Hi John,

My model philosophy is to run the trains - myself.
I like to see my trains stretch their legs, which they do on my main lines.

So I have a Central Station 60212 connected to a Mobile Station - no boosters.
I have another Mobile Station if I ever wanted another controller.
I have 4 complete running circuits (not electrical circuits). With one long lay-by.
I have 5 signals, which can be switched manually to control trains.
I have one digital signal which works occasionally. (I believe this is commonplace).

All my turnouts can be reached for manual control, though I might motorise a couple to make things easy.
But I would control them with manual switches.

I have no relays, or circuit tracks, or feedback tracks. I am pretty ignorant as to the use of such devices.
And whenever I do think I have it figured out, I usually think it is too much bother to go ahead and do it.

regards
Kimball

MS2 with version 1.83
Lenz LS150 turnout decoder with DCC protocol

I control my trains with a computer through a MM (6051/6021) interface. Feedback to the computer is through S88's which are either connected to contact tracks or to a home designed and built IR sensor system (see my train page at http://www.sem-co.com/~r.../trains/irifc/irifc.html ). I wrote my own control software and have had 14 trains running simultaneously on my layout, but I normally run 4 or 5. The software has a number of pre-defined missions for routes or I can assign a special route for a train by saying "Go to Dammtor Station" or something similar and the computer will find the best route.

Hello.

Here we have a Central Station 2 (60215) with one previous firmware - not the latest; but just waiting an opportunity (i.e. time) to download and install it. One Booster is applied to have more power for all trains, signals, turnouts and K83s.

I started to digitilize all turnouts and signals last year, so I'm also learning the automation of the layout. Installed Rocrail on Mac to control the trains, but not started with this yet.

My father is complaining about that automation . He prefer the old fashioned way of controlling the trains directly on the knob; the only thing that he liked was exchanging the 7272 control boxes for the icons on CS2 -- less cables on the "control table".

Layout and connections below. The only update not described is the split of power on each source. Now the layout have two power cables from the CS2 and two from the booster.

Cheers,

Walter

I use CS2 with two MS2 and three 60174 boosters. Locos with mixed 6090, 60901 and Mfx decoder.

Also mixed of 6083/60830 K83 and 74460 decoder on 74490 turnouts, K83 on 7039 Arm signals, and V2.0 763xx Colour lights signals.

6080 decoder locos still in boxed.

Hi Walter, I really like your layout's track plan. It's really like three layouts in one. Actually I still

enjoy using the control boxes as I've got a-lot of signals and switches so I think that the digital

control of them would be much slower. I would have to look each one up on my MS2s to control

one of them whereas if you know its location and you know your 7272s it's much faster.

Cheers,Peter

Well, well, we have had quite a few responses and it is encouraging, I hope other members will take notice and it may even help them to understand or decide which way they would like to control their layout.

My own layout is too large to be controlled manually so a pre-computer control has been installed or precisely it is still under construction at this moment.

I don't know how I'm going to go and if I ever will advance to a computer controlled layout. I don't think the change over will be magnificent but knowing very little about computers like electronics I may just have to bite the bullet and get stuck into one day. the ongoing problem of course is the size of the layout and the end (20m²) hasn't been attached to it as yet so there are other priorities before computer control. my trains are automatically controlled by switching tracks and braking modules and if a train enters a siding and stops the next track is given the green light and so forth. the switching tracks control braking modules, signals within the braking module, and turnout micro motors with the introduction of optocouplers.
the latest benefits from ESU Version 4 decoders is, one can pre set the distance regardless of its speed or braking delay.

John

Hi Peter!

Bingo! And you are correct. It's exactly that. The upper oval was the first table. The middle, the second expansion; and the lower, the third.
All three with a few layer each. All Märklin AC Digital.

Now we are in a project of the table 4. Actually not a table, but a big 'U' all around this layout, two rails in parallel, and a turntable right in the middle of the U.
But this isn't connected to that 3 tables. That rails is DC-analog from a brazilian train manufacturer called Frateschi.


