Keystone Division Status 2009 - 2010

 

Summary Status and some Features and Recent Photos      Beginning in 2009, the Keystone Division layout evolved from a construction and basic trackwork project into an electronically and software controlled system. Many of the sub-projects are summarized in the paragraphs below. By the first quarter of 2010, the Keystone Division has implemented most of these automation subprojects except for the train automation and Erie yard. In the future we will complete these sub-projects and add three more sub-projects.One is to find a suitable signal head housing for the many Digitrax SMBK signal posts that are now operational. Another is to install frog powering to the many Peco turnouts installed. The third subproject is to significantly detail the scenery (an early example).

 
Block Occupancy Automation       About 80 Block Occupancy Sensors (BODs) have been installed. Each BOD creates a track-turnout segment that will become active when a train is present in that segment. Currently we can only detect the presence of a locomotive and certain cars - typically illuminated passenger cars or custom cars. We expect to add insulated metal axles to many of our cars. A 10K Ohm surface mount resister will be cemented to each axle and a conductive pen will complete the circuit across the metal axle.
     All active/inactive state changes of each BOD are reported to JMRI listener software. The BOD change events are used by the signal logic to trigger aspect changes. These change events also modify the track-turnout segment 'color' on the displays. An occupied or 'active' segment is Red; an unoccupied  or 'inactive' segment is Blue.
     Each Se8c supports 8 BODs via two remote Digitrax BD4 circuit boards. We installed remote RR-CirKit boards to Se8C ports to provide BODs in special cases such Reverse Loop/Wye track segments. The five Se8c circuit boards support 40 BODs. We also have 3 Digitrax BDL168 circuit boards installed. Each of these circuit boards support 16 BODs.

 
Turnout Automation

     We now have over one hundred turnouts on the layout and we have installed computer control for more than 60 turnouts. Most of these are Peco turnouts using a Tortoise slow motion machine driven by a one of 8 ports on one of our 5 Digitrax Se8c circuit boards or 12 dual port Digitrax DS52 circuit boards. Another eight of our Tortoises are driven by a Team Digital SRC8 circuit board. We also have four Kato turnouts with built-in switching machines driven by Digitrax DS51K1 circuits. We also have one Kato double crossover driven by a Digitrax DS52 circuit board. All turnouts are controllable from the JMRI software or from Digitrax throttles. Our JMRI Dispatcher panels can command these turnouts. There are no fascii panel switches at this time. However, the needed supporting control electronics are preinstalled for 40 such future fascia switches (from 5 Se8C circuit boards).

To improve electrical continuity on mainline turnouts, we have powered the frogs on Peco Electrofrog and Insulfrog turnouts using the SPST switches built into the tortoises. Note: The Peco turnout springs DO have to be removed from the Peco turnouts to avoid shorts due to turnout movement becoming out of sync with Tortoise movement and SPST switch closure. The time and motion associated with the turnout and tortoise is very important to avoiding shorts.

For the remaining tortoise driven turnouts, we still rely soley on the pressure the tortoise exerts on the points. Eventually all frogs will likely need to be powered for reliable operations.
The Kato turnouts rely on Kato's design for reliable electrical continuity.

 
Signal Automation       We installed 128 three light signal heads on the layout (384 LEDs!). At this time, all signals are based on Digitrax SMBK head over head posts which are a good size for our N scale railroad. We are still looking for a good dress-up kit for these Digitrax signal posts. We are looking into a RepRap machine to design a dress-up kit. Any ideas from readers would be welcomed.
     All signals are driven by Digitrax Se8C circuit boards. Each board drives 4 heads via each of eight ribbon cable or 32 heads per circuit board. We have four Se8c circuit boards installed with Signals at this time. All signal heads are driven by JMRI software. Each signal is programmed using 'simple signalling rules' implemented in JMRI..  Each signal head is controlled by a pair of 'turnout' addresses. One must plan the turnout number address space carefully in conjunction with the constraints imposed by the various circuit boards.

 
Transponder Automation      A Transponder is a device implemented as a Digitrax proprietary extension to the NMRA DCC specification. Locomotives with certain Digitrax decoders have the capability to transmit their 'Address' to Digitrax Readers installed on a given track-turnout segment. These addresses are forwarded to JMRI listener software. The address is shown on the JMRI based Dispatcher and Real-Time Status displays we have built. When, say, loco #3424 enters a transponder section, the message displayed is "3424 enter" .When that loco leaves the segment, it displays "3424 exit".
     The address is also forwarded to the MRRM software to tie the locomotive to an active manifest and set of waybills. Thus we know where the train is going to next and what cars are currently on the train  - among other things.
    Each BDL168 can support a pair of quad segment transponders. These four port circuits are known as Digitrax RX4 devices. Each of the eight RX devices supports one track-turnout segment whose BOD is also supported by the BDL168 circuit board. The RX sends a signal on the track segment during the quiescient period between DCC packets. If a transponder equipped loco decoder senses the RX signal it 'transponds' its address back to the RX and thus to the BDL168 and thus to the JMRI listener on the Loconet bus.
     We currently support 20 transponders. Most are assigned to key mainline or bypass track-turnout segments.

 
DCC Electronics      We use a Digitrax DCS100 Command System as our DCC master device. A Digitrax PM4 divides our layout into four power districts and reduces disruptions in one area of the layout from incapacitating other areas of the layout. We expect to add a 5th district for our Erie (West Staging) area later this year. We will use a Digitrax DB150 or DB100 device to power this section.
     We use Digitrax radio throttles. Most are DT400 devices. We recently added duplex radio capability to the layout and currently have two DT402 throttles.
     A Fast Clock has been installed. We have not begun to have 'real' operating sessions yet so we have some new experiences coming.  Most of our large locomotive collection has had decoders installed in them. Almost half of these locos have a Digitrax transponder decoder option installed.

 
Other Electronics We have installed 10 Miller Electronics electroluminescent billboards. We also installed 8 ITCC sound generating devices throughout the layout. Two operating oil pumps are installed. A flashing sequence lighted radio tower is installed. A WIndmill is installed - we saw many of these during a recent trip on the Appalacian Mountains. A Faller Mine was built but operation is balky. Many more lights and animated devices are planned.

 
West Staging Trackwork      This yard is in Erie PA.and is under construction but the main few staging tracks as well as a double track reversing loop are in operation. We are using mostly Kato track and switches to implement this yard. 
   
Real-Time Layout Display      Dynamically displays the current status of all track occupancy, turnout state, signal head aspect and transponder output.
   
Dispatcher Displays      Like the Real-Time Status display, the current status is reflected on the track diagram. In addition, controls are installed to allow the operator to follow all trains and to manage all turnout states and signal aspects.
   
Automated Train Scripts     Under Construction!