Operations Weekend

I saw that The Great Southern train was in Brisbane and due to leave at 10:15am on Monday on its way to Adelaide.  So I went down to the local park for a potential photo opportunity.  The issue was that the train was many hours late into Brisbane so the departure was likely to be late as well.  I stayed for about an hour after scheduled departure time, and it turned out it went past about 15 minutes after I left.  I can hear my travelling train buddies laughing out loud, after our last few road trips to conventions and exhibitions.  I’m just in a rut guys!  I will get my power back.

The Interstate line next to a local park.  But no train.

The week started off with more preparation for the Operations Session for Saturday this weekend (yesterday).  Finally, I drilled the holes for and then cut the various jumper wires for track bus connections in Sunnybank on the layout.  On Tuesday I finally soldered them up.  I have yet to apply power and see if the section runs, but that is next week's job. 

I had a bit of a cleanup in the shed.  I put a lot of stuff away that I had out to take to various working bees on the Division Freemo Modules.  I cleaned the dispatcher’s desk so he can use it.  I tested each plug in point for the headsets and they all worked.  I ran a cleaning train from Grafton Yard to Cassino, and then branched off and ran to Murwillumbah.  I ran through each track in each of the crossing loops.  I then ran back to Cassino and then took the main line through to Acacia Ridge, and then to Dutton Park.  From here the train went to Fisherman Islands and ran down tracks 3 and 4 before derailing in track 4 as the narrow gauge point was set for a crossover and that was not good, as I was going straight ahead.  We then back tracked to Dutton Park, and then ran through Park Road and ran up and down the first 4 tracks in South Brisbane Interstate Station and Yard.

I also turned on the shed wifi, and then turned on my Wifitrax WFD-30 wifi device which then works via the shed wifi.  This gives me up to 8 wifi devices in the shed.  I then logged my Procab-W (the one with a wifitrax WFN-32 wifi card in it) onto the wifi.  Because I have a password on my wifi router for the great unwashed when operating on wifi, I had to enter that into the Procab-W.  But I cheated, by pressing the WPS button on the router and it auto logs on and is given the password.  So that was made ready for the Operations Session.

I had a couple of issues when running the cleaning train on the layout.  The push button in Clapham Yard South Panel that controls entry into the dual gauge track in the yard, was not working.  I will have to get behind the panel and see if a solder connection has broken off.  A major issue was the fact that when my train was running across Fawcett’s creek Bridge at Kyogle, it derailed over the bridge.  This bridge is all scratch built, and the track was hand laid.  Upon closer inspection one rail had come loose over a considerable distance, no doubt due to the various hot days we have had lately and the track was only originally secured by Aquadhere.  It must have just popped.  So after the train cleaning train running had been completed and I turn track power off, I got out some track gauges, and placed them over the code 60 rails across the scratch built bridge and used super glue to try and secure the rails to the wooden sleepers.  Time will tell if this was successful.  But it held up through the Ops Session.

I had also been spending considerable time, adding wiring to the Future exhibition layout control panel.  I had added hundreds of wires to the various LEDs on the display board.

I tested a few things and some worked, some others didn’t.  Then eventually my Arduino Mega went up in smoke.  I ordered two more, but at a dearer price than the first one.  I discovered a few things.  While I await delivery of a new Arduino Mega, I have swapped in am Arduino Uno.  The issue is that my signalling program is too big for the Uno, so I had to comment out about 2 thirds of the code and variables associated with the Down track, Branch line and the Dual gauge while I do some debugging.

It appears that I need to add some external power supply to the Arduino, as well as all of the 16 port Port Expanders.  I also need to add some pullup resistors to the Port Expander I2C wiring.  So this has caused a redesign of the wiring layout inside the Control Panel.  So while this is being done, I will test some of the changes bit by bit.  I tried a few things and I am having issues with more than one device on the I2C bus from reporting its address.

I went to the shed on Friday morning during Lunch at the Cricket and gave all the locos in the remainder of the timetable a test run up and down their current siding location to ensure that they are all running.  I was also investigating what I might do to the troublesome point at Dutton Park and how I can get it throwing.  I have another Peco Right hand medium point, I also have a large radius Y point to replace it with.  I also have totally different point with no internal over centre spring in the switch from Micro Engineering (I think).  I picked up about a dozen of these at a buy and sell some time back.  I might try and make my own version of the Peco over centre spring and install that on the micro engineering point.

