I and a friend have built a model railway layout to demonstrate how a model railway can be controlled using computer software. Adding new components is easy with the builtin editor. Through the use of a computer interface, you can control your layout using your smart phone, a desktoplaptop computer, or automate your layout so you can relax and entertain guests without trains crashing into each other. With rocrail different applications for a model train control can be met. Railway software xtrkcad, hornby virtual railway 2, creat.
We offer open source hardware and software to help you operate your railroad as prototypically as you like. Our interactive control panel puts you in charge at a centralized traffic control center. Ccmr uses cbus hardware modules to operate locomotives and other devices and to have inputs regarding the state of the layout. Libraries for many brands, scales and gauges of track and turnoutspoints and model structures are included. Anyrail is probably the easiesttouse model railway design tool around. Scarm the leading design software for model railroad layouts.
This segregation was done for safety reasons and is now backed by law. You can interconnect any number of arduino boards in series, or using a urb topology. Which type of model railroad software you choose may depend on how much you like to spend time on your computer and what your ultimate goals are. Railway software xtrkcad, hornby virtual railway 2. A track is a software application which runs, under windows xp, windows. Our cpnode system is an updated, completely open, layout control system based on the popular and proven cmri system introduced by dr. Anyrail the easiest model railroad design software. Build your own virtual model railway and watch it come to life in stunning 3d. While stocking products for all model railway requirements we specialise in computer control and sourcing.
Control lights, sounds, and full operation directly from your bluetooth smart enabled phone or tablet. Many model railway enthusiasts enjoy the manual input of switching turnouts or having the ability to detect the presence of a train on hidden areas of the layout particularly fiddle yards. Railway modelling uk, australia and ireland or model railroading us and canada is a hobby in which rail transport systems are modelled at a reduced scale the scale models include locomotives, rolling stock, streetcars, tracks, signalling and landscapes including. It is possible to combine an analogue style control panel with dcc digital. Its design, construction and operation must therefore be given careful consideration to ensure the finished product will operate the layout in the required manner. Using servos merg the model electronic railway group. Stecotec model railroad collector pro inventory program collection management for rolling stock and accessories suitable for hornby, bachmann, dapol, oo, n gauge etc. Just connect the hornby dcc elite controller via the usb port to a pc or laptop and the power of railmaster is at your fingertips. While the romantic age of the railway will always be in our minds, hornby is fully in the 21st century when it comes to its model railway design and control software. With scarm you can easily create the layout of your dreams. Power controllers for your model railway the goods yard. This simply requires a separate dcc circuit for signals and points, controlled by accessory decoders. With traincontroller, we offer worldclass software for model railroad computer control. It runs on windows, mac and linux, simulation of trains.
Model railway computer control centre beckenham and west. Control panels and signal box diagrams model railway musings. How to use model railway software to make operation of your dcc. Apr 20, 2020 the cost per point, if using kits for the controllers and mounts, is usually significantly less than commercial point motors. Xtrkcad supports any scale, has libraries of popular brands of turnouts and sectional track plus you add your own easily, can automatically use spiral transition curves when joining track and has extensive online help and. Railmaster is a totally new way to control a model railway. Computer controlled model railway layout lee thorp. The technical jargon, the confusing instructions and the complex operating requirements have also gone. It runs on windows, mac and linux, restore anchors for create curve. The other was to make my younger brothers train set a little less boring. There are many programs that can help you draw complex artwork for model railway control panels and signal box diagrams. If reading books isnt you bag or you just want an extremely helpful, inspiring, quality video to watch, there likely isnt anything matching. Hobby enthusiasts use our custom made physical control panels, an ipad app, or both, to control the turnouts, track power and uncouplers on their layout.
The future of model railway control is here with arguably the most straight forward and simple to operate digital controllers in the model railway world. One was to help me get a better understanding of using a pc for control and automation. One of the most widely available but least well known is microsoft word. Ccmr is a system that allows automatic computer control of model railways. Scarm means simple computer aided railway modeller software for easy and precise design of model train layouts and railroad track plans.
