MAKING TRAINS RUNA Clinic Presented by BOB VAN CLEEFof the North River RailwayVMODEL

A CLINIC in (4) partsThis clinic will be presented in (4) parts.Part 1 will be a short history showing how the earliest toy trains were powered.Part 2 will trace the development of model railroad power from simple track circuits to sophisticated miniature computer control.Part 3 are a few thought in the direction the future may hold for running trains.Part 4 shows how to build a safe, old-fashioned basic power supply that has been in service for over 30 years.

WHAT MAKES MODEL RAILROADING SO INTERESTING?One answer in a word is: MOTION !Whether pulled by steam, diesel or even straight electric, there is nothing that catches the eye faster than at train winding its way along twin ribbons of steel.Of course something is needed to create this motion.

TODDLER POWERRobert Stevensons Rocket launched world wide attention in 1829 much like Alan Shepards first trip into Space.The Rocket inspired hundreds of simple toys like this cast iron toy train for years afterward.Energetic Young children and future engineers eagerly pushed and ran them across the floor and continue to do so to this day in one form or another.

BOILING WATER, the NEXT POWER SUPPLYRichard Trevithick used Boiling water from a tea kettle, to power his model when patenting his first steam locomotive.Models that appeared shortly after like the Birmingham Dribbler shown here were self-contained and burned powdered coal or coal oil.The term Dribbler was derived from the trail of water that they left behind.Birmingham Dribbler, one of the first carpet railway engines appeared in the 1840s were manufactured in Birmingham, England.

SPRING POWER - CLOCKWORK TRAINSThe next major advance was in 1868 when Edward Ives founded the Ives Manufacturing Company in Connecticut.At first he was a proponent of spring power as he wanted even those who lived in rural areas without electricity to enjoy his trains.Later, he converted to electricity to power his trains.

BIRTH OF THE FIRSTELECTRIC MODEL RAILROADWhile Murray Bacon patented the first electric toy train after the civil war in 1884 it was Robert Finch and Morton Carlisle who manufactured the first commercial electric trains in volume.It was marketed as a complete train set including a locomotive, tracks and a battery.Both inventors originally thought to advertise their miniature motors through the use of miniature trains.No. 1 Finch and Carlisle Trolley was the first electric engine

The FINCH & CARLISLE BATTERYTypical plunge cell circa 1896The plunge battery that came with Finch and Carlisles Complete Electric Railway No.1 was complete but it had to be assembled by the user.Zinc plates could be withdrawn or plunged into a chromite (FeCr2O4) solution between graphite electrodes.This allowed operation in rural areas that might not be wired for electricity.The tracks also had to be assembled by pushing tin strips into the grooves of wooden [tie] spacers.Children played with this?

WHO was JOSHUA L. COWEN?He built his first toy train at age 7 attaching a small motor under a model of a railroad flatcar. He designed a fuse to ignite magnesium powered flashes.It was a dud for photography but the U. S. Navy. bought 24,000 of them in 1898 to detonate underwater mines. He developed but did not perfect little metal tubes that were designed to illuminate flowers in their pots. He gave up and gave this invention to one of his salesman, Conrad Hubert who developed them into flashlights and founded the Eveready battery corporation.Meanwhile, this man developed his own multi-million toy manufacturing corporation.

LIONEL ENTERS THE MARKETYes, that initial L was for Lionel and appeared everywhere on his trains.He also started selling his toys with plunge batteries but soon realized the danger of using corrosive liquid batteries in the home environment.He began selling his toys with four much safer [Eveready] dry cells to provide the power for his trains.Remember that he gave his salesman Conrad Hubert of Eveready Batteries his start

SPEED CONTROLCowen also introduced the rheostat to control the speed of his trains. This helped compensate for various motor voltages, as well as the changes in in battery voltage as they wore down.It was used to run trains at a reasonable speed but was designed to simply be set to a given speed.

ALTERNATING CURRENT (AC)A TIME OF CHANGEThomas Edison, the Wizard of Menlo Park, developed the DC systems used for wiring homes up until about 1903. This however was only feasible in areas of high density of population as voltage was fixed.George Westinghouse developed AC systems to solve this problem.There was a bitter war between the two, but eventually Westinghouse won and AC is used in homes today.

AC WITHOUT A TRANSFORMERAs America became electrified so did the toy train industry.Cowen was the first to sell a few devices to run trains on this new AC but without using transformers.One such system used a 50-candle power lamp and resister in series to lower the 112 volts to safer (?) levels.

This apparently worked but surely it was not exactly UL approved as track voltages could still rise to high levels if no train completed the circuit.

TransformersCowen was also the first to use multivolt transformers for his trains.These first, transformers were designed simply to make connecting to house power safer.Two or more could be and often were connected in tandem for greater power.Transformers however did not work with DC. Also some newer and smaller motors ran only on DC

Note that early transformers were taped (much like using dry cells) to run trains at certain discrete speeds.

MORE COMPLICATIONSNote that while many voltages were possible there was no way to gradually increase or decrease the speed of a train.Yet another problem was with the wide range of voltages supplied to homes.Voltages for locomotive motors also varied wildly.The multi volt transformer provided a way to provide a voltage close to what was required by the motor used.Almost all Lionel transforms had some sort of multiple terminal arrangement both for motors and accessories.

RANGE OF VOLTAGES AVAILABLE

SPEED CONTROL - (AT LAST)

This was Cowens first speed control designed to smoothly adjust the speed of a running engineIt along with the multivolt transformer allowed the operation of a train to start from standing still and gradually progress to full speed for the first time.

FIRST MODERN POWER PACKIt wasnt until much later in 1945 that Lionel made the first transformer with integrated speed control.Toy trains reached their peak in about the 1950s and began a slow but constant decline to a shadow of their former glory.Note the UL symbol proclaiming this to be a safe device.