On Saturday morning as I was preparing to set up everything for the Ops session, like the BBQ, the urn and tea/coffee in the shed, etc., I saw I had some messages when two attendees had issues and could not appear as crew.  So that left us with just 6 drivers, North Coast Control and myself.  Kyle took control of North Coast Control and I think he did a pretty good job for his first time.  Barry was back after a long absence and he did a good job running trains.  Arthur was able to run 6 trains by himself during the session out of the about 25 that ran.  It should be realised that some of these trains can take well over 30 minutes to run from South Brisbane Interstate to Grafton Yard.  The other drivers were Geoff, Geoff, Bill and Greg. 

Kyle on North Coast Control.

Grafton Loops starting to fill up with trains.

The Gold Coast Motorail at Murwillumbah waiting for line clear to head to Lismore.

Just ahead of the GC Motorail, is the paybus, going flat out to get clear of the Motorail.

The Gold Coast Motorail eventually gets to Lismore Station.

There will be a couple of fix ups that need to occur following the session with a couple of wires coming off some track sections, and some additional signage will appear on some fascias.  One additional train that ran towards the end of the session was the XPT from Grafton to Cassino on a trial run.  This train is not in the Ops Session timetable, so it was an extra.  I guess those XPT critics - Marty, Glen, Clinton and PK will just have to see the various photographic proof and take the verbal acknowledgments from those present that this movement did occur.  I did have one slight issue with one XPT power car not wanting to run.  So I cancelled the consist, reset its address and re-added the consist and we were away.  basically the session ran pretty well.  Lots of question from the crew "How to I do this?".  "Where do I do this?", "I need some help here".  We completed the timetable, found a couple of locos that were not in the correct place and today I worked out that one train that was sitting in the Yard at Cassino, was mid route at the end of the previous session, but its timetable card was put in the completed list, not still running list last session.  So I finished it off today. 

The XPT is mid-section heading towards Cassino on a test run.

At Cassino, the XPT has arrived, and thus caused mayhem with the roads available.  Arthur has to take the back platform road as he is heading to the Branch.  he has just set the points at the far end of Cassino to allow a train coming through on the loop to exit back to the mainline on its journey south.

Just seconds later the mixed train is heading south through the loop.

"You can't take that track, I'm going to take that track!"  Geoff and Bill almost come to blows working out who gets the mainline.

These two got tangled up, between their throttles and headset cords.

Greg is running his steel train through the Border Loop main.  he happens to be overlength for this crossing loop.

This was going to be fun.  Two overlength trains arriving at Border Loop at the same time.  I think this is called a Geoff-off.  This is easily accomplished by using the two runoff roads on the loop.  

Today I have started work on a few suggested improvements and added some text to the fascia at Acacia Ridge Yard and Clapham Yard.  I also have some more text to add to the fascia under Fisherman Islands.  Yesterday afternoon at the end of the session, it appeared that I had an issue with a short in Power District 1 (Grafton Yard to Cassino) as it looked like I had low voltage in that area.  However when I turned the layout on this morning, I saw no remnants of this.  I also had an issue with a Bachmann tamper yesterday.  So I reset it today and it will not run.  All the lights work.  Just thinking now, it may be in a consist.  It runs well on DC, just not DCC.  I'll check it out tomorrow.

I have also updated my Operations Manual with some more thoughts and updated my Pre and Post Operations Checklists.  All in all a good day.  I will just go through everything this week, and ensure that the timetable is ready for the next iteration.

More Control Panel Progress

Again this week I have failed to get down to the shed, until just a few hours ago.  My time this week has mostly been taken up sitting in front of the idiot box watching the cricket.  When not doing that, I have been sitting on the computer churning out code on my Arduino to continue the signalling logic I am writing for my future exhibition Layout.  So the Signalman’s control panel for this layout is progressing.  I have the point control switches logic that are on the control panel and talking to the Arduino, working correctly when the switches are changed on the panel.  As I have this input being successfully read by the Arduino, I also included code that if someone tries to change a set of points on the mainline, and the various signals around that set of points are not set to stop first, then the points will not change, thus preventing a catastrophe on the layout.

I have wired up all the common returns from the control panel track detector indicator LEDs.  I have then written the code that when an infra-red (IR) detector senses a train over it, it reports this to the Arduino.  It also then illuminates the LEDs on the track control panel, showing where the trains currently are.  As the trains move past the IR detectors, the indicator LEDs extinguish.  These LEDs are white.  I currently have 5 temporary IR detectors connected back to the Arduino and this allows me to simulate a train running on the UP track though the monitored area and this is currently working well. 

