Many have inquired about functional signals and being able to control traffic throughout the layout. I have included photos of my near finished control center w/electronics and a picture of my computer screen with the layout displayed and a few of the options the software provides.
Some may scarf at the idea of having this ability, but the realism it provides is astounding, not to mention the smooth traffic flow you can have when many operators are running. I have had 14 operators with trains and manifest running at one time and not a single bottleneck or pasture meet was encountered.
Always keep in mind that this is a hobby within the hobby of model railroading; it requires as much time and careful planning as any other part. What you see in these included photos required most of last year to complete. I hope you will find this thread informative and I will be more than happy to answer any questions you may have. I am far from being an expert and still very much a learner, but I may have some info that can help.
The brains behind it all is Railroad and Company's "Traincontroller" Software http://www.freiwald.com/pages/index.html as displayed on my computer screen.
The software is huge in its capabilities. Here are a few examples:
1. complete computer control, semi-computer control, partial computer control, or full manual over the traffic flow on the layout, i.e. operators can still control their own train by the throttle or you can let the computer do it.
2. user developed routes and schedules,
3. fully functional and programmable signal light control for up to 4 aspect
4. automated trains complete with timed stops with exact stopping points
5. speed limits for sections
RR&co. is first class software and even though it can do most anything, it is very user friendly with the programming all being done with drop down menus and the layout diagrams easily built with click or drag and drop methods.
All of the electronics are from Digitrax including: PM42 for power districts, BDL168 block detector boards, SE8 Signal driver board. In the photo of the Control Center and left to right:
PM42.........4 power districts.......1 total
BDL168.......16 block detection per unit.....3 total
SE8 (upper right center.......32 head signal driver board.....1 total
Lenz stationary Decoder lower center.....6 turnout control each..........1 shown of 8 total
Power supplies, program booster, DCS 200 Digitrax Command module.
Signal and Traffic Control Center
All the electronics are mounted on a sliding drawer under the benchwork.
Railroad and Company Software shown on computer screen.
My layout is displayed as simple schematic and only shows the mainlines, but soon will be CTC form. Note the red occupied blocks being displayed (you can't see it, but also the train name in the block). The lower left corner shows a selected route and schedule and the right lower shows list of all locos/trains that can be selected for a particular schedule/route. Also, note a few optional throttle controls and adj fast clock.
Same computer screen showing all the presently installed mainline blocks of the layout.
Some may scarf at the idea of having this ability, but the realism it provides is astounding, not to mention the smooth traffic flow you can have when many operators are running. I have had 14 operators with trains and manifest running at one time and not a single bottleneck or pasture meet was encountered.
Always keep in mind that this is a hobby within the hobby of model railroading; it requires as much time and careful planning as any other part. What you see in these included photos required most of last year to complete. I hope you will find this thread informative and I will be more than happy to answer any questions you may have. I am far from being an expert and still very much a learner, but I may have some info that can help.
The brains behind it all is Railroad and Company's "Traincontroller" Software http://www.freiwald.com/pages/index.html as displayed on my computer screen.
The software is huge in its capabilities. Here are a few examples:
1. complete computer control, semi-computer control, partial computer control, or full manual over the traffic flow on the layout, i.e. operators can still control their own train by the throttle or you can let the computer do it.
2. user developed routes and schedules,
3. fully functional and programmable signal light control for up to 4 aspect
4. automated trains complete with timed stops with exact stopping points
5. speed limits for sections
RR&co. is first class software and even though it can do most anything, it is very user friendly with the programming all being done with drop down menus and the layout diagrams easily built with click or drag and drop methods.
All of the electronics are from Digitrax including: PM42 for power districts, BDL168 block detector boards, SE8 Signal driver board. In the photo of the Control Center and left to right:
PM42.........4 power districts.......1 total
BDL168.......16 block detection per unit.....3 total
SE8 (upper right center.......32 head signal driver board.....1 total
Lenz stationary Decoder lower center.....6 turnout control each..........1 shown of 8 total
Power supplies, program booster, DCS 200 Digitrax Command module.
Signal and Traffic Control Center
All the electronics are mounted on a sliding drawer under the benchwork.
Railroad and Company Software shown on computer screen.
My layout is displayed as simple schematic and only shows the mainlines, but soon will be CTC form. Note the red occupied blocks being displayed (you can't see it, but also the train name in the block). The lower left corner shows a selected route and schedule and the right lower shows list of all locos/trains that can be selected for a particular schedule/route. Also, note a few optional throttle controls and adj fast clock.
Same computer screen showing all the presently installed mainline blocks of the layout.
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