A PRIMITIVE AUXILLRY CONTROLThis transformer was available a few years later and borrowed a few tricks from the model railroaders.Note that it featured the control of the trains direction and whistle.Unlike most MODEL trains that used DC, the AC power was offset by 1-3 volts to operate the accessories like the whistle.

RELAY COILS BLOCK ACThe transformer could send a signal to the whistle or the direction control but not both at the same timeThe direction simply interrupted the current to the tracks.The whistle signal was passed through a rectifier and resister combination that caused a DC offset to the AC track voltage.The DC relays simply ignored the AC and operated on the DC offset.Not show are the relay contacts to the 1-3v whistle motor.

Lionel Electronic Train Control Lionel sold this radio control system for toy trains in 1945.The vacuum tube transmitter imposed a 3v [FM tone] signal on the AC track power It controlled up to 10 devices including the engine. It could uncouple each car in the train and operate accessories.Dirty track and poor rail joints conspired to create a maintenance nightmare .This system enjoyed only a brief production run.

LIONEL 375 TURNTABLEBy the way, the Lionel corporation made only one style of turntable shortly before going into bankruptcy.It had to be assembled, rested on the table top without a pit. Early versions ran in one direction only. There was no alignment mechanism and if the operator missed the table had to be rotated 180 degrees for another try.The one and only turntable offered by the original Lionel Corporation from 1962 - 1964

END OF LIONEL

The ZW Transformer (1945-1966 is shown here retrofitted with 3rd party digital volt and amp meters. Joshua Cohan passed away in 1965.By 1966 transformers were no longer manufactured.The LIONEL company filed for bankruptcy in 1967 and the company licensed its electric train manufacturing to General Mills in 1969.The Lionel name continued in existence for a short time later but branched out to other products.

A TIME FOR TRANSITIONBack in the 1920s Toy trains were expensive and mostly for wealthy families. They were used most often under the Christmas tree. Trains and accessories were purchased as ready-to-run out of the box. Owners simply arranged everything on a table or floor and connected a few wires.Scenery lacked detail with very little actual modeling.Prototype operation was mostly by vivid imagination only.

THE START OF A NEW HOBBYAs the roaring twenties turned to the big depression. A number of individual hobbyists began to make do and experiment. Some simply built their own models of boats, planes and trains from scratch. Others tinkered with radios and other disciplines. Hardware, Electrical and Specialty stores like Allied Radio, Lafayette and Radio Shack opened their doors for all hobbyists.Parts and supplies suitable for modeling became available outside of the established to train manufacturers through mail order stores like AHC and found in hobby magazines.W. K. Walthers began manufacturing parts exclusively for the railroad modeler and started an empire selling not only his own wares via mail but also those of dozens of other small time manufacturers in a single catalogue.A few hobby stores that specialized in the esoteric needs of modelers began to open locally to satisfy these new interests.

ENTER the MODEL RAILROADEREventually modelers who were more interested true scale, actual detail and realistic operation of model railroads began to gather together in clubs and social groups. These included the first true model railroaders.Several hobby-oriented magazines began to publish modeling articles, first for all types of modelers, then more specifically targeted. The Model Railroader was first published in January, 1934 exclusively for some of these hobbyists.The NMRA was established the next year in 1935 to define standards of model railroads.

BEGINNING OF SCALE OPERATIONNot all model trains were as detailed as their toy counterpart.Operation though was of high importance.Toys had two speeds, Fast and stop.Modelers began to demand a better slow transition from standing still to full speed and back.Operation on a 1934 home model railroad

WHICH IS BETTER, A.C. or D.C.?This common question was asked in the May, 1934 MR Remember that O scale and larger scales were common in this era. HO was more an experiment in miniaturization but had the same starting problem.

ANOTHER TRANSITIONLarger and more complex layouts made the use of Dry cells no longer feasible .Homes first wired with DC were converted to AC by 1930.This left many modelers without a dependable source of DC.Other ways had to be found to supply DC to a railroad systemRemember that solid state devices did not exist yet.

RECTIFIERS A HUGE ADVANCEVacuum tubes however were a well-known common device used in radios to convert AC into DC inexpensively. Modelers began to salvage and use radio parts to build their own DC power supplies.It was soon discovered that inserting a switch to remove one half of this circuit would produce a pulse power that made engine starts even smoother.

OTHER USES FOR RADIO TUBESTubes were also used in model railroads for many control applications such as shown by this block control system.These all used some combination of capacitors, coils or resisters to generate a specific frequency or tuned circuit.It was these separate frequencies that allowed independent control of various devices.This was a prevalent feature where multiple trains were operated on the same main line.Many model railroad articles featured this type of circuit.

SOLID STATE RECTIFIERSThe introduction of Selenium or dry plate rectifiers in the mid 1930s made the conversion of AC to DC much easier and less expensive.DC yielded twice as much power as AC due to the power factor of DC but AC produced smoother starts.Complete power supply kits became popular in magazine advertisements.

DC PULSE POWERSelenium and later the introduction of silicon and solid state devices made building smaller, and less expensive power supplies possible.

DC with Pulse power became a popular option for operation for intermittent slow speed operation.

It allowed extremely slow starts and had the advantage of actually burnishing dirt deposits from the wheels and rails thus further adding to even better operation.

Engine motors, unfortunately, tended to overheat damaging the magnets. Also, running mechanisms in smaller scales could also suffer from excessive wear.

LEGACY DC It took many years for some urban homes to convert from DC to AC. Modelers had to cope with methods to convert high voltage DC to safe levels.The use of batteries and battery chargers was common on home layouts. (note the capacitor used to level line surges).Some Clubs and larger layouts used motor / generator pairs for power.