I have started wiring the signals on the control panel, which will replicate the signals on the layout.  I started with the Up Line, to bring these back to the Arduino output boards that provide me with another 16 output addresses on each board.  I have configured five track signalling boards (of course not all out addresses are being used on these boards.  The boards are - one for the Up line, another for the Down Line, one for the Branch line, and two for the Dual gauge, (one for the DG UP and one DG DOWN).  I have another two boards configured for the White track LEDs for tracking the trains.

So everything looked like it was working.  I then moved the test Arduino off my workbench and installed it in the Control panel.  The amount of wires that I have set up in there is enormous.  Hopefully I will be able to trace issues back to the source if required in the future.

Early next week, I will fire up the Arduino in the control panel from a new power supply, and also have it connected back to my serial output (monitor) to enable me to trace how everything seems to be working in a full simulation of the UP logic for the layout.  The last item to complete is to install the various control panel switches and their outputs back to the Arduino.  These switches on the control panel allow the signalman to set and hold signals at stop so points in advance of the signal can be changed, and various shunt moves across the mainlines can be undertaken by train crews. 

This rabbit hole adventure has also taken another turn.  I think I will soon be installing a small 20 character per line by 4 lines LCD display on the control panel to give some form of feedback to the Signalman if he tries to do something when it does not fit with my logic.  I will enhance the Arduino code to display a message and these messages will probably scroll off the 4 line LCD display as more future messages occur.  I should get my LCD display from evilbay delivered just after Christmas.

So once I have the Up logic all tested, I will move to the Down track logic, followed by the Branchline track logic.  That will leave the two directions of Dual Gauge logic on the single line to be completed.

However, over the next few days I need to turn my attention to my upcoming Ops Session next weekend.  I will complete my layout notices, timetable notices, and then clean the track, remove various cobwebs in the shed, and clean some junk I have layout around following various building activities.  I will also test all the layout lighting strings, ensure the wifi is working inside the shed to keep Marty happy, and ensure that the fridge is well stocked.  I also need to wash the outdoor furniture again and clean out the pergola and the BBQ for next Saturday’s BBQ lunch.  The most important task is to remind the boss to buy some snags and afternoon tea goodies.

Today I had an antenna man come out and check out my various rooftop antennas.  It used to annoy me immensely that when a bird perched on my house antenna, I would get a really bad picture on the TVs inside the house.  So that has now been fixed.  My TV in the shed stopped working completely, and it became obvious to me why when the antenna man mentioned that the antenna was not facing the correct way.  So over time, various birds, and high velocity winds (and maybe the cyclone from earlier in the year) must have caused various trees to move the antenna away from pointing towards the TV stations on Mt Cootha.  However, when channel 7 moved from normal definition to HD a few months back, that channel stopped working altogether.  So I either need a new antenna in my shed, or a TV that handles HD.  More expense!  At least all the channels that are not HD are now working in the shed.

Late this afternoon, I started work on drilling holes in the baseboard at Sunnybank to allow me to install wire jumpers around all my points for the DCC track signal.

Hopefully next week I will have some photos of the Operations Session activities.  I might even have some photos of my working future exhibition layout control panel. 

Signal Control Panel Takes Shape

Well I still have not got down to the shed to work on the Sunnybank wiring,  I finally got my Arduino working with some additional output boards via the I2C protocol.  I found a Youtube video that had some sample code.  This video's version of the sample code had an extra parameter on the creation of the i2C board object.  Other versions of sample code did not have this.  So I added it and my board started working.  I have LEDs flashing controlled by a secondary board.  I have had a few more of my online purchases show up, but I’m still waiting for another.  It has been about 3 weeks since I purchased some DPDT switches, but I believe it may not have gotten shipped from China.  However, the seller reached out to me on Saturday. 

I have been working on my signalman’s panel.  I had installed all the track markings with coloured electrical tape.  I changed the colour of the tracks, Blue is narrow gauge, Black is standard gauge and Red is dual gauge.  I have also started installing all the LEDs into the signalman’s board, to replicate the signals from the layout.  I have purchased all the various red, yellow and green LEDs.  However, I was short quite a few white LEDs as the local Jaycar did not have any left.  So on my way to the Train Club yesterday for our Christmas Luncheon, I detoured to a local Jaycar on Gympie Rd.  They had my missing white LEDs.

