Digital model railway control system basics
Some digital control systems provide the ability to independently control all aspects of operating a model railway using a minimum of wiring, the rails themselves can be the only wiring required. Other systems are wireless. Control is achieved by sending a digital signal as well as power down the rails or wirelessly. These digital signals can control all aspects of the model trains and accessories, including signals, turnouts, lighting,Controllers
Controllers manage operation of locomotives with buttons for additional model features such as lighting and sound.Central unit
A digital system usually requires a central unit to generate digital address and command signals, these are known as command stations. Many command stations also incorporate one or more locomotive controllers and a booster unit to generate the power necessary to run locomotives. Central units also have connections for additional controllers and accessory switch boxes, as well as connections for computer control and interfaces with other digital controllers.Boosters
In most systemsLocomotive decoders
Locomotive decoders are small electronic circuits fitted inside locomotives to interpret the digital signals and provide individual control. Although all active decoders receive commands, only the addressed decoder will respond.Accessory decoders
Accessory decoders are used to control devices which are fixed in position, such as turnouts, signals, and level crossings. Since the devices do not move, stationary decoders can be mounted under the layout, and therefore can be significantly larger than locomotive decoders. Accessory decoders can receive their signals from an accessory data bus or from the track.Sound and function decoders
Basic locomotive decoders provide control of speed and direction while supplemental function decoders control headlights, ditch lights, or movable non-traction components such as remote-controlled pantographs. Sound decoders play pre-recorded sound effects which may be synchronised with the locomotive speed, so that as a diesel locomotive starts from standstill, the sound decoder plays sounds of a diesel engine starting up. Sound decoders forFeedback
In some automated systems, the central unit needs to know when trains reach their destination or a certain point. This information is detected by a sensor, such as anComputer interface
Some central units allow connection to a computer, and a program can then fully automatically control all model train movements and accessories. This facility is particularly useful for display layouts. Programs have been developed allowing mobile devices to be used as controllers, which also requires the central unit to be connected to a computer.Systems
Digital Command Control
Digital Command Control (DCC) systems are used to operate locomotives on a model railroad (railway). Equipped with DCC, locomotives on the same electrical section of track can be independently controlled. While DCC is only one of several alternative systems for digital model train control, it is often misinterpreted to be a generic term for such systems. Several major manufacturers offer DCC systems.Digital Command System
Digital Command System (DCS) is an electronic system developed byDirect WiFi Control
Direct WiFi Control (DWiC) is an emerging technology for model railway control utilizing the concept of "the internet of things". The availability of miniature web server modules in 2014 led to the formation of a DWiC Working group to explore the possibility of using this technology in model railways. WiFi technology is well established and proven. Although it is considerably more complex than any previous model railway control system it largely transparent to the user with tasks such as bi-directional communication being seamless. DWiC does not use any model rail specific items such as command stations and boosters and so is much lower in cost. This technology is also useful outside the model rail world as a DWiC controller could open a garage door or remotely turn on sprinklers. The web server/controller is similar to a DCC decoder in hardware and cost. The great advantage occurs on the client side where the "throttle" can be any WiFi device with a web browser. DWiC can run on DC, AC or DCC track power or a battery. The DWiC controller has a web page loaded on board tailored to the particular "item" - loco, accessory etc. The users browser loads the page off the items web server and by pressing buttons directly controls the item via WiFi using HTML, JavaScript, JQuery and C.Märklin Digital
Märklin Digital was one of the first digital model railway control systems. It consisted of a full system including locomotive decoders (based on a Motorola chip), central control, a computer interface, turnout decoders, digital relays and s88 feedback modules. For controlling 2-rail DC locomotives, like Märklin's Z and 1 gauge rolling stock, a special version of the system was introduced in 1988 developed by Lenz jointly for Märklin and Arnold. Arnold sold the system under name Arnold Digital while Märklin called it "Märklin Digital", this system was the predecessor of DCC-standard. Apart from the locomotive decoders and central units, all the other system components were identical between 3-rail and 2-rail versions.Selectrix
Selectrix is an early digital model train command control system developed by German companyTrainmaster Command Control
Trainmaster Command Control (TMCC) is Lionel's original command control system. It was introduced exclusively in Lionel trains in 1995. Beginning in 2000, Lionel offered licenses to other manufacturers. Licensees that formerly or currently install TMCC decoders in their models include Atlas O, K-Line, Weaver, and Sunset Models 3rd Rail Division. Licensees that formerly or currently offer separate sale decoders include Train America Studios, Digital Dynamics, and Electric RR Co. TMCC decoders have mostly been installed in 3-rail O gauge models, but it has also been offered in 2-rail O scale and S scale. TMCC utilizes the same command codes as Digital Command Control (DCC). However, unlike DCC, it uses a 455 kHz radio transmission to carry the command codes separate from track power. The locomotive decoders are dependent on AC track power (50 or 60 Hz) to synchronize the command receiver. Thus, TMCC can only operate on AC track power. Because TMCC utilizes the DCC command codes, it is possible to control TMCC with DCC compatible software. MTH Electric Trains included support to interface and control TMCC with its DCS system. Unlike DCC, TMCC-equipped locomotives can run simultaneously with non-TMCC locomotives. Lionel ceased the sale of TMCC command systems in 2010, but continues to introduce models equipped with TMCC decoders. TMCC has been superseded by Lionel's Legacy command system.Legacy Control System