FIRST COMMON WIRING SYSTEMVery few changes were made in propulsion power supplies between 1935 and 1965Several simple Cab/Block control schemes came into vogue and was used by most modelers. Signals were more realistic looking but only very simple signaling systems were used on most home layouts. TOWER SYSTEM MOST COMMON ON CLUB LAYOUTS

BINARY SCALE RAILROADINGBoard games such Avalon s 1958 DISPATCHER became popular during this time. This game presented a reasonably realistic scenario of running multiple trains with possible conflicts of schedule. The Microsoft Train Simulator followed several years later as computers began to become popular in 2001 to present the operation of a locomotive from the engineers perspective.

COMMON GROUNDSIt should be understood that many computer hobbyists have always been interested in computerized train control as shown by magazines such as this July 77 issue of BYTE magazine.Back then a typical system used a 8250 UART with a 8080 CPU to send packets of data to modems and hundreds of other devices. DCC uses this same scheme to communicate with decoders today.Many processors today maintain the same functionality as part of their architecture The only difference is there are now a many more different types devices in use.

COMPUTERIZED LALYOUT DESIGNSandia Software created CADrail in 1992 to help design model railroads in both 2D and 3D views. Newer versions include simulators that allow a cab ride view of the resulting layout.Each track section or other object was defined mathematically with all features digitally stored in a database.NORTH RIVER RAILWAY

MORE LAYOUT DESIGNING TOOLSTrainPlayer is among many other another computer-aided design (CAD) applications available today to design and simulate train operation. It has add-ons for all types of tracks, engines, cars and scenery. Complete virtual layouts are also available as is a control panel to run your virtual trains.Several other programs exist each with their own special features.

DIGITAL IMAGESMost COMPUTER ASSISTED DESIGN (CAD) systems used to design layouts and train simulators use INITIAL GRAPHICS EXCHANGE SPECIFICATIONS (IGES) to create images. (Remember these two terms)This world standard format was originally used with numeric control machines to fabricate parts.Today this allows the interchange of any computer generated 2D or 3D images into surprisingly realistic renderings.P.S. This technology is also used to produce cartoons.

GE ASTRACMeanwhile, back in the 1960s, General Electric tried to enter the home automating market in the mid-60s with this Automatic Simultaneous Train Control system.It used frequencies in the range of 100-255kHz to control trains.Five channels were supported but it was still a analog system, not digital in nature. It used Silicon Controlled rectifiers (SCRs) to control the motor and was very expensive.Voltage spikes on dirty tracks had an unfortunate tendency to damage the voltage sensitive parts and the capacitance between the rails caused frequency drift problems over long distances.

DIGITRACK 1600 / CTC-16 / DIGIPAC 316CTC-16 as constructed from 1978 MR article. The Digitrack 1600 was built from 1972 to 1976.Modelers could build the CTC-16 system (based on the Digitrack 1600 ) from articles appearing in the 1978 Model Railroader. Both used pulses riding on constant DC but were analog in nature.The article was the only one to show the modeler how to build their own command control system.Digipac 316 was the commercial version of CTC-16

SUNSET VALLEYFrom Bruce Chubbs article of Sunset Valley system as explained in Feb 85 MROne railroad club used the CTC-16 in conjunction with a Dispatcher and Heathkit H-8 Computer for operating sessions.Wireless throttles were used so the engineer could run by the signals.Note the switch position and track occupancy detectors used to provide feedback to the dispatcher and engineer.

Hornby ZERO 1The English Zero1 appeared on the scene in 1979 and was the first true digital system being based on a modified TMS1000 microprocessor. It was extremely versatile and contained most features found in DCC today including clocks and accessories. It was expandable although these features were all implemented in a different manner.Dirty track had only a very minor effect on its reliability.It did not gain wide acceptance mainly due to its high price but was a for-runner for the DCC system.

Onboard and PSI DynatrolTwo more systems soon followedThe Onbard system was more expensive than Dynatrol.It featured sound and wireless throttles used to eliminate the need for a control panel.Dynatrol featured momentum and brakes.Both became very popular systems but still were basically analog devices and considered to be command control systems but neither were true DCC systems.

COMMAND CONTROLThis was a time when chaos reigned supreme.Dozens of various systems appeared with various features and success.Engines could no longer be used on one layout and brought to another.If a decoder needed installing or something went wrong it was difficult to get help.

Command control in the 80s

LENZ, MRKLIN and ARNOLD This digital system by Lenz Elektronik was developed under contract for two German manufacturers, Mrklin and Arnold.They were marketed in 1989 and later submitted to the NMRAs DCC working group.Digital Command Control proposed standard was published in the October 1993 issue of Model Railroader

NMRA and DCCThe NMRA eventually licensed the DCC protocol from Lenz and extended it as an open architecture.NMRA S-9.1 specifies the electrical standard while S-9.2 specifies the communications standard.DCC does not specify the protocol used between the DCC command station and other components such as additional throttles. A variety of proprietary standards exist but command stations from one vendor are generally not compatible with another.

DCC CAN TRANSMIT AND RECEIVE DATALike computers of old, DCC systems communicate with devices much like a modem. Packets of information are broadcast to all connected devices. A device can be a locomotive, signal, turnout, sound generator or several other devices too numerous to mention here.A devices will respond only to a packet with a matching address.Once packets have been sent the DCC controller will pause to see if there is a response request from any of the devices.If so, the controller will process these responses before sending more packets of information.

ADVANCED DCCMost modelers today are used to Running multiple trains via remote control.Controlling various lights and sound systems are also common additions.There are also decoders for controlling turnouts, signals, reversing loops.Just coming into use are train detectors used to add further control to the system.

DCC for TURNTABLESOne of many ways to control a turntable using DCC uses (2) decoders

In-System Programming (ISP) The introduction of inexpensive EEPROM [flash] memory in 1993 beginning with Microchips PIC devices made In-System Programming possible.This allows modelers to modify many characteristics of their DCC system. This programmer connects a computer to a decoder for direct programming to change some of the characteristics of its operation.Only certain manufacturer-defined properties can be changed in this way .

