A smoke production system for a model locomotive capable of accurately simulating the exhaust characteristics of an actual locomotive. The present invention accomplishes this by monitoring the rotation to the flywheel of the electric motor used to drive the drive wheels of the model locomotive. Various devices may be used to monitor the rotation of the flywheel. For example, a magnet is employed on the flywheel and a magnetically-reactive element such as a reed switch or Hall effect sensor is positioned adjacent to the flywheel. Alternatively, an opticoupler or cam may be used to track the rotations of the flywheel. A controller counts the rotations of the flywheel and actuates a smoke production device to emit smoke four discrete times for every rotation of the model locomotive's drive wheel.