RWLR - Robin Wood Light Railway

[ge_rik]

Great pix, BTW, Tom

Rik

[tom_tom_go]

I cannot visualise your idea Daan?

[daan]

I made a small setup to shop what I mean:



on one of the axles you fix a think piece of wire in one or two windings. The coupler has a longer wire attatched which can move to the left and the right a bit. When moving in one direction the couplerwire stays on one end of the windings.



When backing up, the wire attatched to the coupler is picked up bij the thick wire and moves to the other side, across the thick part of the windings.



In the normal state the coupler is closed, but when moving across the thicker part of the windings..



the coupler opens and giving the possibility to change direction again while being on the thick part, thus keeping the coupler open while moving away from the train.

However, when you back up to get a pair of wagons the coupler also opens when moving away in the other direction. So you need to find a way to keep the couplers closed while being under tension while pulling wagons and only able to uncouple while pushing.

It has some drawbacks which you will have to find your way around, but on the other hand: its cheap and simple and works without any electronics or control from outside..

[tom_tom_go]

Thanks for posting the idea Daan, very interesting.

[tom_tom_go]

I have been working getting the Arduino to operate different servos on independent channels performing different movements. The idea of this is that using the RC Trains TX24 I can operate uncoupling ramps with one control knob, signals with another and finally points also using a different control knob.

I will post a video once I get another Deltang Rx102 as currently I am using a Orange Rx with the servos which is not capable of the Deltang 'selecta' functionality and therefore any movements I make with the TX24 also operates the Ardunio along with the loco in motion. However, here are some pics of the signal I installed today:




I have standardised on this servo mounting setup which is simply a piece of plastic angle drilled to house the servo and then bolted into place


Calibrating the signal sevro in code, not your usual kit for building a garden railway!

[Sylvian Tennant]

apologies to take the conversation in a slightly different area. But i'm most curious about your signal did you build it yourself?

Lovely work overall.

[tom_tom_go]

apologies to take the conversation in a slightly different area. But i'm most curious about your signal did you build it yourself?

I bought it off eBay:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/usr/spara01?_trks ... 2749.l2754

Paint job and build quality is a bit poor but it was cheap and does come with a light. I will repaint it one day but wanted for now to get it installed to see if it would work with the Arduino.

[Big Jim]

Very Impressive. I am completely lost by it all, but still impressed. It is nice to see a railway that is being signalled.

[tom_tom_go]

It has been a learning curve Jimbo. What I have achieved is very basic compared to what can be done with an Arduino.

For those of you that are interested here is the code that I am currently running:

Code: Select all

// Libraries
#include <VarSpeedServo.h>

// Variables
VarSpeedServo SignalServo;
VarSpeedServo TurnoutServo;
VarSpeedServo UncouplerServo;

// Receiver channels
const byte SignalsInputPin = 22;
const byte TurnoutsInputPin = 24;
const byte UncouplerInputPin = 26;
const byte CHANNELS = 3;  // Number of channels
const byte ChannelPins[CHANNELS] = {TurnoutsInputPin, SignalsInputPin, UncouplerInputPin};
const byte SignalsServoPin = 52;
const byte TurnoutsServoPin = 50;
const byte UncouplerServoPin = 48;
boolean ChannelStatePrevious[CHANNELS];
unsigned long ChannelChangeTime[CHANNELS];
const int CHANNEL_MAX = 1600;  //control knob value max (microseconds)
const int CHANNEL_MIN = 1100;  //control knob value min (microseconds)
const int CHANNEL_THRESHOLD = ((CHANNEL_MIN + CHANNEL_MAX) / 2); // Center point
const unsigned long CHANNEL_DEBOUNCE = 5;

void setup() {
  for (int i = 0; i < CHANNELS; i++) {
    pinMode (ChannelPins[i], INPUT);            //set up input pins
  }
    SignalServo.attach(SignalsServoPin);        //attach signal servo   
    UncouplerServo.attach(UncouplerServoPin);   //attach uncoupler servo
    TurnoutServo.attach(TurnoutsServoPin);      //attach turnout servo
  }

void loop () {
  // Convert the channel inputs to switch state changes
  for (int i = 0; i < CHANNELS; i++)  {
    boolean channelState = pulseIn(ChannelPins[i], HIGH) > CHANNEL_THRESHOLD;
    if (channelState != ChannelStatePrevious[i] && millis() - ChannelChangeTime[i] >= CHANNEL_DEBOUNCE) {
      ChannelStatePrevious[i] = channelState;
      ChannelChangeTime[i] = millis();
      // The channel has changed state.  Do something!
      switch (i) {
        case 0:
          SignalsChange(channelState);
          break;
        case 1:
          UncouplerChange(channelState);
          break;
        case 2:
          TurnoutsChange(channelState);
          break;
      }
    }
  }

