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This is very impressive . I have HD 3 rail layout controlled by a solid state wiring panel that controls everything and feedback contrzillers to allow for slow running and poor connections. This however is on another level . Extremely innovative and impressive .

this works good on small layouts. But once you have a certain size and a certain number of locos and other Power users this wont hold up. for me for example i have about 200Meters of track on my Nscale (underground storage yards included) so this would spell big Problems for me because electricty doesnt really like to travel long distances on low Voltage. But small Layouts like this? very nice and good setup

Excellent layout system. Thank you

Loving this. I'm new, old, amd excited to watch more of your videos. Subbed.

Hi Julian, this is fantastic, this is exactly what I was looking for. Can you please let me know where I can get the DCC controller board that you have shown in the video (PIC/16F684). Also where can I get a reference to all of the commands for programming the board. Thanks in advance.

amazing

Perfect. Congratulations on the idea. I'm amazed. 👍

Very cool video learned a lot. I have a question what size is your board?

Fascinating.

Simple and elegant!

NCC is SO COOL!

Hi. I wonder how you avoid a short circuit when using the tracks in the middle? On my Layout it doesnt work. Best regards.

Good afternoon Julian I liked your set up when you showed on MERG a few months ago You are the only person I have encountered, so far, still running 3 rail, so I wondered if you might help me I found some 3 rail track with some meccano I bought I thought I'd better get some engines to run on it I got a bit carried away and now have about 5 train sets (3 with controllers), a transformer, two boxes of track (including points), one of accessories and an overdose of turntables I'm just going through what I have (lots of 1st radius, and very little 2nd, so far) and I've discovered that some are missing fishplates and wondered if peco ones would work, or do I need special ones? Some tabs that join the centre rail are also missing, do you have a solution for this? I 'm thinking to clean everything with IPA, but then I wondered if the metal coatings might suffer? I'm also in France, just to add a little complication. That will do for now, any help you can offer will be much appreciated Paul

Your reverse loop circuit or - to be precise - its short part of track has got a flaw: What if e.g. two illuminated coaches or a relatively long locomotive bridge it electically on both ends? As far as I know the Fleischmann point motors are specified with only 250 mA (publ. "Fleischmann Tips"), the Fleischmann power packs (and similar devices from other OEMs, they all originate(d) from the Bühler company in Germany) deliver 14 V AC for accessories, there exists a small one with offers 500 mA and a more powerful version with 1 A as maximum current. Even the small power pack must be able to move two point motors at the same time because many model railroaders do so if the two turnouts connect parallel tracks. The more serious flaw will occur when your layout gets older and fishplates connecting the tracks get widened and become more resistive for electricity. The concept of accessory decoders embedded under or in a turnout I have seen at several track systems even for the N gauge, typically the movement of the fishplates is limited by additional mechanical connectors between the balast parts and provide a mecanically more stable connection between the tracks. Märklin goes with its C-track range (gauge H0) even further and does not have any fishplates but electical contacts instead and mechanical connectors in the balast part of its C-track. Fleischmann Profi tracks just rely on its fishplates. Your Fleischmann trains run smoothly, but what if they derail and short the rails? Or when you leave accidentially a tool on the tracks shorting them while activating your central unit? Especially the small gauges are sensitive to large currents. Wheels and their power collection could catch serious damages if the central unit does not turn off its 3,5 A oder 5 A immediately. But if your tracks become more resistant over time this will not happen. I think it is more safe to use a separate pair of wires to feed the tracks and the accessory decoders. It avoids to pull the currents throwing one or two turnouts through the relatively restive tracks and ensures a reliable short circuit protection by your central unit or its boosters.

I CAN say this is amazing even though I can’t understand a word of what you are talking about Julian😂

Absolutely brilliant!

Brilliant! This gives me an idea of chipping my engines with the digital chips from my old SCX slot cars and be able to run multiple trains with the pistol grip controllers.???????

Hi, couldn't help but notice a rail-joiner next to a point isn't sat right on the point-side?, the instance of which can be found on the outside track at mins & secs 09:30-09:40 😊

Beautiful. The complete room

Hi Julian. I’ve been thinking of starting an N gauge set for so long and now seems to be the right time for me. I stumbled across your wireless plan video this evening and I must say, you are a genius! I was so excited to see what you were doing, but then soon realised that for me and my lack of experience, I soon became lost and alas, think I’ll have to stick with the traditional DCC set up, with point motors and endless wiring! Thank you for sharing 👍

I need to go one further and implement this stuff into my O Gauge clockwork trains :P

Very inspiring Sir. I’ve literally just started my first layout (N Gauge) which isn’t DCC. This is my aim for the future though. Subscribed. Ian

Did not know that you could do this type of stuff, thanks for sharing

Very cleverly done.