And so do my father also think.

But the fewer cables, and cleaner control table make him think different.

Cheers,

Walter

Hello!

I use Märklin control unit 6021 +1 control 80f + Uhlenbrock Iris handcontroller +1boster 6017 +2trafo 6002 52VA.

I use Märklin brakemodul 72441 with most of my signals.

The mainline have blocksignals with brakemodul and reedkontakt Märklin 7555.

All others signals and points are analog by selfmade control tabel.

/Bertil.

Janne, I assumed analog control is pretty basic this why I didn't include it into this topic (how do you control your layout) but it doesn't matter or I could include analog as well.

John

All,

I have a home layout with 4 stations and a yard. Two of the stations are hidden. In total there are 60 points. The layout is modeled according the German prototype using märklin K-track.

Basically on my layout trains circulate according a time table. The 2013-2014 timetable is about 600 scheduled train moves per day. As an average 2-4 trains move simultaneously. The model clock runs 2:1.

To be able to handle this number of train moves I use computer control. The computer program carries out automatically scheduled train moves by setting routes and by driving each of the trains with the allowed speed.
Thus I can do the unscheduled moves – mostly shunting -- and the re-routing of scheduled train moves, for example when a route is not available or a destination track is not free or just watch the trains moving and tell visitors about the layout.

My layout is digitally controlled. The central unit is the Uhlenbrock Intellibox. I have written the computer program myself because I could not find a program that does what I want. Recently I have changed the program to use the Loconet protocol.

Regards, Willem

The program of Willem alias tdl

River and others,

my program is made to operate a home layout by a single person. It supports two roles 1) the movements-inspector who is responsible for setting the routes and 2) the engineers who drive their train with the allowable speed.
The user interface of my program is in Dutch (my mother tongue).
My program is also used by a number of friends, who have contributed to the program with ideas and feedback.

Process plan

Trains circulate according a plan. The travelers and the shippers count on that.
Operation of a model railroad based upon a timetable is realistic. And with my program it is easy. Also the entry of data for operation according a process plan is not difficult or time consuming.

It is also possible to let the program make a train move that is not in the process plan, by simply clicking the start and end track of the move.

Plan line

The process plan is made up of plan lines, one for each train move.
A plan line describes a planned train move and contains: Day or days on which the train circulates, time of departure, train type and number, the route, an action code for the program and optionally the train number that the train will get after it arrives at the destination of the move.
A process plan is actually a list. I make process plans using a text processor or a spreadsheet program. My program can also record a train move in the format of a planline.

Train

My program deals with a train as one entity. A train can consist of 1-4 train sets or 1 or more engines with or without couches, with or without a cab coach.
My program can drive trains automatically. Using the MCab window I can also drive a train myself. Train speed is in km/h.
The functions of the train are operated thru uniform pictogram controls. When I once have entered the digital addresses and function numbers of each engine, train set and cab-coach, there is no need to remember these.
In the window MCab I also see the next two signals along the route. These change as the train moves.
I can also drive trains by the cabs of my digital system.

Trainmoves are followed on a schematic drawing of the layout.

This picture shows the screen on the desk of the movements-inspector.
On top of the screen is the window with the schematic drawing of the layout. Occupied tracks are red. Routes that are set are shown in green or yellow color.

Under the schematic are the windows for the operation.

The process plan window is at bottom right. In this window I can see 6 lines form the actual process plan. At any moment I can scroll up = earlier or down = later in time.

While operating the lay-out, I have the possibility to let a train circulate earlier or later. Also I can re-route any train.
And when I cannot keep up with the schedule, I can cancel a train move or I can set back the model clock.

When you want to know more, do not hesitate to ask.

Regards, Willem

Edited by user 21 May 2014 12:48:59(UTC)  | Reason: Some minor corrections