Ive only just found your channel since Charlie at Chadwick made mention of this. Boy what a ripper of a layout. Really enjoying what I’ve watched on your videos and it seams I have a lot to watch and catch up on. Simply awesome. Clint
Absolutly superb! May I ask, when the train pulled out of platform 2 did the shunter follow it out to the end of the platform and await the signal for it self to move off for the next shunting job? It would have been nice to have watched the train pass through all parts of the layout, after Mckinley Road, pass Manchester on the lower circuit, through the storage yard, through Birmingham under London and finally to Manchester to be dismantled to the carridge sidings and the Brit to the engine shed! Just want to see more trains running end to end;-)
I think we need to have some route running videos for you soon. I'll discuss it with Charlie. The last one we did was the Blue Pullman a few years back.
@@dattouk Hi, The latest "Spring Update 2021" was excellent, the progress that has occurred during lock down was very interesting .... I'm looking forward to the release of the other videos that you mentioned, of course, seeing trains running is what it’s all about;-) Best regards Ian
Very interesting, many thanks for this video. So sad you have to compose the train manually into TrainController... also you have to tell manually to your DB that the train is now not anymore in the station. Isn't it possible to automate this?
Nice, Just a question on the main panel above London station why is the panel making a note of shunter D. 3729 when station pilot 4793 was used to bring the coaching stock into the station from the carriage sidings? Also are the Manchester operators seeing the train in platform2, London, before it departs or once it's departed platform2? Cheers, Chris Perry.
Great progress and good to see new ideas in action. Do you use the timetable function in Train Controller? Also is there a reason you are using the Digitrax throttles rather than the inbuilt TC throttle?
Perth South: That is a great question. The only thing I could think of is they don’t want to run Smart hand or have a PC at each station and yard. That’s how I run my layout
Yes great questions. We do not use the Timetable function in TrainController. It is too inflexible when you are relying on human operators to prepare trains to a timetable. The TC software automatically fires off schedules according to the clock without regard for external delays or problems. With respect to the throttles, the Digitrax throttle are used by the 10 or so human operators to manually drive trains in stations. We specifically use the TrainController application to send trains around the main layout. All shunting is done locally by the operators. I haven't considered using TC Throttles on tablets. Does TC support the Apple IOS platform? I remember the owner stating a big NO a while back. The other problem I face is restricting the operators in one station to only being able to change things in their area of control. I don't know if TC is flexible or scriptable to meet our needs. David
Hi David I have used smart hand on both android and IOS based tablets. I personally don’t use it to control trains as I like the feel of the dial etc. where they do come into their own is using them for switchboards. I touch on this in my TH-cam channel. Model railroad Techniques
Hi James, We have built our own version in a database system called FileMaker. Once we have finished the development I hope we can adapt it to an HTML based solution so that it is both shareable and inexpensive.
It's always a joy to watch your videos and this video is amazing thanks for sharing with us and I'm going to share it to my new Facebook group called TRAINS ACROSS THE WORLD my goal is to bring everyone together in this world to share the love of this hobby in one place from railfanning, how to videos, layout updates, photos and anything about train's please feel free to stop by and check out the group and join us
Hi guys. Love the lightning of the rolling stock and the little people. Thing is where is the hands on enjoyment of running a model railway? Just seems the enjoyment for all of you is being a computer programmer rather than physically enjoying operating model trains. Sorry about that it's everybody to their own I know. Keep safe guys. Pete and Su.
A few questions spring to mind: Presumably you could have a separate operator act as the signaller for a station rather than just one both setting routes and driving locomotives? Do you plan to further integrate the iPad system with TrainController to remove the need to manually transcribe train details between the two? Is it, or will it, be possible to assign a manual operator to an engine, or train, such that a crew physically travel with the train throughout its journey? I'm thinking here of US style operating were this is the normal practice. More pertinent to freight where a train is shunted at each station on its journey.
Hi Chris, We could have the Station manager acting as the signalman. The challenge we face is the number of discrete roles against the available space. This challenge will only grow once we have added freight operations as well. The anchor man is the station or yard manager. This role must watch the timetable like a hawk and keep things moving in anticipation of planned arrivals and timely departures. We will integrate the iPad into the system further, but its not easy because TrainController doesn't have an API. However, our cunning plan is the use LocoNet to drive TrainController through sensor messages and take acknowledgements through switch responses. The same can be done in reverse. This is one of the next big steps along with RFID. Our layout doesn't suit the assigned operator because they can't walk the train. We have tried it in the early days with operators looking at overhead displays showing train locations. It proved to be a dangerous step too far. We have actively chosen the station/yard approach where operators can see everything in their realm. Regards, David
I’m loving to love your railway however I’m disconcerted by how much computer input is required. One of the reasons that reinforces my love of modelling is to disconnect from the modern day Internet/computer world. Therefore whilst I enjoy your away it seems to reliant on technology to have fun on the daily basis….
Ah.. Thats what makes our hobby so interesting - All the different facets.. I love technology providing it makes life simple. Right now we are in the development phase. Every week, I am looking at what can we do to make the human operating experience more fun and more realistic. Once we have cracked the system integration and have made the GUI more intuitive, every one of my operators will enjoy the operational challenge. They are all happy with using an iPad and love driving trains.
yes. thats what happens. Its brilliant to see. We sometimes have two trains under computer control passing in the station throat at the same time as two operators are shunting. Its electrifying (and scary).
Ive only just found your channel since Charlie at Chadwick made mention of this. Boy what a ripper of a layout. Really enjoying what I’ve watched on your videos and it seams I have a lot to watch and catch up on. Simply awesome. Clint
Amazing work. So inspiring.
