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The Heatherburn Garden RailwayElectronics By Dave Bentley |
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Control of the layout is conventional DC i.e.. train speed is controlled by variation of the voltage of the track. Whilst DCC was considered it does have a few drawbacks. One is that a high frequency track cleaner can not be used in conjunction with DCC. Another factor was the wiring involved. DCC is marketed as only requiring two wires to the track however reading up this seems not to be the case most modellers running a 'bus' cable around the layout then soldering 'dropper' wires between the bus and the track. On the heatherburn line I have found that I can run trains using conventional control without much in the way of voltage drop. I will however be installing power feeds around the layout in conjunction with the automatic control systems. On the heatherburn most of the signalling system is based around latching relays. To build a simple latch circuit two relays are used one to latch on and one to break to supply resetting the latch. For the signalling on the main lines I have used four relays that latch on/off in sequence as the train activates the reed switches between the rails. This has allowed me to have some four aspect colour light signals. The latching principal has also been used to control the power to the track. Trains leaving the indoor section are controlled as far as the first station byerley parkway. As the train approaches the platform it triggers a reed switch that activates a timer module. This then cuts the supply to the track stopping the train. When the time is up the signal changes to green and the train moves off this time controlled by a second controller/power supply. The switch over between the two controllers is done automaticly. Trains travelling the other way again automaticly switch between the controllers as they make their way indoors. The railway is designed as an out and back with trains travelling from the terminus in the garage out and around the garden returning to the garage on a lower level. Here they enter a set of automated storage sidings. Here they await their turn before returning back in the oppiset direction. The sidings are again controlled via reed switches and relays. A return loop is incorporated into the plan of the indoor section. This allows trains to bypass the terminus and return back to the garden. This will allow continual running with trains changing places via the lower storage sidings. |
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