SouthDownsRailway
Subcategories
Computer control
Computer control isn't for everyone; equally for others it is a very important part of their model railway. This section describes how the "Traincontroller" software has been used to control the South Downs Railway.
Why did I want computer based control? Two reasons, I suppose. Firstly, I don't find driving model trains particularly inspring. If I can press a button and have a train go from A to B, I'm happy. Secondly, the railway is too large for one person to control anything like all the activity that should be going on at any one time. Using a computerised control approach, the computer can drive some "background" traffic and can run trains to and from stations. A human operator still has work to do - for example splitting up goods trains, changing the loco on passenger trains at terminus sttions and the like. The computer program allows a "tempo" of trian operations to be maintained alongside the human involvement.
Computer control isn't a "take it or leave it" concept: there are lots of ways it can be used. They can beย more intrusive or less intrusive way according to your wishes.
Please try to use the menu of the left to navigate. The options below will get you there, but it will take longer!
DCC Control
Why DCC? This is a large railway, and a new railway with no "legacy" issues.ย I wanted to be able to have aspects of automatic control. For that kind of environment, DC control has been left behind: DCC provides a way for a single function (the DCC system) to control trains wherever they are.
DCC has been around for a long time. In the early days, I remember asking in several model shops about it and being told "it's a passing fad; is doesn't work and it will die out". 10 years on, most of those shops now sell DCC systems and one markets a whole product range. DCC is definitely here to stay; it may not be right for everyone, but it definitely works for many.
This section describes how the South Downs Railway is controlled using DCC and DCC extensions. Please try to navigate using the menu on the left: it will get you there with fewer clicks. The sections below will work, but are there more as a safety net!
Design
This section covers how the South Downs Railway was designed.
About
General information about the South Downs Railway.
Construction
This section describes the physical construction of the South Downs Railway.
Rolling Stock
This section describes the rolling stock for the railway.
Operations
This section describes aspects of the operation of the railway.
Progress & blog
this section describes progress of development of the railway.
Scenery
This section is all about scenery for the railway. Probably the lowest priority!