ADVANCED DCC CAPABILITIESSome controllers include provisions for programming a decoder while engine remains on the tracksNMRA DCC standards are still open ended to allow advanced features to be developed.Actual standards have not yet been defined and vary between manufacturers, however One major advantage of ISP is in the programming of a locomotive.Here, a locomotive can simply be placed on a section of track and programmed without opening the engine or taking it apart in any way.

CHANGING THROTTLE VOLTAGESMotors speeds, for instance, are NOT a linier function of track voltage. Motors start at some voltage higher than zero due to friction and accelerate at different rates as their speed increases.Decoders can manipulate the translation between speed control and the actual speed of a locomotive to improve speed control.Stand alone DCC programmer usedfor programming engines

ANOTHER DECODER FEATUREOne big advantage of DCC it a built-in type of pulse power that blends to pure DC as the motor speed increases.Again, the transition from the AC pulse when starting to the pure DC once the train gathers speeds varies between motors.The magnitude and duration of the AC can be varied in some systems.

WIRELESS DCCSeveral radio/DCC throttles exist today.Some proprietary throttle systems are also compatible with DCC.Several radio control controllers are designed for signals, turnout control and other trackside accessories.There are even decoders to detect the passing of a train or other events.

CAMERAS IN RAILROADINGTOP - Self-contained FLY camera takes movies or single frames at time intervals.Middle audio and video images are sent to receiverBOTTOM Camera from cell phone capable of streaming video.All three can capture some unusual views of a layout.Relative size of three popular cameras for model railroad use.

FIRST CAMERA USESecurity cameras were first used to see tracks hidden in tunnels and staging yards.This image shows a 3-way split screen.This type of setup was used mostly on very large home or club layouts.Cameras have been used in model railroading since about 1950 and finding more uses all the time.

The FLY-DVThis self-contained camera made an ugly carload but it took good pictures. Note the range of focus for different depths. This made it possible to take pictures that a visitor simply could not see such the inside of this lumber yard.

FIRST ENGINEERS VIEW

Telecamera-AU-103Today, cameras the size used in cell phones can be easily mounted inside a locomotive with plenty of room to spare and will stream real-time pictures to a receiver as the train moves along the tracks.

INTERNET CONTROLA club in England set up a very simple layout sometime around 1980 to be run via the internet.Anyone from around the world could connect, and send commands to actually run the trains.

The view from a camera was streamed back to the user. Simple commands were used to throw switches and control the engines speed and direction.No cars were used but this did set an interesting precedent in modeling via remote control.

BACK TO BATTERIESThis picture may show a garden railway but even HO scale automobiles can be run in this manner.Lithium batteries have recently made an old way of running trains more feasible.Clubs like the Dead rail society, as the name implies, use batteries, not the rails, to supply power for trains.Radio control (R/C) like those used to fly model airplanes provide the signals used to control the locomotives

DEAD RAIL PLUS DCCCommercial transmitters and receivers are available to form an alternate DCC signal connection normally provided through rails.

MOVING FREIGHTFrom simple push toys to electronic marvels model railroading has come a long way over the years.So far this clinic has concentrated on moving trains.Now lets turn our attention to moving freight, first in the real world then in the virtual world.This was, after all, the whole purpose for railroads.

TOY FREIGHT MOVED AT WHIMCattle moved on and off the car with the push of a button.Lionel manufactured many devices for loading and unloading all kinds of freight cars like this stock car.All of these however were manufactured after WW-II .Attempts to actually simulate the defined movement of freight or traffic were rarely used.These were, after all, just toys.

MOVING THE FREIGHTModel railroaders, on the other hand, developed many systems for simulated traffic and car movements.As early as 1934 one primitive waybill system shipped a standard gauge box car from Belleville, N.J. to Milwaukee, Wisconsin via a waybill system.Granted, The move was assisted by 30 cents worth of Uncle Sams postage stamps but it was done with a very real waybill.This HO box car travelled over 1000 miles on a single waybill thanks to the USPS.

REUSABLE WAYBILLSWaybills generally defined the car type, Shipper and destination.Each card shown here listed the shipper on one side and the destination on the other.Dozens of systems for simulating traffic have been developed over the years since.Most movements were pre-defined or assigned at the whim of a dispatcher.These took many forms like the waybills shown here, Switch lists, tagging cars or some combination of all three.

FIRST RANDOMIZING SYSTEMSThis early traffic generation system used a roulette wheel to determine pickups and setouts as well as the car type to be used.Other systems were based on cards that could be shuffled and dealt to define consists.

CARS SOMETIMES TAGGED.These cars to be set out or picked up can be identified by colored tags on the carsSome systems identified cars to be set out or picked up using colored tags on the cars.These could be thumb tacks, tape or colored metal strips. One system even placed magnets inside the car that held the metallic bills of lading to the car side

SWITCHLISTS AND WAYBILLSToday, computers are also used to generate waybills, switch-lists and other documents to simulate traffic.Commercial packages are available for a non-savvy computer users to make their own.These cards usually follow the car as it travels from place to place.

RANDOMIZED TRAFFIC GENERATORSimplistic switch-lists can be incorporated on computers using less than 4K memory.More sophisticated programs with fairly complex traffic generators use less than 12KThe main control panel of the North River includes a traffic simulator.The dispatcher steps through each move and places two or more color-coded tags on cars. The dispatcher must plan the most efficient use of available cars.Switching crews first spot, wait a day, then move the car to the next destination or return it to the nearest yard.

WHAT DOES THE FUTURE HOLD?The following is one modelers concept of only a few of the future possibilities.

So far we have seen a lot of amazing technology in model railroading.What would happen if we combined all of these things in a single super layout?We could build a [virtual] layout to run our trains throughout all 50 states of the union and then some. Our trains could even travel world wide.

CONSIDER GAMES ON AN IPODGames have a scene that simply scrolls along as Mario makes his way through the maze.Mario himself can move anywhere on the screen but remains almost constant in size.Hitting the various boxes cause certain actions such as adding treasure of life to Mario.Following a train will use the same actions.Poor Mario has to fight his way through a maze of poisonous mushrooms and leap to hit boxes and expose a whole range of prizes.

