Welcome to the digital world of Model Railways
Analogue or digital? was the question 20 years ago. Today everybody communicates digitally. email or telex? was the question of the '80s; today we only speak by social media.
What was Internet back in the past? Nobody can remember it.
This global metamorphosis also would have an influence in the world of the model trains fans, including me. Therefore, I decided to adapt this new world to my facility. This happened some years ago with the construction of the first decoder. Today, everything runs digitally via computer control. This enormous jump did not trouble me; on the contrary, I found it very attractive and efficient since I can simulate reality.
For the 50th anniversary of my train modeling I would like to present my Website. You can find more information about the Diorama and the digital control. In addition there are photo galleries, links and reports on journeys.
Modelling and Education
The educational reforms always aimed in something hopeful and innovator, although the educators pointed out problems in their application, because of the lack of strategies or tools, which would help the student in the acquisition of 'abundant' knowledge. Even today, the students prefer to learn the technology, i.e by means of mobile telephone rather than guidance, a fact that leads usually to error results.
The action of Lifelong Learning forces us to advance in a new training environment, offering the possibility of remote education. At the mean time, the developments in the sector of digital communications allow the creation of new educational techniques, where the students will be informed through the combination of real and digital world.
The possibilities of Internet are such that the student can use in order to interact with the schoolteacher or his schoolmate, exchanging experiences, sharing queries and acquiring new knowledge, so they do not need to move location. Field of application for this type of learning offers modeling and more specifically digital model railway, that through the Internet can combine both knowledge and pleasure.
The aim of our web page is to constitute stimulus for acquisition of scientific knowledge that usually comes with difficulty to understand (Tacit Knowledge), i.e. what does digital technology mean, how does microelectronics work, what does the wireless couplings offer, by means of modeling examples. Our aim is, this ambitious objective to be completed as soon as possible.
Layout - Design
My layout is encompassed with a wooden frame of area 3.20cm x 1.90cm that is supported in eight foots and traverse joists per meter. The layout is 80cm above the floor in order to offer a panoramic view also for kids. The covering of the area made from plywood has a thickness of 6mm.
For the drawing of layout i used the software WinTrack 5.0. This planning included initially four main train corridors that are symbolized with A, B, C and D and one underground crossing. Also an upper level was added lately. The track system was based on Maerklin Track C.
My layout is basically constituted of three main stations, the Eastern, the Western and the upper-level Station which are supervised by cameras. Since 2005 a wireless camera was also installed on a head wagon, in order to work as cab drive viewer.
Loklift
A Loklift consists of seven floors that work as train parking. Their movement is caused by means of metal chain which is connected to an electric motor. The regulation of each floor is achieved by manual operation or PC. The system includes seven floors for parking of 21 H0-trains.
Locs, Wagons & tracks
My available locomotives with their specifications are here. Maerklin provides the system of three conductors that basically differs from the other systems. Long time ago I replaced the metal tracks (Maerklin M) with the plastic ones (Maerklin C). The turnouts of the type C radically differ from their metal tracks. Apart from their main body, a turnout C is composed from an electromagnet (nr. 74460), a lantern (nr. 74470) and the digital decoder (nr. 74490) that are adapted to it as separate elements. All C Track turnouts, with hand or electric mechanisms, conventionally or digitally controlled, can be equipped with lighted turnout lanterns. For the installation click here.
Signals
I have used different types of signals. Maerklin Signals (70xx) offered a possibility of interrupting the track’s current in prohibited sections. I also have made some primitive signals by hand and improved them by using microleds and printing circuits.
Electronics
I use the digital system of ECoS/ESU for central unit. All commands can also be executed mechanically with switches. if we use however a computer with suitable software, all commands are automatized. That means, PC undertakes the train control. Since 2004 the software of Railroad & Co. The latest version is 8.0 in two variants, one professional (Gold) and one simple (Silver or Bronze) .
Internet
Train control trough Internet is not widely spread. The University of Freiberg in Germany has manufactured an interactive platform (http://rr.informatik.tu-freiberg.de/index.php?js=1) which has rather interrupted its operation, but the web page still exists. Another possibility comes from University of Bochum, whereas the control is based on a mobile phone (http://www.heise.de/newsticker/meldung/Handy-steuert-Modelleisenbahn-38025.html). In the mean time I try to design a Remote Controlled Railraod System. This project is still under pilot study and will be ready in 2-3 years. Then, you will be able to drive my trains and see the cab view in your monitor at home. For this reason, such as a web page should have the address http://www.modeltrain.gr/drivemytrain.
video from eastern station 1.1
video from western station 2.1
video from eastern station 1.2
video from western station 2.2
Cabview on InterCity and V200
cabview by night
Happy New Year from my layout
Merry Christmas by CabView
In a constantly evolving model-train-world a digital technology plays a
crucial role. Electronics, Internet and new further developments are the
new partners beside the traditional model train facility.
