They denied my application. They felt I lacked imagination…[:-^]
Sometimes…
But only on the turn to North Junction…[^]
Lee
R.O.F.L. [soapbox]
[tup] Best reply in this thread so far! Thanks for keeping things in perspective, Lee.
Steve
For dispatching and equipment inventory only. Not attached to the DCC ink any way, shape or form. The stinking beast invades every other part of my life, I limit it severely in the hobby.
Bob
Greetings… I use a combination of Digitrax equipment (with PC interface) and CTI Electronics components.
http://www.cti-electronics.com/index.htm
I have been fooling around with both CTI Train Brain software and Freiwald’s Railroad & Co. software:
Using a pc (old machine not used for anything else- didn’t have to buy another one for trains), I can create automated routes etc. with stops, signal control, etc. I.e.: I have subway cars that stop at stations, sit for a minute, then go. Multiple trains can run on tracks at same time with current detection/signals controlling traffic (via PC). Train in station stopped, train approaching, enters block that has red to station, train will slow and stop, wait till green signal to proceed. Trains also have computer controlled momentum (i.e. slow and stop, then slow speed build up on go).
It’s a lot of fun (for me at least!), and I can also control trains with handheld throttles while computer controls other stuff (including signals and traffic control-- i.e. if I try to send a train into occupied block with my handheld throttle, computer can stop my train). Oh yeah, the PC can also send sound signals to sound decoders, i.e. control horns/bells at different locations based on sensors (train approaching station, bell turns on).
And I have a video camera installed in one of my passenger cars with the picture in a window on the PC (also on a portable TV that can be moved around).
In other words, it’s another one of those things where you are either into it or not, and to each his own. Just have fun!
Joe
Joe,
Glad to see you use the CTI system. I’ve been reading through some of their stuff and it is quite interesting to say the least. While I don’t want my entire layout run by PC I am interested in running “background” trains automatically. Specifically I’m thinking subways, through trains (letting me concentrate on local switching) and “scenery” trains (they show up from hidden staging run through a couple of scenes and go back to staging. Would love to hear more about what you see as the pros and cons of the CTI system.
not far from me is the TMRC MIT http://tmrc.mit.edu/
they run DC and its computer run seen here
Model railroads have traditionally been constructed with of a set of interconnected sections of train track, electric switches between different sections of the train track, and other electrically operated devices, such as train engines and draw bridges. Train engines receive their power to travel on the train track by electricity provided by a controller through the track itself. The speed and direction of the train engine is controlled by the level and polarity, respectively, of the electrical power supplied to the train track. The operator manually pushes buttons or pulls levers to cause the switches or other electrically operated devices to function, as desired. Such model railroad sets are suitable for a single operator, but unfortunately they lack the capability of adequately controlling multiple trains independently. In addition, such model railroad sets are not suitable for being controlled by multiple operators, especially if the operators are located at different locations distant from the model railroad, such as different cities.
A system which operates a digitally controlled model railroad transmitting a first command from a first client program to a resident external controlling interface through a first communications transport. A second command is transmitted from a second client program to the resident external controlling interface through a second communications transport. The first command and the second command are received by the resident external controlling interface which queues the first and second commands. The resident external controlling interface sends third and fourth commands representative of the first and second commands, respectively, to a digital command station for execution on the digitally controlled model railroad
wow love to have a wireless cam and run the
Why is there so much mindless PC bashing on this thread? As Joe describes above, there are lots of legitimate, thoughtful reasons to use a PC to at least partially automate your layout
Greets…
The cons are probably similar/the same as with any other system other than power pack: added level of complexity. More wires. Learning how to setup and configure “modules”. Learn how to use the software on the PC (programming language ala TrainBrain, or graphical via something like Railroad & Co). Sometimes our logic is not the same as the program creator’s logic (!) and can lead to some frustration while fiddling with various settings in the software trying to get something (like signals) working. And of course the cost of adding all the various modules, components (including sensors), and software.
Most of the stuff can be worked out easily with experimentation or looking up on forums like this (and of course talking to manufacturers/programmers). I even have snap switches working off the computer control using a CTI module and SNAPPER capacitor module from Circuitron.
Pros are many… if you have a spare computer lying about, and the time/energy/money/desire to fiddle with all the different components that go into making the system work, it is amazing! It’s hard to describe how exciting it is to know that you have the ability to run your entire layout just like the real thing! Heck, some of the computer devices don’t even require DCC to control multiple trains on a layout at the same time (CTI offers SmartThrottle modules for this, using regular DC and block type wiring). It’s so cool seeing a subway/passenger train coming through the tunnel, and slowing down into the station while the bell is ringing…stopping, lights still on, then horn sounds, and train builds speed back up again, signals change color, etc.
Freight trains can automatically shunt to sidings (i.e. turnouts flip routing train into specific location) etc. etc. etc.
[#ditto]
I think some people have been watching WAY TOO MUCH TV!