GAME vs. TRAINSThe game scene would be replaced by a track schematic of course.We can replace Mario with a train or some simple symbol.Those magic boxes would become simplified controls to run the train.

PLAYING THE GAMELike any game, running a train by remote control would require some set-upUsers would have to connect to the system and Trains would have to be set up and identified.Dispatchers and yard hands would have to help train crews do the actual switchingGame setup screens would be replaced by traffic generators etc.There would also have to be a way to handle lost or missing trains.

ONE POSSIBLE APPROACHFirst, some sort of universal CAD system should be used to store the configuration of layouts.This system must be inexpensive enough for a user to create a track plan and place symbols to be used to trigger certain events.IGES is an international standard capable for doing this.No images are used. All information is digitally defined and stored.

COMMUNICATIONSImages from the visited layout are sent to the owners IPod.The owners IPod sends control messages to the Central Computer.The Central Computer sends DCC control commands to the visited layout and maintains any messages between the owners IPod and the visited system.

BUILDING A SUPER LAYOUTA database would have to be designed of courseThe day of the lone developer is long past.This would have to be a team effort and gradually developed over a period of time.

Now ACCESS THIS WITH AN IPODIPod Applications can be written to send and receive information wirelessly between three devices.This application can be programmed by the user to send control signals to a train (and trackside accessories) and view the track from both the engineers and the dispatchers viewpoint.A conference call would be used to connect both the owners IPod and the visited layout to the main database.

IPOD CONTROLA Camera would download an engineers view image in real time to provide a way to control trains miles away much like a game program. Touching the Red circle would throw the turnout

SCHEMATIC VIEWChanging to a dispatcher view would give a better over all view to control turnouts and to see the general surroundings.Note the red bar to indicate the trains location and the short yellow vertical bar which when pressed would throw the turnout.

CAR INTERCHANGETrains, with or without cars, would be shipped, mailed or hand carried from Owners layout and placed on an interchange track (if visiting a home layout) or in a small marshaling yard (for a club).Cars could also be shelved and virtually shipped. The visited layout would use a similar surrogate car used instead.

OTHER EXCHANGESThis would open up a renewal of a several activities.Car exchanges could become actual car swaps such that the train could return to the owner with a whole new train of cars.Likewise the owner train Owner and visited club could swap passes, stock certificates or any other agreed upon cargo.

EVEN MORE POSSABILITIESA visitor could simply watch from the engines camera while someone else takes control and enjoy the scenery. 2-way communication would allow the train crew and visitor to discuss the highlights and local operations.

AND FINALLY the visitor could run his train watching for trackside and signals from a train crew that follows the trainOr help may be passed from one to another in sort of a tower control system from one yard crew to another.Either way, a whole new dimension would be open for model railroading.

THANKS FOR WATCHINGThank you for watching this clinic. I hope you enjoyed watching one modelers daydreams. If you did, here are a few more you may like.STALL MOTORSTRAIN DETECTORTURNTABLE HISTORY & OPERATIONBACKDROPSBUILD A SIGNALBUILD A HEAVY FLAT CARKANGAROO QUIZ ON ESOTERIC INFORMATIONPlease visit my website at: http://www.northriverrailway.net

Running the Ultimate

For More Information

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_model_railway_control_systems

http://www.dccwiki.com/DCC_History

http://kb.digitrax.com/index.php?a=704 Digitrack home page

http://www.s-cab.com/ S-CAB Stanton club Radio Control and Battery Power for Model Railroads

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=tR9Cwt03KlA Onboard Camera View

This presentation has been brought to you by the North River Railway

Bob Van Cleef46 BroadwayCoventry, CT 06238http://www.northriverrailway.netTHE END

MAKING MODEL TRAINS RUN

A HISTORIC CLINIC SHOWS HOW MODEL TRAINS HAVE BEEN RUN IN THE PAST, PRESENT AND A LOOK INTO THE FUTURE.

This clinic begins by follows the various means of powering model trains from the earliest days. It then shows many innovations Lionel [toy] trains contributed to early days modeling and continues with some of the modern control systems touching on DCC. This clinic concludes with a look at a possible way to actually run your train from Boston to San Francisco with an IPod.

89 SLIDES, APPROX 45 MINUTES

See PDF or PP presentation on: http://www.northriverrailway.net/

BUILD THIS SAFE POWER SUPPLYFeatures include:Steel enclosure to reduce electrical shock hazard and fire preventionModular construction to facilitate maintenanceEasy inexpensive construction10 transformers provide 450 watts of power.

3 REASONS FOR AN ENCLOSUREOld-fashioned enclosure for a vacuum tube amplifier provides excellent protectionThe wood in your layout is kindling for a bond-fire. One spark can destroy a layout.It reduces the chance for electrical shock hazard.It is a quick and easy way to mount and protect your transformers.Think of an enclosure as a sort of fuse box for the railroad.

SHELVESShelves are all the same sizeSeparate modules are screwed in place and early removed.5/8 lathboard is available in most lumber store and comes in handy for a multitude of projects.Make the modules first, then make the shelves as required. Drill for screws that will hold the modules in place

SHORT CIRCUIT PROTECTIONThe circuit breaker may cost a bit more but it gives the best protection. It also has the highest initial cost.

