Hi all,

I'm contemplating my first attempt at a computer controlled layout. I already use a CS2, and understand the basic principles of detection tracks, blocks, etc..., and can run software on Mac, Win or Linux depending on which software suits my needs the best.

I've been reading about the different types of computer control software and how they work. A common theme seems to be that all control blocks must be able to contain the longest train. This poses me a restriction that I don't have right now - and which also doesn't exist in the real world.

Right now, I have passenger trains which are shorter - typically 4 carriages behind a loco - and which fit in a siding or station platform. The station platform tracks, sections of mainline and sidings will each become a control section (block). All good so far.

However, I also have freight trains which are a lot longer than a station platform section. For these I would usually have larger sidings and also a freight yard which has much longer tracks.

Just like in real life, if a freight train passes through a passenger station, it occupies much more than just the one block at the station, being (in my case) about triple the length of a passenger train - and therefore triple the length of a station platform track/siding.

With manual control this is no problem - freight trains belong on the main line or on long passing sidings, and if they need to pass through the station they block both the platform and the main line before and after the station as they go through.

So my question is - can variable length trains and sidings be supported by the computer control software that is our there now? Is anyone running a similar setup?

Thanks in advance!
Herman

Hi Herman,

I'm also using the train controller software.

For any semi or full automatic control you can designate when occupied blocks shall be released. E.g. a long freight train will not release the block before the last wagon has passed the last sensor in that block or to play it more safe before it has entered the next block.

To get smooth running you can also designate the look ahead, e.g. a computer controlled train will look 2 blocks ahead to reserve a route and not will start before the route can be reserved.

There is countless options and I recommend to have a read trough the manuals for various software program.

Brgds Lasse

Hi Herman,

Rocrail allows the train length computation:
- by adding the elementary length of each waggon in a consist
- to stop trains entering a shorter block
- to allow a long train to occupy more that one block
- to sort trains for the shortest available block
- etc
I am using it and find it fantastic.
In the example below, the locomotive alone is allowed to enter the steam depot but not the entire train.
This is based on train length and block length.


Kind regards

Jean

Dale,
You may want to proof-read that page and edit, as there are some grammar/sentence structure issues that make understanding difficult.

In starting this section, there are issues at the start, and I'm not sure how much it affects other sections.