Heh, I wish I could get a virus…never had one on my own systems…four of them at the moment.
Joe,
Thanks for your opinions on the CTI components. It seems that my thoughts of what I’d like to do are very similar to what you are running. I will say that I emailed CTI a couple of questions and was very impressed by the quick responses. I’ve downloaded the user’s guide and most likely will be spending at least part of the holidays reading through it. Of course, like you said, the best way to figure things out is to just experiment a bit - which can be lots of fun in itself.
Thanks again for your input!
Absolutely not! I did all the hard work building the layout. Why should I let my PC have the fun of running it.
Seriously, though, while some automation can be useful in operating a layout, I think it would be going overboard to automate running the trains. Do we really want to become just spectators on our layouts?
I use the PC for the paperwork like car cards & waybills or trainsheet.
I can only run one train at a time, for more my concentration will not do. [:)]
Wolfgang
No way “Hose A” or “Hose B”. Dcc is as far as I go. We still need control. Railroading is not a spectator sport. It’s hands on.
Long live human control.
Merry Christmas All
Aside from running your trains, a computer is a great way to control signals, run crossing gates, trigger sounds, light leds on a control panel, align switches to prevent derailments, and on and on.
I’ve been researching systems to do all of this, and the best I’ve found so far is Bruce Chubb’s C/MRI. (Computer/Model Railroad Interface) If you want, you could even run your trains with it. Check out their website at: http://www.jlcenterprises.net/
This system also works with JMRI which has been mentioned here. You can find out a lot of detail on the system if you’re a subscriber to Model Railroader. Here are the issues:
May 2000 - DCC Optimized Block Detectors
January through March 2004 - Series of articles on building the boards to connect your system to your layout and write the computer programs to run it. (or you can use JMRI)
And to those who shot this idea down, please remember this is a hobby, and we all should do what we enjoy to make the hobby fun. Please don’t shoot people down because they have different ideas from yours! If we were all the same, things would be boring!
I am definitely in the (tiny) minority on this board but I get my enjoyment in writing my own software to completely control my layout. I write my software in Jython and Java and run it with JMRI. As you can guess, I work in the field of software (artificial intelligence to be precise) so this does not put me off in the least.
Unlike many on this board, My definition of operations is a bit different: I get no pleasure from switching, waybills and freight operation. Rather, I enjoy seeing complex traffic patterns preferably generated from simple principles.
You can see a video of my software in action here. This was on my old Marklin layout. I am now building a replacement layout thats explicitly designed for full computer control. I will be developing the next generation of my software for this layout.
I would like to be able to control turnouts, lighting, and scenic annimations with a computer. Layout…ie trains controls… I am just getting excited about having DCC one day. The computer is the farthest thing from my mnd in that regard.
I’m like Whitman500, I have a MULTI-level layout under construction in a basement garage that is 25 X 12. I have three sceniced levels going from 30" above the floor to 71" above the floor each level separated by 15". I have staging at 30" and staging suspended from a drop ceiling at 80" My aisleways are S-shaped with peninsulas coming off the long walls with the narrowest pinchpoint being 24". I use 30" as my mainline curve radius.
I anticipate similar difficulties when finally opening it up for run sessions with my local round-robin group upon its structural completion. I have designed and am building what I call a “saloon door” entry gate which should solve access problems. I may be able to squeeze as many as six people in there during a run session, but I anticipate four being the average population at any one time.
So, what’s all this got to do with computers running a model railroad? My reasons are two-fold. Firstly, I anticipate some train automation during times when it’s just me in there. Say, if I feel like running a local, but I’d like to navigate expected trains on the main too. Secondly, I plan to participate in my local NMRA Chapter’s Layout Open House program. A completely automated layout running a complete schedule of trains totally hands off would no doubt blow some folks’ socks off and serve greatly to advance the hobby. (Of course, no train automation would occur during run sessions. That signals, turnouts and other things would be computer operated by a dispatcher goes almost without saying.
I consider the eventual use of computer automation to be an indispensable tool for my full enjoyment of the hobby.[;)]
Rick Shivik, HO D&H Champlain Division, Conyers, GA
Greetings…
This reminds me of years ago when “personal” computers first started coming out and being set up in offices…and people treated them just like typewriters, not understanding or knowing the potential capabilities (i.e. cut and paste, spell checking, WYSIWYG page layout etc.).
You lose NO control with computers-- you can control anything and everything! I still have 3 hand held throttles (I have 3 boys that control their own trains)! The computer control can enhance the experience by controlling things that are automatic in the real world as well: signals, turnout routing, crossing gates, sounds, etc.
As for “Railroading is not a spectator sport”-- to each his own! Some like to watch trains run, others like to run trains! Some (like me) enjoy both!
So computer control has its place in the hobby, for those who so desire…and the best part is that the computer could be shut off (or sledge hammered…and believe me, there sure are days when “sledge hammer” seems the only tool capable of solving a computer problem) and we can still play trains with regular old throttles!
Joe