TRAIN CONTROL

DIGITAL COMMAND CONTROL - Wangrow's SystemOne Digital Command Control system

• LOCOS - every loco to have a decoder and a unique ID number for unlimited MUing capabilities - ID number to match loco number - permanently coupled locos to be kept at a minimum.
  • OPERATOR CONTROLLER - tethered plug-in handheld controllers (cabs) with coiled 8' cable and 'stereo' plug-in jack - convert to radio control when available.
    • ROAD ENGINEERS - tethered plug-in handheld controllers (cabs) with coiled 8' cable and 'stereo' plug-in jack - able to select any loco and MU any combination of locos at any location - able to program locos and consists - control of loco lights and sound, etc. - pre-programming of road, switch and local engines or MU combinations to be passed on to basic cabs - convert to radio control when available.

    • LOCAL ENGINEERS - tethered plug-in handheld controllers (cabs) with coiled 8' cable and 'stereo' plug-in jack - able to select any loco and MU any combination of locos at any location - able to program locos and consists - control of loco lights and sound, etc. - pre-programming of road, switch and local engines or MU combinations to be passed on to basic cabs - convert to radio control when available.

    • SWITCH ENGINEERS - tethered plug-in handheld controllers (cabs) with coiled 8' cable and 'stereo' plug-in jack - able to select any loco and MU any combination of locos at any location - able to program locos and consists - control of loco lights and sound, etc. - pre-programming of road, switch and local engines or MU combinations to be passed on to basic cabs - convert to radio control when available.

    • ENGINE HOSTLER - full-feature cab - able to select any loco and MU any combination of locos at any location - able to program locos and consists - control of loco lights and sound, etc. - pre-programming of road, switch and local engines or MU combinations to be passed on to basic cabs - Chico turntable will have a decoder assigned to it and will be controllable by hostler.

    • VALLEY STAGING HOSTLER - full-feature cab - able to select any loco and MU any combination of locos at any location - able to program locos and consists - control of loco lights and sound, etc. - pre-programming of road, switch and local engines or MU combinations to be passed on to basic cabs.

    • VISITING ENGINEERS - basic cab - able to operate a loco or MU combination that has been pre-programmed from a full-feature cab and then passed-on - control of loco lights - control of uncouplers a possible future option - convert to radio control when available.

  • PLUG-IN JACK LOCATION - lower fascia only - spaced 8 to 9ft apart and 27" up from floor.

  • REMOTE CONTROL - PREFERRED METHOD - tetherless - convert when Wangrow's radio control system become available - applies to all controller types listed above - priority to Road Engineer cabs, then Local Engineer cabs, then Switch Engineer cabs.

SANTA FE

• MAINLINE - electrically controlled - switchable from local control to CTC control - full CTC panel and control - computer program interfaces CTC panel with layout, performs all logic functions - switched automatically to CTC mode when CTC computer program is opened, and switched automatically to local mode when the program is exited/closed - stationary DCC decoders simplify wiring (manufacturer to be determined).
  • LOCAL CONTROL - slide switch mounted on fascia adjacent to turnout - closing/exiting the CTC computer program activates local control mode and locks out CTC panel.

  • CTC CONTROL - prototypical CTC panel and operation - starting the CTC computer program locks out local control - lockout indicators (LEDs) at local switch on fascia - stationary DCC decoders simplify wiring.

• INTERLOCKINGS - route selection by push buttons on tower panel at interlocking tower location - with route indicators (LEDs) - electrically controlled Circuitron Tortoise switch motors - computer program interfaces interlocking with layout and conditions, performs all logic functions when route is selected and 'start' button is pressed - stationary DCC decoders simplify wiring - detection circuits prevent action if unsafe - optional: time lock (1 minute ?) that prototypically prevents changing the route immediately after it has been activated per prototype practices (prototype usually 5 minute timing).

• YARD, INDUSTRY OR BRANCH FROM SF MAINLINE - to enhance prototypical operations during CTC operating sessions some mainline turnouts are activated by the train crew, but be under the dispatcher's authority - these turnouts are to industry tracks or to infrequently used passing siding, etc. - the train crew contacts the dispatcher whenever one of these turnouts must be set away from the mainline - the dispatcher gives the crew permission to change the turnout - these turnouts are either manual or motorized, depending on control method desired for that turnout - for either type of turnout, the crew activates the same type of fascia mounted selector switch - these fascia switches have a mechanism that requires the conductor to physically unlock them with a key which will be assigned to him along with the switchlist when he reports for duty.
  • TYPE 1 - electrically controlled Circuitron Tortoise switch motors - slide switch mounted on fascia adjacent to turnout - 'open switch' indicators (LEDs) displayed on CTC panel.

  • TYPE 2 - mechanically controlled - mechanical linkage connected to slide switch mounted on fascia adjacent to turnout - 'open switch' indicators (LEDs) displayed on CTC panel.

• YARD, INDUSTRY OR BRANCH FROM OTHER THAN SF MAINLINE - mechanically controlled - mechanical linkage connected to slide switch mounted on fascia adjacent to turnout - no indication on CTC panel.

SIGNALING [STANDARDS STILL IN DEVELOPMENT]

• SANTA FE MAINLINE - full CTC signaling - signaling at all mainline turnouts (called OS Sections): passing sidings, double crossovers, signal to double track, branch tracks - computer interface to handle the complex logic required.

• SANTA FE BRANCHLINE - block signaling

• SIERRA WESTERN MAINLINE - block signaling

• SOUTHERN PACIFIC MAINLINE - block signaling.

