Category: Layout Control System

Posted on in Layout Control System, model rail details, Model Railway, Model Railway level crossing, Model Railway Scenery, Model Railway Structures

Railway level crossing – DIY

Finished Level Crossing, looks and operates very nicely (should have made the vertical pole smaller in diameter)
Firstly worked out positioning of LED’s soldered shorter legs together (Check arduino sketch for either + or -)
Using a breadboard, sensors and LED’s organized ArduinoCode
Construct brass pole, note filed notch for wire access
Wires brought out and top piece notched for wire access

I used old cat 5 cable wire for fine wires
I used large pop rivets cut off and drilled out for covers around lights
I soldered the LED wire that was joined to the brass pipe and passed the other 2 wires through pipe to solder the Other LED leg
Short leg soldered to brass pipe. Note white heat shrink to protect other LED leg touching brass pipe.
Wires soldered and excess pushed back into brass pipe
Top brass section carefully soldered into position
Pop rivets painted black and glued in position. Everything painted
Nice little shed to hid optical sensor used to turn on crossing lights
Posted on in Layout Control System, Train Controller Silver

Operation of locos both Manual and Automatic

Setting up an effective manual control system so I can easily run 2 Locos automatically while driving one manually

Well this has taken a long time – to work out a system to have 2 Locos driven automatically by train controller while I drive one Loco manually. I have tried all sorts of systems with all sorts of control buttons everywhere. But I found all these forms to hard to undertake and easily use. So I have come to my current system which is proving far supieror to the other things I have tried. I have created a route which I can switch with a keyboard shortcut. The route has 3 sections, each has a current sensor, with the middle of the 3 sections being either the siding or main track where a train can pass. This means when a train enters section 3 after having gone through section 1 & 2. I can decide the path through the next passing area (luckily this worked out for me with how passing sidings were located) Generally as I have learned to operate with this method I have found it very successful and easy to use.

Here is an example- I typed keyboard F as the centre section of the route.

When shunting, I have a number of single routes that are enabled with just keystroke

Posted on in Bench and track work, Layout Control System, Model Railway, Track Planning

Track plan circuit board

This was an interesting activity to have a go at, with one unforeseen side issue. After I had completed this, I later realised that I was going to undertake an extension to the layout, which meant I not longer had a place for the new turnout on the track plan. But I found that using Train Controller software that a new track plan could easily updated and changed to suit my system. I have since done a couple of other changes to my layout that can be incorporated as well. (Still have one more change to go) The train controller software uses Hot Keys to toggle the turnouts (as well as clicking on the turnout) and you get a visual of the computer monitor to show turnout position. I find this very good, but it is also very handy to have the old system as it can be used when I don’t have the computer on.

Push button track plan turnout indicator and switch.
Lots of wires to hookup to get the circuit board working, but we’ll worth the effort and rewarding after it was finished.
Train Controller track plan. The labels inside the track plan are manual driving routes for automatic and manual driving together.
Posted on in Layout Control System, Model Railway, Train Controller Silver

Setting up for computer control

My system is a NCE cab system, using a AIU and Accessory Decoder CDU Solenoid Drive SX 8-Way to control turnouts and control panel. A USB interface for computer connection and BD20’s were installed as current sensors to be used for train detection. I am very happy with the NCE system and found it generally plug and play once the correct address was used, especially for the AIU (cab address 4 needed to be used). Train Controller was very easy to set up all aspects of the NCE system but needed the different cab address to get the AIU to connect.