FUSE MODULEThe 1.5 amp circuit breaker will trip at about 450 watts at 120v.The green LED lights when the breaker is set and current is flowing.The red LED lights when the breaker is tripped preventing current from flowingNeither LED is on when no current is present at the input.CAUTION! 120v AC exposed here

ABOUT TRANSFORMERSTYPICAL SCEMATICOf multi-tap transformer

PANEL MOUNT TRANSFORMER

PC BOARD MOUNT TRANSFORMER

POWER BOARD ON SHELF

STANDARD POWER SUPPLY

SMALL POWER FOR WORKBENCH

12V POWER SUPPLY

BUZZER

DUAL SWITCHING SUPPLY

BATTERY TESTER

BATTERY TEST AND CAB CONTROL

SIMPLE BATTERY TEST CIRCUIT

POWER FOR ENTIRE RAILROAD

*Birmingham Dribbler or carpet railway describes a type of very early model railway.[1] It is a bit of a misnomer, as the railway featured a model live steam railway locomotive, but no track the locomotive was simply run across the floor. In some cases, the front wheels were even made steerable so that they could be run in a circle without track. They first appeared in the 1840s and became very popular Victorian model railway toys.The steam locomotives were very simple, usually made in brass, with a pair of simple oscillating cylinders driving the main wheels. They were basically a boiler mounted on wheels, although simple decoration (usually bands of lacquer) was sometimes applied. Track was not used the boiler was filled with water, the burner lit, and when steam was being produced, the locomotive was placed on the floor and allowed to run until either the water or fuel ran out or the engine crashed into the furniture. Very quickly, after a number had exploded, simple safety valves were fitted.

*Edward Riley Ives (September 13, 1839 1918) was an American toymaker from Connecticut. He married Jennie Blakeslee in 1866, and with the help of his father in law and brother in law, he founded the Ives Manufacturing Company two years later in 1868 in Plymouth, Connecticut. It became one of the largest toy companies in the United States during the 19th century and the early decades of the 20th century. Late in his career, he turned the company over to his son, Harry Ives.*Electric Trains - Considered More of a Collectible than an Antique An American, Murray Bacon, patented the first electric toy train in 1884, and Carlyle and Finch manufactured the first American electric train in 1897. Other companies, including Ives, quickly followed suit120 years ago today, Morton Carlisle and Robert Finch launched their own business in Cincinnati. They repaired electric motors in a small shop that they had purchased from The General Electric Company. In 1894, they began manufacturing small electric motors of their own. As Joshua Lionel Cowen would also do a few years later, Carlisle and Finch sought new applications for their motor, and decided to produce a miniature train.Carlisle & Finch marketed their first toy train outfit in 1896. It was a 7" long brass four-wheel trolley that ran on a 36" diameter circle of 2" gauge track. The buyer also had to assemble his own track by pressing metal strap rails into grooves on wooden ties. At least 1500 sets were produced. The first ones had three-rail track, but C&F soon converted to two-rail operation.

*The "Number 1 Complete Electric Railway" sold for $3.50. It was powered by a series of "plunge cells" that the customer assembled from zinc and graphite electrodes and a "chromite" (FeCrSO4) solution.

a voltaic battery so arranged that the plates can be plunged into, or withdrawn from, the exciting liquid at pleasure.

On the glass jar of this battery is impressed the words "Novelty Electrical Company of Phila." The 1896 catalogue of the Chicago Laboratory Supply & Scale Co. notes that this is a "Grenet Battery, American Form, 1 quart size, $2.00". The French form has the bulbous glass jar shown in the examples above. *He gave the company away to work on model trains. This foolish man was Joshua L. Cowen. That's him in the 1954 photograph on the right. Cowen was your typical turn of the century inventor. Lots of ideas - some that worked, some that didn't. His first major invention was intended to revolutionize photography. He designed a fuse to ignite magnesium powered flashes, but the invention was a dud. His best customer for his fuses was the U. S. Navy. They didn't want to take pictures with his fuses, however. They bought 24,000 of them in 1898 to detonate underwater mines. His next creation was the development of little metal tubes that were designed to illuminate flowers in their pots. These illuminated flower pots were difficult to perfect (if he could have gotten them to dance to music, he would have earned a fortune). Cowen became bored with his flower pot lights and in 1898 gave the project away to one of his salesmen - some guy named Conrad Hubert. Hubert could care less about the lighted flower pots. Instead, he liked the device Cowen developed to operate them - a light bulb and dry cell battery combination that had a 30 day life. Hubert took Cowen's battery operated device and developed it into the flashlight. The company that Cowen gave away was named the American Eveready Company, and it earned Hubert nearly six million dollars in two decades (a large sum of money for the turn of the century). When Hubert died, he left behind a $15,000,000 estate, virtually all earned from Cowen's invention. One would think that Cowen would feel like a real loser for giving an idea like Eveready batteries away for nothing, but he actually came up with a better idea that earned him even more money.

*Cowen's first battery powered electric "train" was really just a wagon that he intended to be a sales pitch for whatever was displayed upon it. The merchandise didn't sell, but the cars sure did. Lionel was in the model train business.

**Thomas Edison "The Wizard of Menlo Park developed the DC systems used to wire Homes up until about 1903. This however was only feasible in areas of high density of population.George Westinghouse developed the AC to solve this problem.There was a bitter war between the two but Westinghouse won and AC is used in homes today.

*The whistle works by putting a DC offset onto the AC going to the track.

The relay is an electromagnetic coil energized by Direct Current, or DC **The Lionel Electronic Train Control system consists of a one watt transmitter and a number of small receivers mounted under or within a piece of rolling stock.The system first appeared as the 4109WS Lionel Electronic Set, in 1946. The set included a massive cast metal 671R Turbine (based on the Pennsylvania S2 Turbine locomotive) for motive power, tender with whistle, a boxcar, gondola, ore-dump car and caboose. This was the second major postwar innovation from Lionel, after the smoke unit introduced in 1945.While the PRR built only one S2, Lionel built a considerable quantity of the model 671 locomotive. The R in the part number indicated Radio.Each car could uncouple anywhere, with the press of a button. The set was a technical wonder, and a maintenance nightmare. Troublesome operations and a $75 price tag (about $900 today) resulted in the system being discontinued in 1949. A sizeable problem was dirty track and poor rail joints. To counter this, stainless steel was employed for track and axles. The set was withdrawn in 1949, a victim of its high retail cost and poor sales. These sets do command a good price on the collector market, but are rarely seen in operation.Read more about Lionel's Electronic Control on Google BooksDetailsTransmitterThe transmitter was built around a 117N7GT vacuum tube that functions as an oscillator and a rectifier. Ten buttons controlled the operation of the oscillator, which produced RF signals from 230 to 350 kHz. This signal, measuring about 3 volts, was superimposed on the 60 Hz AC track power.Receiver

