As read in part 3 of layout design I did talk about the control of my railway.
As seen in the diagram on the right, my original ideas is still valid. Except the CMRI as shown may not be CMRI based, but more based on DCC !
Lets look at the newer logic diagram below :
The news here is it may be a home built DCC system.
I better mention here I am not designing the DCC system, a friend by the name of Simon Kopola is. All I am doing is geting him to design a DCC system that will work for my situation, and for model railways in general.
Simon comes to the hobby for, a pure electronics point. At the moment he doesn't know a "G" from a "N" class Victoria loco. He hasn't participated in operating a model railway. But he is keen to learn and get a system designed and built.
This means a DCC system I will hope to be ideal. But as many will point out to use such a specialised system with my basic knowledge may not be good - for what if Simon can no longer help.
I did ponder whether I go and buy a commercial DCC system - they are warrentied to work and have many people using and supporting them. It is an option I seriously consider. But this option is always available to me if Simon goes etc.
Let's be confident and positive, and explain what I want :
Our DCC system:
- Will be controlled by a computer. This allows us to run the railway in different ways just by loading a different program.
- Will have two seperate systems, one for trains, one for accessories. The centrol Computer can still "link" them in operation
- Will have a command station that feeds the DCC signal to multi booters.
- Will have the same sort of short protection as commercial DCC
- Will have the same sort of reverseing loop modules as commercial DCC
- The cabs will be radio linked to a base station, thus not needing a cab bus and sockets. ( this feature will have to comply with Australian standards just to be safe, or if we ever decide to go past just my installation !
- We will have custom built cabs:
- Will have radio linkage (though there may be a external power socket for any "semi permenantly used throttles)
- Will have three types of throttles :
- Basic CAB - I'll have a few that can control a train, but cannot assign a loco or consist. Main CAB - a multi function cab that can do 90% of operating. Dispatcher CAB - a 'fixed' unit to allow assigning locos/consists to other cabs.
- Can communicate two way to allow you to assign cabs to other cabs, or communicate with the "dispatcher". If room can be found some cabs may be able to be used as a two way radio as well ! (making it eaiser for a operator in handling a cab and a radio)
- Will have rechage stations to store and keep them fully charged and ready to use
- There will be a seperate programming track
- It will support as many DCC standards and recomended practises as we can.
The computer would be able to:
- Run one or more trains.
- Run the railway from the console completely
- Run the railway with use of local panels and/or the central CTC panel.
- Run sections of the railway, ie staging yards or parts of the railway with one operator is present and wants a busier time.
- A combination of the above depending on the program selected.
The internet connection may initially be just a dialin connection, or a password protected site for authorised users. Eventually it would be nice to incorporate a web cam or two plus feeds of the signal panels etc. To drive a train off the internet by unknown people is not in my plans.
These pictures are based on my thinking as to what I wanted to use
and type in. They are as daunting as any handheld device. But
in use I want them easily understood.
- ABOVE LEFT : A Main cab with a knob
- ABOVE Right : A Main cab with a thumbwheel
- RIGHT : A BAsic cab with a knob
- BELOW :The cab below is a dispatcher cab allowing easier assigning and getting more information.
