penguin_sam

? Better / Worse?

Thinking that station and engine shed would be something like this. With the station buuilding on an upper level with option to hide some tight turns with high level road/bridge etc.

Hi I'm grateful for contributions and the spirit in which they are offered. The room is shown here with chimney breast and built in cupboard. I can't really extend further towards the bottom. As I mentioned previously the width of the room is about 4m. I have plopped a turntable into the sketch as it might be fun to automate. I have made the 'loop' double track and removed double slip. The bottom left will be station with goods siding. Top left is engine shed. The layout will be on two boards so it can be up-ended and stored against a wall if the room needs to be used for other purposes. Dare I ask for further comments? Cheers

Hi I did mention dimensions and restrictions: see original post. I can't really make much sense of the rough hand-drawn offerings I'm afraid. I understand the tendency towards 2 track roundy but I did that as a kid. Thanks

Hi Basic plan started from end to end Minories as you may be able to see. I have in the past built such a layout. I wanted to build something that could be more easily automated; have return loops for continuous running and a more flexible 'fiddle yard'. The tight radii are unavoidable in my limited space. I am not a newbie particularly when it comes to electronics. I've been a member of MERG for many years. The layout will be DCC using DCC-EX. The three 'sidings' at centre bottom were to form an engine shed. I haven't used double slips before - are they less conducive to smooth running than back to back points would be? I was planning on buying a peco code 75 electrofrog one to play with.

Hi After comments on track plan. It's going to be 00 and room width is about 4m so tight (450mm) radii on return loops. Fits into alcove on left. Need to use room for bed as well so limited in space.

I'm using JMRI. I don't quite understand the points point! If I don't have points in a bock (or a block of their own) then the routes will not be on contiguous blocks which is an issue.This is just a test platform so length of trains is not important.

Hi Haven't done this before so need some help. I am setting up a test layout before starting to build a larger permanent one. Ultimate goal is full computer controlled automation. First thing is how do I divi up the track into appropriate blocks for current sensors and where should I position other sensors IR, reed switches etc. Ta. :)

Thanks for the reply. I agree with your comments. However the modules will rarely need to be moved and I am planning to make the upper level stations at least partially removable. I think some of the issues regarding track alignment across joins are inevitable and again alleviated by the infrequency of disassembly. I think I can get gradients to be below 3% if I continue them around some of the curves beneath the stations. Yes the track is very close to edges but given limitations of radius and room the best compromise. Maybe some perspex safety barriers!

A new layout. I have a room (hooray!) Its got a sort-of Sheffield park bit to the left on a raised section. A sort of 'another station' on the right. Roundy-round stuff and modularity. Will be very occasionally returned to bedroom. What do you recon?

sorry just understood you were suggesting logic prior to slip ring ... hmmmm

yes this was the way i was going. potential gap between loco and tender is an issues though as you say. logic can be quite complex though eg using arduino so could determine if there was a tender and accommodate. i think it's going to be a question of trial and error but don't want to have to make assumptions about speed and acceleration etc. i only have a 6 core slip ring so going to have to be some serial/multiplexing stuff too!

hmmmm - how? Not sure that JMRI can't just would like to know how. :)

Yes I think this is possible but will be a bit flakey due to assumptions about length and speed. I was hoping to find a hardware solution. I guess there must be one or two fully automated turntables around...

JMRI

Should add I am using JMRI.

Hi All - My first post on this site. I'm trying to figure out a way to centre a locomotive on a stretch of track. For me this is a turntable bridge but could apply to other scenarios. As my context is a turntable i cant use distance detectors at the end of the track. My aim is a fully automated turntable but I need to know when/where to stop the locomotive on the bridge. Any ideas? My design uses a slip ring to provide multiple connections to the bridge so this is not an issue. Thanks

This is very sad. This hobby is great but so conservative. I think it is fantastic and exciting that young engineers are trying to move the technology on. It's obvious that the long in tooth are going to be resistant to change particularly with large amounts of cash tied up in legacy systems. Its heartening to know that however much some might wish it, you can't stop the new taking over from the old.