*The Motorized Turntable No. 375 would be issued when sales had been depressed for several years at Lionel. The steam era on the prototype railroads had effectively ended in 1959, and perhaps to reminisce, or to just offer something new to their dealers, Lionel issued this accessory in 1962. It would continue to be available for two additional years.*

Joshua Lionel Cowen passed away in 1965 at the age of 88. Another American legend, the venerable Twentieth Century Limited, made its last run in 1967. That same year Lionel filed for bankruptcy. The company licensed its electric train manufacturing to breakfast-cereal conglomerate General Mills in 1969

*Up until about 1920 toy trains were expensive and mostly for wealthy families only. They were the only ones who could afford the cost of manufactured toys.

*

A toy train is a toy that represents a train. It is distinguished from a model train by an emphasis on low cost[1] and durability, rather than scale modeling. A toy train can be as simple as a pull toy that does not even run on track, or it might be operated by clockwork or a battery. Some toy trains blur the line between the two categories, running on electric power and approaching accurate scale.**May 34 MR*This simplified drawing does not show the connections to the cathode that were required to make tubes work.***1935 to 1945 saw the concept of block wiring expanding and most attention went to developing signals and detailed equipmentThere were still a few modelers in houses wired for DC with the need for better ways to created DC.Clubs often went to motor-generatorsOne*Dispatcher(1958) Railroad game of train dispatching. Players attempt to most efficiently move their trains over competing railroad systems. First- and second-class trains move by timetable, third class freights are player dispatched.Avalon #503 game for 1-2 players (1958 - 1965)

SimilarWikipediaLoading...Microsoft Train Simulator (occasionally referred to as MSTS) is a train simulator for Microsoft Windows, released in July 2001*

The 8250 UART (universal asynchronous receiver/transmitter) is *Sandia Software CADrail The original railroad CAD program. CADrail has all the extra features that will satisfy advanced users. Download USD: $60 or Printed Docs & CD USD $100 + shipping. **ASTRAC Aging Transport Systems Rulemaking Advisory Committee

The ASTRAC or Automatic Simultaneous Train Control system was Introduced by General Electric in the mid 1960s. With aim at home automating market

Used Frequency Modulated signals (from 100 to 255kHz) on the track to control receivers in the locomotive. The receivers were tuned to a specific frequency, or channel. Not digital, but analog in nature. Five channels were supported, GE promised further improvements, such as more channels, in a future version. GE employed Silicon Controlled Rectifiers (SCRs) to control the motor.*

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_model_railway_control_systemshttp://www.dccwiki.com/DCC_History

Digitrack 1600 is one of the first generation digital model railway control system developed and marketed by Chuck Ballmer and Dick Robbins in 1972 - 76.[8]Digitrack 1600 was analog in nature, with pulses riding on a constant DC track voltage. The width and timing of the pulse determined speed and direction.

CTC-16 is a second-generation design based on the Digitrack 1600, a commercial system marketed from 1972 to 1976.[9] The CTC-16 digital train control system is totally compatible with the Digitrack 1600.

In 1978-90, Model Railroader magazine published a series of articles on how to build your own command control system. The system, called the CTC-16, could control up to 16 different trains, all on the same track. Many other companies used the same method to control 32 or 64 trains.No DIY articles followed

Model Railroader Magazine August 1972/Digitrack 1600intended to do, bringing happiness to model railroads.

*Sunset Valley, Bruce Chubb Feb 85 Heathkit H-8*

Hornby Zero 1 a forerunner to the modern digital model railway control system, developed by Hornby in the late 1970s. It was based around the TMS1000 4-bit microprocessor. The Zero 1 system offered simultaneous control of up to 16 locomotives and 99 accessories. The Hammant & Morgan digital train control system is totally compatible with the Zero One, the master controller,"HM5000 Advanced Power Transmitter" boasted TWO sliders, of 14 steps each, direction LED's power LED bar graph, timer clocks, digital display of locos under control, readout of accessories controlled,& ability to attach TWO "Hi-Tec Speed Transmitter" slave controllers HM5500, Zero 1 was released in late 1979.A multiple train control system named Zero 1 was introduced in late 1979. This control system was a forerunner to the Digital Command Control (DCC) system, an NMRA open standard, which appeared in the 1990s. Though an important milestone, Zero 1 was not widely successful; both the controller units and the decoder modules required for the locomotives and accessories were expensive, but with a clean track and well serviced locos the system worked more or less as advertised.The Zero 1 system supplied the track with a 20V square wave at the local mains frequency (50 Hz in the UK, 60 Hz in the US) with a 32-bit control word replacing every third cycle. The decoder module in the locomotive would switch either the positive or the negative half-cycle of the square wave to the motor according to the desired direction of travel. During the transmission of the control word, it would remain switched off. Speed control was achieved by varying the width of the portion of the half-cycle which was switched, in 14 steps.This system allowed for straightforward implementation with the semiconductor technology of the time, but had the disadvantage that the power supplied to the motor was highly discontinuous - as can be seen from the description above, it took the form of square pulses of a maximum width of 10ms, recurring at intervals which alternated between 20ms and 40ms (for a 50 Hz mains supply). This caused the running of the motor to be extremely noisy and rough. Fine control of a locomotive at low speed was also difficult, partly due to the rough running, partly due to the inherent coarseness of a 14-step speed scale, and partly because there was a significant delay between operator input to the controller and response from the locomotive.*Power Systems Inc., introduced Dynatrol in 1978, now sold as Classic Dynatrol. Dynatrol is an 18 channel system (originally only 15 channels were offered), using a track voltage of 13.5VDC, and a frequency shift reversing system. It used audio tones to transmit commands. Additional channels were planned to control sound effects.

