Train detection
Posted: Fri Jul 17, 2020 4:49 pm
All,
Apologies of this has been covered before and if it has, please feel free to signpost me to the appropriate thread.
As mentioned in other posts I'm still very early in the layout planning stage (in fact I still have building works on the room to finish so any actual modelling is quite a way off), however I have been wondering what the possibilities are for train detection.
I haven't finally decided on a control system yet. I am increasingly convinced that DCC is the way to go, however I will wire the layout so that switching some sections to a DC controller will be possible, to enable the running of some older stock which I won't wish to convert to DCC. I am also not looking for software control using a PC interface - I'm very much of the opinion that driving of trains should be done by an operator using a dedicated piece of kit. Automated running undoubtedly has its place, but not for me (not now, anyway).
However what I would like to be able to do, whatever control system I choose, is have (at least the possibility of) a signalling system which can realistically respond to the passage of trains. At the most basic level this may be signals reverting to danger once a train has passed, but I'd ideally like to have the possibility of an on-screen diagram with train locations shown in real time, akin to a real signalbox track circuit diagram, or an NX panel type display, and then be able to implement interlocking and route setting. Is this possible? what are the options? And does the implementation of such a system cause restrictions on the type of control - eg. can only be used with DCC, or can only be used in conjunction with some kind of software train control?
Any pointers to resources about all this kind of thing would be appreciated. I have done some basic internet searching and a few bits of software seem to crop up, but everything seems to assume a level of prior knowledge which I don't have.
TIA! Ben
Apologies of this has been covered before and if it has, please feel free to signpost me to the appropriate thread.
As mentioned in other posts I'm still very early in the layout planning stage (in fact I still have building works on the room to finish so any actual modelling is quite a way off), however I have been wondering what the possibilities are for train detection.
I haven't finally decided on a control system yet. I am increasingly convinced that DCC is the way to go, however I will wire the layout so that switching some sections to a DC controller will be possible, to enable the running of some older stock which I won't wish to convert to DCC. I am also not looking for software control using a PC interface - I'm very much of the opinion that driving of trains should be done by an operator using a dedicated piece of kit. Automated running undoubtedly has its place, but not for me (not now, anyway).
However what I would like to be able to do, whatever control system I choose, is have (at least the possibility of) a signalling system which can realistically respond to the passage of trains. At the most basic level this may be signals reverting to danger once a train has passed, but I'd ideally like to have the possibility of an on-screen diagram with train locations shown in real time, akin to a real signalbox track circuit diagram, or an NX panel type display, and then be able to implement interlocking and route setting. Is this possible? what are the options? And does the implementation of such a system cause restrictions on the type of control - eg. can only be used with DCC, or can only be used in conjunction with some kind of software train control?
Any pointers to resources about all this kind of thing would be appreciated. I have done some basic internet searching and a few bits of software seem to crop up, but everything seems to assume a level of prior knowledge which I don't have.
TIA! Ben