• SACRAMENTO NORTHERN MAINLINE - block signaling

• MCCLOUD MAINLINE - block signaling - operation not necessary

• OPERATING SESSIONS - SANTA FE MAINLINE, HEAVY TRAFFIC
  • PHASE 1 - DETECTION, CTC PANEL & SIGNALING NOT INSTALLED - track warrant dispatching - dispatcher will coordinate all SF mainline trains - dispatcher to be in radio contact with conductors - dispatcher will have communications radio with speaker and mike - conductors will have communications radio with headset - conductors will contact dispatcher when access to mainline is needed - dispatcher will reserve needed blocks to conductor and give authority to proceed to a designated point - conductors will inform dispatcher when blocks passed are released - all turnouts to be controlled by train crew,

  • PHASE 2 - DETECTION & CTC PANEL INSTALLED - SIGNALING NOT INSTALLED - modified track warrant/CTC dispatching - dispatcher will coordinate all SF mainline trains - dispatcher to be in radio contact with conductors - dispatcher will have communications radio with speaker and mike - conductors will have communications radio with headset - conductors will contact dispatcher when access to mainline is needed - dispatcher will reserve needed blocks to conductor and give authority to proceed to a designated point - conductors will inform dispatcher when blocks passed are released - turnouts to be controlled by dispatcher.

  • PHASE 3 - DETECTION, CTC PANEL, SIGNALING INSTALLED - CTC dispatching, automatic block control - dispatcher to control all SF mainline traffic at OS sections via signal indications - dispatcher to control all SF mainline turnouts as described in the TURNOUTS section - dispatcher to be in radio contact with conductors - dispatcher will have communications radio with speaker and mike - conductors will have communications radio with headset.

• OPERATING SESSIONS - SANTA FE MAINLINE, LIGHT TRAFFIC (DOWNGRADED MAINLINE) - during these operating sessions a dispatcher will not be on duty.
  • PHASE 1 - DETECTION, CTC PANEL, SIGNALING NOT INSTALLED - train crews will coordinate conflicting train movements with each other.

  • PHASE 2 - DETECTION, CTC PANEL INSTALLED - SIGNALING NOT INSTALLED - train crews will coordinate conflicting train movements with each other.

  • PHASE 3 - DETECTION, CTC PANEL, SIGNALING INSTALLED - block signals will indicate safe movement into adjacent blocks - train crews will watch signal indications for block occupancy - train crews will coordinate conflicting train movements with each other.

• OPERATING SESSIONS - SIERRA WESTERN, SOUTHERN PACIFIC, SACRAMENTO NORTHERN, MCCLOUD RR MAINLINES
  • ALL PHASES - train crews will coordinate conflicting train movements with each other.

  • OPERATING SESSIONS, CASUAL MODE - to run trains for display - during these operating sessions a dispatcher will not be on duty.

  • ALL TRACKS, ALL PHASES - train crews will coordinate conflicting train movements with each other.

• OVERVIEW - all wiring to be located under roadbed and scenery - 6 individual circuits will continue under all parts of the layout benchwork generally following the path of the Santa Fe mainline - the six independent circuits required are:
  1. track power/loco decoder control
  2. cab control
  3. 12v filtered DC accessory & turnout motor ground/power
  4. turnout/block-signal decoder control
  5. 110v AC layout power circuit - turned on by switch next to room entrance
  6. 110v AC construction & maintenance circuit - extension of house/room circuits

• POWER BUSS - follows mainline on all levels - all sections of rail, regardless of length, to be connected to the appropriate buss wire - rail closest to front of scene to be considered positive (+) and connected to the front buss - rail closest to back of scene to be considered negative (-) and connected to rear buss.
  • TRACK POWER/LOCO DECODER BUSS - 10g solid bare copper - spacing to be 6" apart, except 3" minimum in congested areas only.

  • TRACK FEEDER - 22g solid insulated copper - soldered to underside of every rail - black colored wire connects front rail to front TRACK POWER/LOCO DECODER buss - red colored wire connects rear rail to rear TRACK POWER/LOCO DECODER buss - feeder wire lengths to be kept at a minimum.

• CAB CONTROL - Six-conductor flat modular phone cable - cab panel circuit board assemblies to be connected in series - to minimize signal loss, there will be two circuits from the Command Station, one in each direction and terminating (but not joining) near the center of the layout - LCD display circuit powered by cab-buss boosters connected to the 12V filtered accessory buss.

• 12V FILTERED DC - provides power for all accessories, remote cameras and DCC cab buss boosters - power supply located under the lower level benchwork between the entry door and the dispatcher's room - turned on with layout power - pair of 16g buss wires follow the mainline under the lower level only - accessories connected to buss with minimum 26g feeders - accessories requiring less than 12v use stepdown resistor networks.

• TURNOUT/BLOCK SIGNAL DECODER CONTROL - still to be finalized

• 110V AC LAYOUT POWER CIRCUIT - switch at room entrance turns on all power devices to support layout operations - controls all power supplies for the command station, power stations, 12v DC accessory circuit, and any miscellaneous power supplies needed to operate the layout.

• 110V AC CONSTRUCTION/MAINTENANCE CIRCUIT - extension of house/room power circuits - extends the length of the penninsula - duplex outlets every 10ft - to be used for maintenance and construction - always on.

These pages implemented and maintained by: Larry Moseley
Please send all comments to: Rick Fortin