Old Iron Designs specializes in battery-powered wireless control systems for model trains, also known as dead rail or power-on-board. Its products and services help model railroaders run locomotives without relying on electrical power through the track. On-board batteries can provide consistent power to DCC sound and motion decoders, while wireless control can reduce issues caused by dirty wheels or track and simplify layouts with reverse loops, wyes, and turntables. Dead-rail locomotives can also operate alongside track-powered DC or DCC equipment on existing layouts.

The company is an authorized dealer stocking dead-rail components and installation supplies, including AirWire by CVP wireless DCC systems. These systems can be used with SoundTraxx and Train Control Systems decoders, as well as SoundTraxx Blunami decoders, which offer Bluetooth control through a mobile app. Old Iron Designs also provides custom dead-rail installations, drawing on more than 30 years of experience. It specializes in 1/48-scale steam and diesel locomotives, particularly brass and die-cast models, and may include custom metalwork, detailing, painting, decals, and weathering.