Running trains and electricity costs?

[nachoman]

Does your power pack have a wattage rating? If it says something like "75 watts", then you are using the equivalent of a 75 watt light bulb. You can buy circuit testers that measure how much electricity an item is using. Simply plug into the wall, and then plug in whatever device you want to test.

While every little bit helps, usually things like a model railroad use only a tiny fraction of what the refrigerator, stove, water heater, or air conditioner use. In other words, if you quit running your trains entirely, you would probably save less than a dollar over the course of a month, even with the higher rates.