First time for me too.. just found you. Amazing stuff.. what a layout. Subscribed.
Absolutly superb!
May I ask, when the train pulled out of platform 2 did the shunter follow it out to the end of the platform and await the signal for it self to move off for the next shunting job?
It would have been nice to have watched the train pass through all parts of the layout, after Mckinley Road, pass Manchester on the lower circuit, through the storage yard, through Birmingham under London and finally to Manchester to be dismantled to the carridge sidings and the Brit to the engine shed! Just want to see more trains running end to end;-)
I think we need to have some route running videos for you soon. I'll discuss it with Charlie. The last one we did was the Blue Pullman a few years back.
@@dattouk Hi, The latest "Spring Update 2021" was excellent, the progress that has occurred during lock down was very interesting .... I'm looking forward to the release of the other videos that you mentioned, of course, seeing trains running is what it’s all about;-)
Best regards
Ian
Very interesting, many thanks for this video. So sad you have to compose the train manually into TrainController... also you have to tell manually to your DB that the train is now not anymore in the station. Isn't it possible to automate this?
Nice, Just a question on the main panel above London station why is the panel making a note of shunter D. 3729 when station pilot 4793 was used to bring the coaching stock into the station from the carriage sidings? Also are the Manchester operators seeing the train in platform2, London, before it departs or once it's departed platform2? Cheers, Chris Perry.
Hi love your channel, would you be able to demonstrate on your iPad double heading / top & tail despatching? Thanks Tony
Great progress and good to see new ideas in action. Do you use the timetable function in Train Controller? Also is there a reason you are using the Digitrax throttles rather than the inbuilt TC throttle?
Perth South: That is a great question. The only thing I could think of is they don’t want to run Smart hand or have a PC at each station and yard. That’s how I run my layout
Yes great questions. We do not use the Timetable function in TrainController. It is too inflexible when you are relying on human operators to prepare trains to a timetable. The TC software automatically fires off schedules according to the clock without regard for external delays or problems.
With respect to the throttles, the Digitrax throttle are used by the 10 or so human operators to manually drive trains in stations. We specifically use the TrainController application to send trains around the main layout. All shunting is done locally by the operators. I haven't considered using TC Throttles on tablets. Does TC support the Apple IOS platform? I remember the owner stating a big NO a while back.
The other problem I face is restricting the operators in one station to only being able to change things in their area of control. I don't know if TC is flexible or scriptable to meet our needs.
David
Hi David I have used smart hand on both android and IOS based tablets. I personally don’t use it to control trains as I like the feel of the dial etc. where they do come into their own is using them for switchboards. I touch on this in my TH-cam channel. Model railroad Techniques
Very interesting, what is the software you use?
Hi James, We have built our own version in a database system called FileMaker. Once we have finished the development I hope we can adapt it to an HTML based solution so that it is both shareable and inexpensive.
It's always a joy to watch your videos and this video is amazing thanks for sharing with us and I'm going to share it to my new Facebook group called TRAINS ACROSS THE WORLD my goal is to bring everyone together in this world to share the love of this hobby in one place from railfanning, how to videos, layout updates, photos and anything about train's please feel free to stop by and check out the group and join us
Good luck with your plans. Will do that we I join facebook.
Hi guys.
Love the lightning of the rolling stock and the little people.
Thing is where is the hands on enjoyment of running a model railway? Just seems the enjoyment for all of you is being a computer programmer rather than physically enjoying operating model trains.
Sorry about that it's everybody to their own I know.
Keep safe guys.
Pete and Su.
A few questions spring to mind:
Presumably you could have a separate operator act as the signaller for a station rather than just one both setting routes and driving locomotives?
Do you plan to further integrate the iPad system with TrainController to remove the need to manually transcribe train details between the two?
Is it, or will it, be possible to assign a manual operator to an engine, or train, such that a crew physically travel with the train throughout its journey? I'm thinking here of US style operating were this is the normal practice. More pertinent to freight where a train is shunted at each station on its journey.
Hi Chris, We could have the Station manager acting as the signalman. The challenge we face is the number of discrete roles against the available space. This challenge will only grow once we have added freight operations as well. The anchor man is the station or yard manager. This role must watch the timetable like a hawk and keep things moving in anticipation of planned arrivals and timely departures.
We will integrate the iPad into the system further, but its not easy because TrainController doesn't have an API. However, our cunning plan is the use LocoNet to drive TrainController through sensor messages and take acknowledgements through switch responses. The same can be done in reverse. This is one of the next big steps along with RFID.
Our layout doesn't suit the assigned operator because they can't walk the train. We have tried it in the early days with operators looking at overhead displays showing train locations. It proved to be a dangerous step too far. We have actively chosen the station/yard approach where operators can see everything in their realm.
Regards, David
I’m loving to love your railway however I’m disconcerted by how much computer input is required. One of the reasons that reinforces my love of modelling is to disconnect from the modern day Internet/computer world. Therefore whilst I enjoy your away it seems to reliant on technology to have fun on the daily basis….
Ah.. Thats what makes our hobby so interesting - All the different facets.. I love technology providing it makes life simple. Right now we are in the development phase. Every week, I am looking at what can we do to make the human operating experience more fun and more realistic. Once we have cracked the system integration and have made the GUI more intuitive, every one of my operators will enjoy the operational challenge. They are all happy with using an iPad and love driving trains.
Fantastic 👍🏻
Do you ever get busy enough to have trains coming in as you are shunting?
yes. thats what happens. Its brilliant to see. We sometimes have two trains under computer control passing in the station throat at the same time as two operators are shunting. Its electrifying (and scary).