Real-Time Layout
Status Display
JMRI provides a powerful Layout tool
to complement its Panel Tool. We built a display using this tool
and hung a large monitor in our train room for all to ascertain overall
real time status of the layout. The current screen build is shown below.
For this photo we have set the route from West (Erie) to East
(Pottsville). You can see that trains running in the West to East direction
generally have GREEN signals while trains wanting to run from East to West will
quickly encounter a RED signal.
Notes: Red signals are highlighted by using a trailing cross symbol.
The yellow lines show permitted traffic flows in the adjacent vicinity. If there
is no arrowhead, traffic in the vicinity may flow in either direction. If there
is an arrowhead, traffic is only permitted to flow in the indicated direction.
These flows are controlled by the Dispatcher. The settings influence the color
aspect of signals in the vicinity. So if traffic flows must be Eastbound, then
Westbound signals will be Red!
The '<blank>' fields are for
transponder status reporting, for example '3424 exit'.
The layout has a large elevated
Wye connecting Scranton, Williamsport and Philadelphia. The Wye tail is long
enough to turn a long train. The topology of the Wye is not depicted to reduce
the clutter.