Monday was the day that started to go down a bit of a rabbit hole. I started thinking about the signalling system for my future exhibition layout. I will have working signals that run either automatically as a train runs around the layout or with the help of a signalman who can set up cross track moves etc., into the sidings, or onto the branch. I have drawn up a track schematic. I started with the code for one of the tracks – the UP Line. But overnight I had a think. On Tuesday I changed my whole logic process and by the afternoon I had a working model running on my Arduino for the UP and DOWN tracks.
On Wednesday I added the signals coming out of the siding and started on the tracks for the dual gauge branch line. Also on Wednesday a new Arduino Mega arrived in the post after I purchased it on last Sunday night. I think I will have one of these controlling each of the tracks, UP, DOWN and Dual Gauge, with the same code running in each Arduino just so I can control all the signals and the various inputs from the track sensors, detecting trains and points and also from the switches on the signalman’s control panel. I will work to develop this over the next few months. I will also use CAT5 cables to go from the signalman’s panel to each of the signals. Each signal location will have at least 2 aspects, mostly 3, as well as an infrared track detector to detect passing trains. Some shunting moves and branch line moves will also have call on signals, or junction indicators. So this will be really cool if I can get it to work, and it will also mimic all signals on the signalman’s panel. So the public can sit behind him and watch it all unfold, or even if the layout is automatic mode, the signals on this panel will also change as trains move through the various tracks. I am also thinking if I need a communications mechanism from the signalman to the train drivers. Do we just call out, use walkie talkies, use a headset system like I do at home, or use Zello on the mobile phone. I will discuss this with my future crew. The layout may still be two years off building, but it will have quite a lot of features that rarely exist on layouts on the exhibition layout scene.
I continued work on the Dual Gauge track signal code on Thursday and this is complete except for the signalling into the Sidings across all the narrow gauge tracks. That is quite complex, but not too difficult. I just need to find time and this will most likely be early next week. My next task is to build a small mock-up of the signalman’s panel and have the track detectors simulated by hand and see the control panel show the signal aspects. I need to buy a few red, yellow and green LEDs to replicate the signal aspects on my signalman’s panel for this to happen. I also need to do a couple of tests.
On Tuesday we went to Cliff’s place for our Tuesday Nighter’s meeting and ran into Ian Phermister from Coffs Harbour way, who happened to be up on the Gold Coast with his family having a holiday. It was good catching up. At this meeting I also spoke to Brendan, our solderer extraordinaire, who gave me confidence to work on my PROCAB-R radio board upgrade. I had an old POWERCAB throttle which I was to install a radio board into – removed from a CAB04. But the POWERCAB did not have a 9-pin JST plug on its motherboard. So I had to solder the 9 wires from a connection to the 9 little tabs on the motherboard. Well this initially worked, but I needed some battery terminals to be installed into the POWERCAB case to make it all come together. I picked up some terminals from Marcus when in Sydney at the Rosehill Exhibition, and also picked up a 9-pin JST socket to go into a future PROCAB throttle if I ever get another one. But as I was installing the battery components, the wires ripped off from my soldering on the motherboard. Brendan told me to clean that up and install the 9 pin JST socket. Well I gave it a go on Wednesday, and to my amazement, after testing the POWERCAB, after removing my soldering, and after soldering in the JST-socket, and after installing the batteries in the compartment, it all worked, as both a normal POWERCAB, or as a radio PROCAB-R. I amazed myself.
Also on Wednesday I decided to actually code up the various configurations in the chip for my 2000 class railmotor passenger car. I set up the headlight to dim on F4. Also moved the rear headlight which was connected to the rear red marker lights to be on F3 instead of F0R. I also set up the front white marker lights F1, and front red marker lights and the rear marker lights F3 to all be dimmed on F8. I gave it a test and was very happy, although the front headlights are way too bright.
I had a phone call from Barnacle Bob during the week and went over to his place on Thursday to assist with building a chassis for his 3D printed 1900 Class QR Railmotor. He has some Halling bogies to use. Bob was worried with his brass baseplate shorting out his Halling bogies as the railmotor travels along the track. I brought along some 2mm styrene and showed him one possible method of building a baseplate that fits inside the railmotor shell and the bogies are attached to the baseplate with some bogie clips made from styrene. So in under an hour we had the baseplate built, the bogies attached, and the railmotor running up and down a short piece of track powered by a 9V battery placed across the rails. So that was version 1 of the baseplate. All it needs is a couple of pieces of lead above the power bogie. I’m sure Bob will refine this initial baseplate and bogie clips for the bogie mechanism and build his version 2. It will be very nice indeed once the model is painted up and running on Mosquito Creek.
Friday’s job was to complete 2000 Class luggage compartment railcar with the installation of all its lights. The headlight and front white and red marker lights were pretty simple, but I cannot get the rear marker lights to light. I must have a dry solder joint somewhere or I installed one of the red marker light LEDs back to front. I will revisit on Monday next week. The plan was to take the two railmotor models to the Show and Tell section at our NMRA meeting on Saturday of which I did.
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