Traincontroller is characterized by particularly simple and effective use as well as secure operation. Its also entirely independent, so you can build with almost any track. Model railway computer control centre mrccc is a windows software. Java model railroad interface jmri the jmri software is a suite of programs and is a single download. Author mumbles and ironduke forum members xtrkcad is a cad program for designing model railroad layouts. The jmri project is building tools for model railroad computer control. Digitrax, esu loksound, hornby, lenz, nce, model rectifier, mth, qsi quantum, soundtraxx, tam valley depot, train control systems. The later even gives you 125 railway plans to choose from. Bluerail has updated our app to support control of dcc trains, and partnered with established dcc experts in the industry to develop hardware, software and firmware to bring. It is true, that multiple digitally controlled trains can run. Model railroad electronics and control featuring a windows software. One of germanys finest and most famous and superb model railway with steam trains in ho scale duration. Xtrkcad is a cad program for designing model railroad layouts.
Building a basic point control panel building a model railway duration. Ideal for railway enthusiasts of all ages, the only limit is your imagination. Introduction layout control for windows, macos and linux. The latest generation of multiprotocol command station is the ideal control system for locomotives with dcc or motorola decoders and the perfect control for all digital components. Just connect the hornby dcc elite controller via the usb port to a pc or laptop and the power of. However, they alone do not ensure diversified and reliable operation of a model railroad. Rocrail is free software for controlling model trains for linux, apple macos, windows. Simple and effective operation with the latest windows interfaces. Xtrkcad supports any scale, has libraries of popular brands of turnouts and sectional track plus you add your own easily, can automatically use spiral transition curves when joining track and has extensive online help and demonstrations. I had two objectives in starting this mini project. Word has had a powerful picture drawing facility built in to it since at least word 6. Whether you are a new hobbyist or experienced we have the knowledge and expertise to help you find products to suit your needs. Successfully used by several thousand users in more than 40 countries all over the world.
We built the layout as part of our foundation degree in computing. With railmaster connected, the power of the elite can be harnessed like never before. Aircraft modellers were given the 35mhz band for their exclusive use, and 40mhz was given to ground based models e. With powerful and easytolearn editing tools, even inexperienced.
Computer integration and control model railroad inventory collectors software computer simulation programs programs to create designs, signs, decals, brick walls, etc. Model railroad computer control with traincontroller. We design and manufacture control panels for the model railway hobby. This is a clear difference to other railway control systems. Model railway control panel construction overview youtube. A centralized traffic control board ctc is one method of communicating with the dispatcher. Rc trains aims to provide railway modellers with high quality equipment for controlling model locomotives by radio control rc trains transmitters and receivers use modules developed by deltang radio control systems. No other software makes it as easy to create your own highly detailed tracks, stations, tunnels, towns, roads, level crossings and scenery. In this particular case, the focus is on controlling the track and signaling, but the codebase also includes the ability to program dcc locomotives. Railmaster is supplied with one sample plan, which allows the operator to experiment with the design facilities of the software. A number of control systems are available to operate locomotives on model railways. Enjoy designing your layout anyrail ensures everything fits. Powerful software features the key to userfriendly computer control ctis powerful, userfriendly software makes it easy to control every aspect of your model railroad from your pc.
Arduino railway control wireless model railroad dc. The future of model railway control is here with the latest and best hornby digital command control system. This project shows you how to configure the dragonboard 410c to allow it to control a model railway using dcc digital command and control and open source jmri software, via a usbdcc interface. Our range of services includes layout design and building plus workshops in itrain, digikeijs products, uhlenbrock, fleischmannroco, vpeb dinamo and zimo amongst many other leading brands. The software connects to the hornby elite dcc controller or the later elink controller, which is an interface between the laptop or pc which runs railmaster and the layout and allows for the controls of trains, points, signals, turntables and. Tips to designing a model railway control panel model. Analog systems where the speed and the direction of a train is controlled by adjusting the voltage on the track are still popular while they have recently given way to. The new hornby system differs from the conventional type of 12v controllers in as much that it is the individual locomotives that are controlled internally rather than the controlling a locomotives speed and direction by varying the. We want it to be usable to as many people as possible, so were building it in java to run anywhere, and were trying to make it independent of specific hardware systems. The days of needing a computer degree to operate a digital model railway have gone.