Dynatrol uses a supersonic carrier, with modulation of the duty cycle to transmit information to a pre-programmed receiver in the locomotive. Each throttle has its own oscillator and modulator, which are controlled by the throttle and brake controls. The carrier frequency is determined by a precision resistor installed in a small plug, called a channel plug. Reversing the locomotive is accomplished by phase shifting the carrier slightly. Receivers were available in various sizes that could fit N scale and larger locomotives. Multiple power supplies ($55 in 1979) and blocks were needed to reach the 15 locomotive capacity of the system.Channels were selected using key plugs. Momentum and braking effects were also available.The system has been on the market since 1978. Dynatrol and Onboard were among the most popular command control systems in use.A basic direct or non-momentum cab cost about $65, and a full function cab was $75. Receivers cost from $50 to $60 each.

The Onboard Locomotive Sound and Control system, by Keller Engineering, offered 20 (originally ten) channels, with a constant 12VDC on the track. It used audio tones to control the locomotives. A base system was about $376 (1986). Wireless throttles were also available.A typical starter set came with a 5A power supply, a 16 channel handheld controller, two 1A motor controllers and the manual. The handhelds generated both throttle and sound commands with crystal controlled oscillators. They used a keypad, with keys for the sound effects, throttle up and down. Bringing the locomotive to a stop and holding the throttle key would reverse the direction. The keys were color coded, and each handheld could control two locomotives. Signals from the throttles were fed to a mixer, each mixer could support four channels generated by two handhelds.The receivers were called throttles, and were installed in a locomotive or dummy unit.The Onboard system claimed to eliminate the need for control panels and block wiring.Onboard offered steam locomotive exhaust sounds, bell and whistle. For Diesels, it featured a variable engine RPM exhaust, bell and six chime air horn sounds, plus constant lighting. Another optional feature was directional lighting.Another accessory was a signaling system, for use with lights or semaphores.Technical details:Motor controllers available in 500mA, 1, 2, and 4A versions, and also for garden railways. Built in memory, with pure DC out at full speed.Steam Sound unit Optical exhaust sync (or magnetic for outdoor use), automatic 2 stroke air pump, adjustable 6 chime whistle, bell. Diesel Sound unitExhaust controlled by motor voltage. Selectable 6 chime air horn, bell. The synthesizer as Onboard called it was usually installed in a dummy, and powered by a rechargeable battery maintained by the track power. Reverb unitUp to 100mSec of delay, with controllable echo repetition. All sound units featured a 1 W amplifier.RadioA radio adapter was also available, using a Futaba unit, which was directly usable in large locomotives.

*Command control in 1964*History and Protocols[edit]A digital command control system was developed (under contract) by Lenz Elektronik GmbH of Germany in the 1980s for two German model railway manufacturers, Mrklin and Arnold (models). The first digital decoders that Lenz produced appeared on the market early 1989 for Arnold (N) and mid 1990 for Mrklin (Z, H0 and 1; Digital=).[1] Mrklin and Arnold exited the agreement over patent issues, but Lenz has continued to develop the system. In 1992 Stan Ames, who later chaired the NMRA/DCC Working Group, investigated the Mrklin/Lenz system as possible candidate for the NMRA/DCC standards. When the NMRA Command Control committee requested submissions from manufacturers for its proposed command control standard in the 1990s, Mrklin and Keller Engineering submitted their systems for evaluation.[2] The committee was impressed by the Mrklin/Lenz system and had settled on digital early in the process. The NMRA eventually licensed the protocol from Lenz and extended it. The system was later named Digital Command Control. The proposed standard was published in the October 1993 issue of Model Railroader magazine prior to its adoption.*The DCC protocol is the subject of two standards published by the NMRA: S-9.1 specifies the electrical standard, and S-9.2 specifies the communications standard. Several recommended practices documents are also available.The DCC protocol defines signal levels and timings on the track. DCC does not specify the protocol used between the DCC command station and other components such as additional throttles. A variety of proprietary standards exist, and in general, command stations from one vendor are not compatible with throttles from another vendor.

*

*In-System Programming (ISP) is the ability of some programmable logic devices, microcontrollers, and other embedded devices to be programmed while installed in a complete system, rather than requiring the chip to be programmed prior to installing it into the system.

In 1993, the introduction of an inexpensive EEPROM [flash] memory allowed microcontrollers (beginning with the Microchip PIC16x84)[citation needed] to be electrically erased quickly without an expensive package as required for EPROM, allowing both rapid prototyping, and In System Programming. (EEPROM technology had been available prior to this time, but the earlier EEPROM was more expensive and less durable, making it unsuitable for low-cost mass-produced microcontrollers.) The same year, Atmel introduced the first microcontroller using Flash memory, a special type of EEPROM.[3] Other companies rapidly followed suit, with both memory types.

Universal Asynchronous Receiver/Transmitter (UART) block makes it possible to receive and transmit data over a serial line with very little load on the CPU. Dedicated on-chip hardware also often includes capabilities to communicate with other devices (chips) in digital formats such as IC and Serial Peripheral Interface (SPI).

Universal Asynchronous Receiver/Transmitter (UART) block makes it possible to receive and transmit data over a serial line with very little load on the CPU. Dedicated on-chip hardware also often includes capabilities to communicate with other devices (chips) in digital formats such as IC and Serial Peripheral Interface (SPI).

cc********Nov 89 MR had computerized switch list programSelected car, from, to and printed waybill*Now lets think about how these ideas could be combined in the future.Think globally.

***A real time Camera view is downloaded to provide the user a way to view and control trains much like a game program.Touching the Red circle would throw the turnout

*** *Bob Van Cleef46 BroadwayCoventry, CT 06238http://www.northriverrailway.net

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