When I got to the Club, I showed off my control panel.  It had quite a few inquisitive people hanging around the panel, understanding what it will be able to do.  I think I am creating interest for the layout.

I got a text out of the blue on Saturday arvo from an ex-workmate who lives in the next suburb.  He had a sting of cat5 ports that was in excess of his requirements, so I said I’d take it for my control panel interface to the various signals on the future layout.  He brought it around on Saturday evening, so I took him into the shed for a viewing.  I plan on using cat 5 cables from the control panel to each signal on the new layout.  The control panel will break out the wires in the cable to the various ports in the control panel for signalling and infrared detectors, etc.  I was quite surprised by the number of spider webs that have sprung up inside the shed in the last few weeks.  I can feel that they will all be getting a bad headache tomorrow when I give them a blast of spray.

Sunday morning I started installing the switches for the point indicator lights on the control panel.  These are 3PDT switches.  Two of the poles are wired in a crossover fashion, so switching the switch, reverses the polarity of the circuit and thus my Red/Green bi-colour LEDs will switch and the point indicators will toggle, showing which way the track is aligned.  These were all installed and connected to a power supply.  I added a resistor to reduce the voltage going through the LEDs.  They do exactly as I planned when I change the various switches on the control panel.

The Control panel with LEDs installed

This view of the panel has the mainline point indicators lit.  Toggling the switch causes the indicator lights to switch their colours.

I then installed the white LEDs into the track diagram, which will register the location of the trains as they go past a signal.  When they are detected, the white LED will light, and the red signal will light. 

It looks like that tomorrow’s activity will include installing the first few signals into the baseboard for the UP trackage into the control panel and I will use temporary IR detectors to simulate the movement of UP trains on the layout, and give the Arduino signalling code a good test.

Helping Bob and the Division

This week I was very slack and forgot to keep track of my various modelling activities.  On Monday I got an SOS call from Barnacle Bob and installing LED lights into his 1900 Class QR Railmotor.  We had previously worked on a process to build a chassis made from styrene to install his 12mm bogies into.  Bob had drilled out the various headlight and marker light holes in the railmotor shell and needed some help to wire up the LEDs.  We made arrangements to catch up on Friday at his place to check it out.  On Friday I explained parallel and series and we worked together install the two 0402 white LED headlights in series, the two 0402 white markers in series and the two 0402 red LED markers in series but in the reverse configuration to the white markers so only one came on when power was applied.  So these three pairs were wired in parallel.  We then built up the other end’s lights in the same manner and then joined both ends up.  So when the headlights and markers came on at one end, the red markers came on at the other end and the opposite happened when we reversed the polarity to the lighting infrastructure.  I think Bob was happy by the end of the work session.  These still had not been connected to the power pickups by worked off a 9V battery,

Earlier in the week a few of the Tuesday Nighters group were online on Tuesday night and had a good time.  One activity I did do in the shed was find all the items and tools I needed to take to the working bee on Saturday.  The cricket on TV sort of distracted me from a lot of other activities.  That is finished now, so I might have time for more modelling activities next week.

On Saturday I met up with a few other Div 1 workers and we continued to work on the modules for the Div 1 Freemo layout.  So we did some plastering, added scatter, some greenery, and then some fencing.  We also made our own split post fencing from kebab skewers and other 2.5mm pieces of dowel from a $2 shop that we cut up and them split them into individual fence posts.  These were then stained.  I think everyone there was working on the install of these fence posts.  Basically the comments being generated were about people learning new skills in the scenicing of the modules, so this was a great positive outcome.  Late on Saturday night, we again gate crashed the British Regions Brew and Natter.  Gordy forbade us from talking about the cricket.  Well I complied with this edict until I left the chat and posted a comment in the chat.  Hehehehe!

Another week has gone past, and I did not get to go to the shed to work on the Sunnybank Extension and the various track wiring in this area.  Perhaps this coming week.  I did however spend some time trying to get a piece of electronics that I picked up at Bob’s (a different Bob) on the previous Sunday, to work.  I could not get it to talk through its I2C protocol to light LEDs.  So I will have to wait until some more are delivered by mail (hopefully) this week.  The general consensus was that It might have been damaged or had a problem which was why it was lying about at Bob's.  I also have some other pieces of electronics also turning up this week.  These are needed for the new exhibition layout control panel and the layout.