Gordon H

A simple solution to this would be an RFID set-up, where each train carries a small unique tag whose information is read out whenever it passes a reader device beside the track. The information stored on the tag can then be interpreted and an appropriate sound produced by whatever means you have for this. On the MERG demonstration stand we have such an arrangement which works with an Excel spreadsheet to display an image and play sounds as each tag passes.

How are you powering the unit? There is a specific note in the Smartswitch manual that implies the requirements without being explicit enough: "The SmartSwitch can use DCC track power as its input voltage, but it will not work with direct AC current." This implies to me it will not work from the standard 'Aux' output (AC or DC) from an older style 'DC' controller as it does not include sufficient smoothing capacitance on-board. You are OK with a smoothed and/or regulated DC PSU - or DCC power which doesn't need much capacitance to keep things alive due to its waveform, but anything that 'dips' slowly through zero 100 times a second probably won't work.

You could contact the Shoeburyness Club exhibition manager (Roy Ginn) and offer your layout for this year's show. Looks like it would fit in well there, and be of (relatively) local interest too. Your story of 'idea one year, exhibiting the next' might be deemed a useful publicity feature for them. There are contact links on their website. I was there exhibiting myself at the 2014 show, on the MERG stand. I can vouch for the adverse weather conditions, especially on the Sunday afternoon during pack-up.

I don't need any software like this for myself, certainly for the foreseeable future. Too busy developing hardware modules and associated PIC code to get round to actually being in a position to run a layout of my own. Even if I did I am more likely to create something specific to my own needs, as for me it is all part of the interest. It was the main reason why I bought and built a Compukit UK101 kit computer some 35 years ago...

Yes, I was perfectly aware that there are price differences already, and what they are, but was concerned that there had been no mention of price anywhere in the thread, so anyone just stumbling across it as a topic might assume that all this capability costs nothing, as with JMRI. Having already had the software demonstrated to me, I felt no need to look at the videos as I am unlikely to use TrainController myself - especially at the price being asked for the gold version.

Very true, but up to now there has been no mention in the thread of how much all this wonderful capability might actually cost, or indeed until I mentioned it, that the capabilities being portrayed are based on the most expensive version.

The reason I asked the question here is that we had a very good demonstration of TrainController at a recent MERG meeting, and on almost every occasion that a complex technical question was posed, the answer seemed to be that the feature in question was 'sorted' in the gold version, thus implying that results using the lesser versions were likely to lead to disappointment for anything beyond simple operation.

I note from the pictures embedded here that you appear to be using the most expensive 'Gold' version of Traincontroller. Does use of the much cheaper Silver or Bronze versions affect any of the items presented?

I'd say start scratchbuilding. That's what I did over 30 years ago, essentially as an experiment, developments from which ended up incorporated in a number of full blown exhibition layouts. Scratchbuilding in metal (usually brass) also helps if you want to actually use the wires for power. The catenary system can be used to form a very effective common return.

Presumably you do have a computer available, or you wouldn't be able to tell us this...

You can solder stainless steel if you use the right flux. Carr's brown seems to be the one they recommend. Stainless steel rail is becoming very popular in Gauge 1 these days.

Kapton ® is just the Dupont trade name for polyimide film, so you could also search for that directly instead. It is also commonly used these days on 3D printer beds where its properties suit that application too.

I see what you're saying. The middle cam level coincides with the switching point of the microswitch, effectively half way through the hysteresis, so in one direction it is effectively held 'off' and in the other direction it is held 'on' during that portion of the travel.

So it is the hysteresis of the microswitch, and the angular momentum of the motor/gear chain that determines the overall throw of the mechanism?

There is no reason why you couldn't use the MERG Servo4 either way round. You simply set the signal positions to match your preferred switch positions, so 'closed' can mean Danger or Clear depending how you set the servo endstops.

This thread ought to be relocated into the 'Computer Control' section rather than here because it's general subject matter is not necessarily specific to PWay and Signalling, even if it is to start with. Other Arduino related threads are located there already.

The throttle that Brian is referring to is the 'CanCab' for the MERG CBus DCC system. The 'Basin Street Controller' is not available in kit form, so you will need to source your own components to build that design.

Wouldn't this topic be better placed in one of the 'Prototype' forums, because it has very little to do with OHLE modelling.

Just wondering... Why do you need to turn your EMU round? Isn't that the whole point of MU working - they don't need turning?

Don't know about freely available images, but our initial survey of the site for building what became (and still is) the Nottingham club layout was carried out in late September 1980, so pictures consist mainly of home produced monochrome prints which were the cheapest way to do it at the time. Subsequent visits were made as necessary, later ones including video footage, which was quite useful when trying to fathom out the details in and around the main station building - now sadly demolished. Down trains did split in the way described using the Down platform. Up trains were usually formed in the Up platform, with the Edinburgh portion arriving first, diesel loco at the front, which then carried on into a headshunt on the north/east side. The Glasgow portion then arrived under electric power, stopping at the south end of the Up platform. Next the Edinburgh portion was backed onto it and the train departed southbound. The diesel would then (usually) prepare to take the next arriving Down train section back to Edinburgh. No doubt there were variations on this, but that is how I recall it being done at that time. The only picture I have to hand here of the layout shows a DC kits Class 303 in the Down platform, with station building behind. The damage to the building awning, whilst not particularly accurate on the model, is certainly representative of the state of the real thing during its final years!

Spotted yesterday at the Crawley Club Show in Horsham... AyJay models are set to produce a 4mm 508 kit sometime soon in cast resin. What caught my eye and prompted some discussions was that the box sitting on the display shelf stated that the contents was 2 body shells etc, etc. When questioned, the stand holder said that in reality the kit will be available in both 3 and 4 car versions, and that the box label had simply not been updated yet (probably one of their existing 2HAL boxes with a 508 picture added temporarily). The castings were not actually present for inspection on this occasion. The spare coaches from the 3 car kits are likely to be made available for use with Bratchell parts to make up 455/7 sets - I specifically asked about that option!

From the appearance of the video, it looks as if there is currently no allowance for acceleration and deceleration of the mechanism. Whilst that might be OK with the mock-up shown, once you have the much larger mass of a real traverser and its rolling stock attached it could become more of a problem. There is a risk of missing steps if the inertia is too high, plus lurching of the stock as the track moves instantaneously beneath it. If you look at the video of my traverser back on Message #47, you will notice that the start and finish of a movement has an approximately 1/4" acceleration and deceleration phase to allow for these effects. This small amount has proved sufficient to prevent such problems arising. The overall movement is still performed by absolute step counting, so the same accuracy applies.

Afraid I can't claim the accolades for this PCB version. Looks more like the style of Trevor Stockhill's boards.

For the cassettes yes, using raw (not anodised) Al. Angle on a 2mm MDF base. The intention is/was to keep the mostly 4 car EMU stock on cassettes for storage and transport, and therefore they have to be removable. Connection from the main baseboard is made to the Al. Angle using sprung brass buffers which contact the angle through holes in the MDF. No actual connectors are used on the cassettes.

I have located a video made during the initial construction and trials of the Effingham South traverser. The chap pictured is my colleague Bob who was instrumental in the development of the software for the control system. The video file is dated as 2004. Hard to believe it was that long ago!