Legacy Control System (Legacy) is Lionel's current electronic control system. It was introduced as a successor to Lionel's Trainmaster Command Control (TMCC) in December 2007. Legacy is backwards compatible with all TMCC decoder equipped engines. Models with Legacy sound decoders and/or Odyssey II speed control can be operated with earlier TMCC control systems but also have additional features only accessible with Legacy. The command codes for these additional features differ from the DCC command codes. Lionel has not published or licensed access to the Legacy specific command codes.Hornby Zero 1
Hornby Zero 1 was a forerunner to the modern digital model railway control system, developed by Hornby in the late 1970s. It was based around theAirfix Multiple Control System
Airfix Multiple Control System(MTC) was introduced in 1980 and used 20 VAC on the track with a superimposed control signal. Unfortunately it was only produced for about 18 months when Airfix went intoDYNATROL
DYNATROL is a 15-channel command control system from Power Systems Inc. The track voltage is 13.5 volts d.c. It was introduced late 1970s.Digitrack 1600
Digitrack 1600 is one of the first generation digital model railway control system developed and marketed by Chuck Balmer and Dick Robbins in 1972. CTC-16 is a second-generation design based on the Digitrack 1600, a commercial system marketed from 1972 to 1976. The CTC-16 digital train control system is totally compatible with the Digitrack 1600. 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.Rail-Command 816
Introduced in the late 1970s, the RAIL-COMMAND 816 is an eight-channel digital signal system using a constant 12 VDC track voltage.CTC-16
CTC-16 system offered simultaneous control of up to 16 locomotives. A series of 16 variable width pulses is sent out to the track 125 times each second. A receiver mounted in each locomotive is ''programmed'' to respond to only one of the 16 pulses. The voltage and polarity applied to the motor depend on the width/timing of the pulse corresponding to that particular receiver. The receiver determines the speed and direction information from that specific pulse. The receiver is essentially a transistor throttle built right into the locomotive. The command station is not expandable beyond 16 channels. CTC-16 was completely compatible with the Digitrack 1600 receivers, as it was an improved and cost reduced version of the Digitrack 1600. It was presented as a 'build it yourself' project, commercial versions would appear as well. At the time, the project was estimated to cost US$200 for the parts.PROTRAC
PROTRACR/C system 9000 offers 8-channel command control. It was introduced in the late 1970s.SALOTA 5300
SALOTA 5300 offers 5-channel command control with a 16-18 VDC constant track voltage. It was introduced in the late 1970s.PMP-112
PMP-112 system offered simultaneous control of up to 112 locomotives. It was based CTC-16.RFPT
RFPT offers 9-channel command control system using high-frequency control signals and a 12 VAC constant track voltage.KATO Digital
Introduced in the late 1980s, KATO Digital is KATO's electronic control system for H0 scale model trains that is conceptually similar to Digital Command Control (DCC).Software
Digital model railway control systems are often connected with an external computer where special software for controlling the train layout is running. This allows more options for operating trains from fully automatic system where the computer is in control of everything in a layout to a computer based control console for controlling signals and points on the layout and leaving the role of the train engineer to a human.Railroad Automation
/www.perecli.com/rrauto Railroad Automationis a Windows command and control application strictly for the LocoNet network. It has many advanced features such as: slot inspector, packet traffic inspector, LocoIO programmer, DCC decoder programmer, multiple throttle control, editable vector-based switchboard display, supports tracks, turnouts, blocks, routes, sensors, signals, accessories, event binding and scripting, sequence recording, speech recognition control, remote control over TCP, and more. The application is also compartmentalised into several API layers which makes it easy for third party developers to build derivate works on its foundation.Hornby RailMaster
Introduced in late 2010, the RailMaster is a model railway control software package by Hornby. The software connects to the Hornby Elite DCC controller or the later eLink controller, which is an interface between the laptop or PC which runs RailMaster and the layout and allows for the controls of trains, points, signals, turntables and uncouplers from a single screen. Although usable with a normal mouse, it has been optimised for touch-screen PCs where you just touch a point, a signal or slide a locomotive throttle. The eLink unit comes with RailMaster as one package and the latter is regularly, and automatically, updated from Hornby itself.Rocrail
Rocrail is previously open source, now proprietary software that can control a model train layout from one or more computers. Users can run trains directly from their computer or have it run the trains automatically. Some of the trains can be set to run automatically allowing manual control for others.JMRI
JMRI is an open source project that can control a model layout including accessories from a computer.TrainController
TrainController by Freiwald, also known as Railroad & Co is a high-end proprietary software package which comes in three versions of increasing functionality, Bronze, Silver and Gold. More information from the TC wiki at http://www.tc-wiki.de/index.php/Hauptseite (in German and English).References
External links