and can inhibit the proper functioning of any of the individual items;

• if you are using batteries to operate your model train, as many people still do, take them out of the train if you will not be using your train for some time. Batteries leak if not in use for a period of time. The leakage could damage the model train because the chemicals in batteries are harsh and abrasive;

• if you are operating electric control of your trains, make sure the tracks which carry the current are kept clean. Otherwise the proper functioning of your model train layout can be severely affected;

• let the locomotive of your model train run on its own power. Try to avoid touching a locomotive when it is operating. Doing so can often cause damage to the motor.

While you may find that the tasks of maintaining your model train collection properly, such as keeping it clean and safely stored, are somewhat tedious, and tend to detract from the enjoyment you get from having and operating your model trains on your layout, the development of good maintenance habits will, in the long run, add to your enjoyment by providing a well functioning, good looking model train collection.

And – it will save you money by not requiring costly replacements for poorly functioning components.

The first and simplest method was the use a simple variable transformer as introduced by Lionel in 1906 to lower the Alternating Current [AC] voltage from the wall to a lower, safer value and allow the user to control the speed of a model electric train by changing the amount of AC power applied to the track. In the 1920′s, Lionel included remote control reversing switches to allow the user to control the direction of the model train.

When Direct Current [DC] powered trains with permanent magnet motors were introduced, a different standard was developed for most two rail train tracks where the direction of trains were controlled by the polarity of the DC track power applied to the track.

In the late 1940′s Lionel added a new concept of applying DC on top of the AC track voltage to turn on and off an on-board whistle by remote control. This concept of high frequency transmission was introduced in the Lionel Electronic Train Control. This system supplied ten different signals that would control ten different remote control effects. The different high frequency signals were superimposed on the standard AC power when selected buttons were pressed at the control center. Each remote engine or rail car was equipped with a receiver unit that was tuned to the individual frequencies. When the correct high frequency signal was transmitted, the corresponding receiver would toggle or turn-on some remote effect.

These high frequency signals increase the ability to remotely control various effects but they had other problems. Transmission losses were usually high and it was critically important to keep the track, the track joints and the wheels of the receiving car or locomotive extremely clean. However extra feeder wires to different parts of the track were used to prevent signal losses and placing capacitors across the track joints and adding inductors at the power supply and on each accessory being used assisted in reducing signal loss and in ensuring that all components of the model train layout operated properly. All this additional equipment however added to the cost, the complexity, and the maintenance for the model train operator.

Model train manufacturers have, over the years, introduced different methods of applying high frequency signals to the model train track to increase the remote control capabilities including independent train control which means that the operator can control the speed, direction and features of a number of different engines all on the same powered track section. With most DC and AC systems however, the biggest problem is that there are only a limited number of remote control signals possible and their application is slow by modern digital standards.

The application of digital technology uses remote control signals to carry digital signals to decoders in the engine for digital command control of locomotives and other accessories.

Digital Command Control (DCC) is a method of controlling individual engines, rail cars and accessories by transmitting digital remote control signals down the track to on-board digital receivers and decoders in the locomotives, wagons and other rolling stock and accessories.

DCC has been around since the 1970′s but had not received wide acceptance because of the limited technology at the time and the difficulty and expense of installing receivers in each engine. With developments in digital technology these problems have diminished and over the last ten to fifteen years major model train manufacturers have produced several different versions of DCC. So many that unfortunately customers have been confused about which system is best.

Fortunately, in recent times, the National Model Railroad Association [NMRA] has established a preferred method of transmitting and receiving digital transmissions on model train layouts, based on the Lenz system developed in Germany and this is recognized as the accepted standard for DCC.