  //Servo animations
  }

  void SignalsChange(boolean newState) {
    // Move the signal servo to the new position
    SignalServo.write((newState ? 66 : 86), 30, true);        //first value signal halt movement, second value clear movement
    SignalServo.write((newState ? 76 : 70), 10, true);
    SignalServo.write((newState ? 86 : 83), 10, true);
    SignalServo.write((newState ? 66 : 86), 30, true);
  }

  void UncouplerChange(boolean newState) {
    // Move the signal servo to the new position
    UncouplerServo.write((newState ? 110 : 40), 10, true);
  }

  void TurnoutsChange(boolean newState) {
    // Move the turnout servo to the new position
    TurnoutServo.write((newState ? 110 : 62), 6, true);
  }
 

The text with // next to it are notes that help explain what is going on but feel free to ask questions.

Video to follow once I get the new Rx.

[tom_tom_go]

To stop Milo our lab from destroying the plants we try and plant each year we have invested in Filcris round palisade posts to box in our garden beds:

You can buy the posts here: https://www.filcris.co.uk/category/land ... sade-posts

This was just today's rubble I removed from one of the trenches!


My wife and I have taken it in turns to do the digging so when I was off duty I finished off the Mk2 roof version of the Arduino housing unit:




I think water must of got under the bake bean can roof as it all peeled off recently and was soaking wet underneath (the epoxy I used was quite old). This time, I used brand new epoxy and have added sealant under the roof so any gaps are now filled.

I want the roof to rust a little more before I give it a couple of coats of matt lacquer to protect it. I quite like the building being white so might leave it.

[jim@NAL]

looking great that tin will soon rust up too keep up the good work all looking very good

[ge_rik]

Interesting stuff, Tom. Be interested to see it in action.

Rik

[tom_tom_go]

I managed to cobble this video together of how I can now run a train without having to use the 'hand of god' to change points, uncouple trains or operate semaphore signals:

[DG]

Hi Tom that is fantastic, I realise that you must have put some time in to get all this singing and dancing, very impressive. I particularly like the uncoupler ramp. Seeing the points change slowly like that and the signal bounce, well it is just like the real thing. Thanks for doing the video, Dave.

[ge_rik]

Enjoyed that Tom. Thanks.
I like the way the signal sets to danger when the train has left the station. Just a small query; should it set to clear before the loco passes it to run round the train, or can the signalman give special permission for that manoeuvre? Sorry to sound pedantic, but it's something I'm wrestling with in signalling my stations - whether signals can be ignored for some shunting moves provided permission has been granted - or will the interlocking prevent it......

Rik

[tom_tom_go]

Just a small query; should it set to clear before the loco passes it to run round the train, or can the signalman give special permission for that manoeuvre? Sorry to sound pedantic, but it's something I'm wrestling with in signalling my stations - whether signals can be ignored for some shunting moves provided permission has been granted - or will the interlocking prevent it......

Rik

I am sure Andrew can enlighten us but I just wanted one signal to depart trains for a bit of operational interest. If you look at prototypical examples of a stations with run round loops they have various signals. I am going to justify my version with the signalman giving hand signals from the yet to be built signalbox.

With your signals Rik do you carry all those keyfobs with you during a running session or do you leave them at each station that they control?

[ge_rik]

With your signals Rik do you carry all those keyfobs with you during a running session or do you leave them at each station that they control?

Hi Tom
I'm impressed that you remembered my keyfob controlled signalling. In theory, I would leave the keyfob at each station, as I follow each train around anyway. But in practice, I have only got around to putting one station's signals under radio control but I do leave it there. It's high up on the todo list to energise the others.

The tx for the rc controlled points I leave on a very prominent bush at Peckforton Station - as this is the midpoint of the line. The rc controlled points are located are various places around the railway and so there isn't a particular spot where it's needed most.

Rik
Ps One day I might get around to automating Bickerton station as that's mostly a run round terminus.

[tom_tom_go]

I have read your blog many times Rik and may even use keyfobs or a larger hand held remote controller if I want to operate more servos in the future.

Arduino housing now complete I think, it was painted using masonry paint mixed with sand:

[ge_rik]

I have read your blog many times Rik and may even use keyfobs or a larger hand held remote controller if I want to operate more servos in the future.

They are certainly a cheap way of getting things controlled by r/c
Rik

PS Nice to see one of my RC Trains Tx24s in the background ........

[tom_tom_go]

PS Nice to see one of my RC Trains Tx24s in the background ........

Deltang has completely changed controlling trains using R/C for me, very grateful that you brought it to our attention Rik!

The building has dried well overnight, however, I am concerned how it will fair in wet weather.

To seal the walls can I use a mix of PVA/water and washing up liquid in a spray bottle or just spray it with a matt laquer?