Great video. What model number are those 220uf capacitors in your keep alive?

Genius! This makes tonnes of sense. Are you manufacturing the PCBs for sale to the public? The overall simplicty is fantastic!

Very good Julian, runs beautifully.

Hi Julian I have just come across your video of your three rail 00 Hornby system, congratulations on such an excellent job. My interest was kindled because I still have my old Hornby 00 system from the 50s and have been considering passing it over to my great grandson. I am still at the research stage on the possibility of converting it to DCC. But I seem to remember that one of the motor brushes is fed via the wheels and chassis which obviously would not be acceptable for a DCC system. I wonder if you could advise me as to how you solved this problem. Does anyone supply insulating brush holders. I have three locos and a good selection of track and rolling stock so it would be a great shame not to bring it all back into use again. There seem to be plnety of DCC decoders on the market and I think there should be space inside the locos to accommodate one of the smaller samples. I have a 4MT 2-6-4 Tank, a 06-2 Tank and a Duchess of Atholl. I hope you can offer some advice to an 84 year old retired engineer.

Hello, I love this layout design, would you be able to link a picture or the track setup so I can use it for inspiration? Starting work on my own n scale layout and this would help tremendously!

very impressive, Julián. good to see you!

Wow. Speechless. 👌 👏 👍💪💥😲

Perfect - at some point you'd think this simplicity/modularity was the original vision for DCC, to simplify the block based DC setups but somewhere - or perhaps due to scale - that vision was lost.

As a recent return-er to the n guage scene after a long break I've just discovered the potential wondererous miracle that is dcc. Sorry to be so nieve but what are tbd MERG journals and where can I find then? Many thanks, love your layout BTW its brilliant. Thanks for all the great info

Just found this great video. Thanks for posting.

A really interesting project👍✌️😊 With such simplified wiring (no BUS) for DCC, is there ever voltage drop or runaways? Or is the layout too compact for such (plus it's tail chaser style)?🤔🤔

Would have been more user friendly if the PIC had USB and the 'script' wasn't hardcoded into the PIC source code. You could just then download the script from a nice PC train automation editor application and then downloaded into the PIC via USB. At which point the script would be 'interpreted' by the main code on the PIC and do the calls to each function as you do in this video. Very nice project though.

Hi Julian. I fail to see how the Toti is involved in your program to report the train has reached its destination. Also the Toti seems to answer-back directly on the track signal (DCC?). Is this true?

more details please!

more details please!

Very impressive 👍😊 I'm just wondering how do you ensure good continuity across track joins/joints? Similarly for the points (is that what the stay alive capacitors are for?) Also I'm pondering how many amps your transformer is as your powering everything from the track? And, finally, how is the layout affected by voltage drop etc - is such the optimal size (and as it's a tail chaser) to avoid voltage drop etc? I guess MERG have the slim line stay alives as a kit of parts or similar, which might be beyond me Your ideas may help me with my disabilities etc - I was going to use copper SA tape on top of the boards and add droppers, plus hard wire the points and have switched crossing nose Vs🤔🤔👍😕

Brings back memories of my first train set. About 1959, Trix Twin three rail. Magic!

As Yogi Bear used to say, Because I'm smarter than the average bear. Hey hey hey.

Very neat, impressive, what about voltage drop off etc? BTW are the points hardwired? 👍😊 I'm experimenting with RC, but that has issues and I'm not keen on using LiIon batteries. Some locos are not easy to convert to RC (semiconductors are in short supply and certain manufacturers are giving up the fight). I have a DCC set up, Digitrax, it was a present. Digitrax have a power bus and an accessory bus. It's been ages since it's been out of its box. I'm now ill and disabled and my layout has stalled as I'm not able to do a lot of wiring. Your methodology might just fit the bill🤞🤞🤞👍👍👍😊🤔😊 Any advice gratefully received 🤞👍😊

Julian great video sir! As you can see I run Fleischmann on my layout and even do my videos in both English and German. The Fleischmann track is one of the best on the market imo and can be utilised with the switch turned upside down to hide it's genius. The multi-mouse is brilliant and these days you can even use a tablet/phone. Thanks for sharing your expansive knowledge. Kind regards, Dave B

I love this idea. I'm in the U.S. and wondering do you offer these controllers for sale or are they DIY? Will this work for 2 main lines, allowing trains to change from line A to line B etc.?

I missed something - how did you do it without wiring????

Excellent idea! Do you have a schematic posted anywhere? PCB board files?

Hi Julian. A fascinating layout and control. Now, that's what I call a real man cave (although I preferred the original surface finish!).

Very clever. Thanks. Peter.

nice trains and set up.:):):):):): like .