stuman

Hi Anthony - been away for a while... Seems you are plodding on with your layout and it looks great - such space!!!! Picking up John Drew's comments on Profiling in T/C - there is a video on my site showing it's setup and operation - yawn yawn. The profile per engine is saved within T/C so remember to save the program after each completion. Happy modeling.. Stu

Dear Anthony Its always a bit daunting, initially, drawing layout schematics in any S/W program and I think you've done exceedingly well. Remember the schematic diagram (called Switchboards in TC) is the only way the software "knows" how everything fits together, and therefor how to control. Have a look at my videos 3A & 3B to get your mind around schedules https://youtu.be/CpgZubSiZug From my experience of the S/W I would suggest: Add a key to the diagram indicating colours of track for areas, boosters, etc. it might help later on. I've added arrow heads to certain tracks to indicate restricted direction of travel (since my layout is continental and the opposite direction to the UK). There is a Timetable to operate schedules in TC, complete with adjustable clock to scale the timing. I'm sure I saw a spreadsheet somewhere on you blog with intended "operations" - great fun. If your ECoS is wired up and also chatting to your computer and TC software, I'd suggest having a go a doing a simple schedule, A to B To C and back. I think its possible in the Demo version. Might inspire you... Have fun - regards - Stu

Have just viewed this and WOW - what an ambitious project. Well done - looks great.. TC will handle all that you mentioned and is dictated by the size of your computer's memory. Looking at your "Switchboard" diagrams I would comment: Consider numbering all electrically operated points on the diagram and the real model - it will help in time. All track lines must be continuous, unless they come to an end stop. Allow TC to work out the schedules (routes) after indicating the Start and Stop locations - this way it will test the route, and you can fix it if there is an error. You can link any switchboard with another switchboard on the screen to make visual navigation easier. Consider multiple VDU screens - TC can handle it. Consider WiFi for tablet/phone in view of the size of the layout - TC can handle it. You can download a demo of TC Gold version 8 and User manual from Freiwald - although you might have already done this. Good luck with the project and ultimately playing trains - regards - Stu