The model railway control panel serves a crucial role in the operations of the layout. Welcome to dcc train automation the first stop on your journey to model railway digital control solutions. If playback doesnt begin shortly, try restarting your device. While stocking products for all model railway requirements we specialise in computer control and sourcing products to provide solutions. Once familiar a specific design can be created specifying points and signals to be controlled. There are a few software programs that form the ccmr program suite. For a friendly service and advise on all your digital model railway products at competitive prices.
Mrcs is your home for open source electronics for model railroad operations. Control panel designs model railway control panels. Digital model railway control systems are an alternative to control a layout and simplify the wiring and add more flexibility in operations. How to use model railway software to make operation of. Founded in 1967, mergs aim is to actively promote and advance the use of electronic and computer technology for model railway operation, which is ideally suited to. In scarm you can use unlimited number of tracks and objects. For ease of operation of your model railway layout controlling the points from a central point or control panel is really an essential element. Xtrackcad is a cad program for designing model railroad layouts. If you are an analogue model railway user you can still use railmaster just to control all of your points and signals, yet still control your locos with your analogue controller. Atrack for windows atrack is a powerful free extension to complement the facilities of your nce corporation power cab or power pro digital command control system and to assist you in running your roster of locomotives on your model railroad atrack allows you to store full details of all of your locomotives and accessory turnout decoders, with all of their dcc configuration parameters. We explain why computer control can make operation of your dcc layout.
A far better system than leaning over the layout to flick points by hand. Gowerton parkway dcc model railway layout tour youtube. Jul 20, 2018 model railway control panel construction overview. Because of its broad range of features traincontroller is perfectly suited for beginners and professional model railroaders. Jmri is intended as a jumpingoff point for hobbyists who want to control their layouts with a computer. Originally designed as a complete model railroad control solution designed for ease of use, fullycompliant with the national model railroad associations digital command control standards, and based around an atari xlxe classic computer plus custom hardware, atrack has now developed into a fullyfeatured software application running on a. Atrain systems model railroad electronics and digital. Traincontroller is the worldclass software for controlling model railroads with a computer. Within the track design window track elements, signals and point control buttons can be laid out and can also be text labelled.
Just download the setup package, install it and start editing your first track plan. This is another type of model railroad software that you will almost certainly find useful for your train layout not so much for planning purposes, but more for creation of signs, decals, old classic advertisements for your buildings or billboards, simulation of brick or stone walls, stained glass, window treatments, wallpaper, etc. Xtrkcad model railwayrailroad layout design software. Only by using a computer more diverse and secure operation of a model railroad is possible. Cbus debugger and control cbusio ccmr layout editor ccmreditor. Many model railway enthusiasts enjoy the manual input of switching turnouts or having the ability to detect the presence of a train. The cost per point, if using kits for the controllers and mounts, is usually significantly less than commercial point motors. Physical control panel mounted on layout with optional mounting bracket. The latest generation of multiprotocol command station is the ideal control system for locomotives with dcc or motorola decoders and. Thus, there are no hardware restrictions on the number of devices turnouts, signals, lights, crossing mechanisms and other. With the flexible control features servos including full adjustable speed and throw servos are a very good choice for model railway controls. It is sometimes overlooked in the modeling process and created after the layout is complete. A powerful feature of some model railway control software packages, such as railcontroller is the ability to record a range of operations, including running locomotives, setting light and sound functions and operating accessories such as turnouts and signals in realtime. Control software cti model railroad computer control.
Introduced in late 2010, the railmaster is a model railway control software package by hornby. Xtrkcad supports any scale, has libraries of popular brands of turnouts and sectional track plus you add your own easily, can automatically use spiral transition curves when joining track. Freezers the model railway manual and brian lamberts newcomers guide to model railways. There are numerous types and styles of control panels. Atrack for windows atrack is a powerful free extension to complement the facilities of your nce corporation power cab or power pro digital command control system and to assist you in running your roster of locomotives on your model railroad.