Analogue or digital? was the question 20 years ago. Today everybody communicates digitally. email or telex? was the question of the '80s; today we only speak by social media.
What was Internet back in the past? Nobody can remember it.
This global metamorphosis also would have an influence in the world of the model trains fans, including me. Therefore, I decided to adapt this new world to my facility. This happened some years ago with the construction of the first decoder. Today, everything runs digitally via computer control. This enormous jump did not trouble me; on the contrary, I found it very attractive and efficient since I can simulate reality.
For the 50th anniversary of my train modeling I would like to present my Website. You can find more information about the Diorama and the digital control. In addition there are photo galleries, links and reports on journeys.
Modelling and Education
The educational reforms always aimed in something hopeful and innovator, although the educators pointed out problems in their application, because of the lack of strategies or tools, which would help the student in the acquisition of 'abundant' knowledge. Even today, the students prefer to learn the technology, i.e by means of mobile telephone rather than guidance, a fact that leads usually to error results.
The action of Lifelong Learning forces us to advance in a new training environment, offering the possibility of remote education. At the mean time, the developments in the sector of digital communications allow the creation of new educational techniques, where the students will be informed through the combination of real and digital world.
The possibilities of Internet are such that the student can use in order to interact with the schoolteacher or his schoolmate, exchanging experiences, sharing queries and acquiring new knowledge, so they do not need to move location. Field of application for this type of learning offers modeling and more specifically digital model railway, that through the Internet can combine both knowledge and pleasure.
The aim of our web page is to constitute stimulus for acquisition of scientific knowledge that usually comes with difficulty to understand (Tacit Knowledge), i.e. what does digital technology mean, how does microelectronics work, what does the wireless couplings offer, by means of modeling examples. Our aim is, this ambitious objective to be completed as soon as possible.
Layout - Design
My layout is encompassed with a wooden frame of area 3.20cm x 1.90cm that is supported in eight foots and traverse joists per meter. The layout is 80cm above the floor in order to offer a panoramic view also for kids. The covering of the area made from plywood has a thickness of 6mm.
For the drawing of layout i used the software WinTrack 5.0. This planning included initially four main train corridors that are symbolized with A, B, C and D and one underground crossing. Also an upper level was added lately. The track system was based on Maerklin Track C.
My layout is basically constituted of three main stations, the Eastern, the Western and the upper-level Station which are supervised by cameras. Since 2005 a wireless camera was also installed on a head wagon, in order to work as cab drive viewer.
Loklift
A Loklift consists of seven floors that work as train parking. Their movement is caused by means of metal chain which is connected to an electric motor. The regulation of each floor is achieved by manual operation or PC. The system includes seven floors for parking of 21 H0-trains.
Locs, Wagons & tracks
My available locomotives with their specifications are here. Maerklin provides the system of three conductors that basically differs from the other systems. Long time ago I replaced the metal tracks (Maerklin M) with the plastic ones (Maerklin C). The turnouts of the type C radically differ from their metal tracks. Apart from their main body, a turnout C is composed from an electromagnet (nr. 74460), a lantern (nr. 74470) and the digital decoder (nr. 74490) that are adapted to it as separate elements. All C Track turnouts, with hand or electric mechanisms, conventionally or digitally controlled, can be equipped with lighted turnout lanterns. For the installation click here.
Signals
I have used different types of signals. Maerklin Signals (70xx) offered a possibility of interrupting the track’s current in prohibited sections. I also have made some primitive signals by hand and improved them by using microleds and printing circuits.
Electronics
I use the digital system of ECoS/ESU for central unit. All commands can also be executed mechanically with switches. if we use however a computer with suitable software, all commands are automatized. That means, PC undertakes the train control. Since 2004 the software of Railroad & Co. The latest version is 8.0 in two variants, one professional (Gold) and one simple (Silver or Bronze) .
Internet
Train control trough Internet is not widely spread. The University of Freiberg in Germany has manufactured an interactive platform (http://rr.informatik.tu-freiberg.de/index.php?js=1) which has rather interrupted its operation, but the web page still exists. Another possibility comes from University of Bochum, whereas the control is based on a mobile phone (http://www.heise.de/newsticker/meldung/Handy-steuert-Modelleisenbahn-38025.html). In the mean time I try to design a Remote Controlled Railraod System. This project is still under pilot study and will be ready in 2-3 years. Then, you will be able to drive my trains and see the cab view in your monitor at home. For this reason, such as a web page should have the address http://www.modeltrain.gr/drivemytrain.
video from eastern station 1.1
video from western station 2.1
video from eastern station 1.2
video from western station 2.2
Cabview on InterCity and V200
cabview by night
Happy New Year from my layout
Merry Christmas by CabView
welcome to the club
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