DCC and Automation is it really value for money at Chadwick Model Railway | 169 

Another greatly entertaining video Charlie! I’ve yet to delve into the ‘delights’ of DCC, not because of a Luddite devotion to DC but because we haven’t moved yet and, thus, I haven’t got around to using the old Lens system my friend kindly gave me when they had no more use for it! 😉 I have a few ready to go DCC locos which I deliberately bought at bargain prices to force my hand so I might just try out a simple old steam MPD for size as it seems a sensible starter project before I jump in the deep end and start upgrading to a new system! 😂 The sequence you showed illustrates exactly the reason DCC does appeal to me. My ultimate aim is a garden layout where I can set a sequence like yours so different trains can follow one another before disappearing into the large shed or garage that I will utilise as a railway room. I first saw a system like this about 15 years ago and this video has completely reinvigorated my interest…so I guess I really ought to get on with the house moving issue! 🤔 Thanks as ever mate, have a great week 👍🍻🍀

One of the truly great things about the model railway hobby these days is that there are just so many aspects to it which you can engage with. You can see layouts with track just laid on plywood with little or no scenic content, and out of the box locos and rolling stock, but which feature amazingly sophisticated computer control and endless working lineside gadgets. At the other extreme you can find basic DC controlled layouts with manual points control and no gadgets, but with jaw droppingly realistic recreated countryside and townscapes and wonderfully detailed model locos and rolling stock. Of course, most layouts sit somewhere in between what we might call tech-head layouts and art-head layouts. But that is the beauty of the hobby, the participants can concentrate on whatever aspect suits their skills or preferences and everyone still gets to see trains go round and gain satisfaction from their own embelishments to that basic function. As you, Charlie, highlight in this video, with automation you can create a layout on which it seems like teams of intelligent drivers, signal systems, lineside workers etc are all cooperating to run the services. A little world with its own life, if you will - and very impressive. However, modellers who want to directly control their train movements can also do that with non-automated systems - albeit probably on a smaller scale (or with multiple operators). The key point is that both approaches yield the same result and the people involved have enormous fun and learning from making it happen. Yes, it is truly a wonderful time to be in the hobby.

Wow! It's so gratifying to see four or five trains just up and traverse the layout; but, I know the preparation necessary to show us that seven minute session was immense. Thank you for showing how Train Controller makes all this possible. My gang on this side really wants to 'operate" their layouts, and this kind of automation really doesn't fit into that type of running, Still, it is amazing to watch what you have created happen. Another brilliant video, Charlie! Can't wait for the next lesson!

I can only imagine how much work went into making that video. Nicely edited and flawless operation of four separate trains. Good job.

As ever, Charlie, a very useful and thought-provoking video, thank you. The more I’ve followed your blood, toil, tears and bank manager’s sweat in building your masterpiece in automation, the more I’ve realised DCC is not for me. Picking up from my main real-life career, my enjoyment comes from operating the trains myself to some sort of believable timetable. So the thought of setting up a system for trains to run themselves while I nip out to boil the kettle defeats the object for me, personally. Also, as Paul Cherry shows in his videos which run on a layout the complete antithesis to yours, there are all sorts of gems of DC locos from yesteryear available secondhand which encourage some good ‘retro railway modelling’. But, horses for courses and I shall continue to watch all your videos with eager anticipation and close attention as I always learn something from them. Good luck with the next round of construction!

Thanks for another great video. Funny story, I used a Dremel instead of insulated joiners. For my automation / control I use iTrains and everything was working great for months. Then for no apparent reason my blocks appeared to have doubled in size at various places on the layout. After tearing things apart, messing with the software, wasting hours upon hours and about to give up notice the cut I made in the rails no longer had a gap. Well as you know on flex track one rail moves freely, yes it was the side I cut. Even though it was ballast it still moved. A few drops of Super Glue on several of the ties should hold it tight , hopefully.

I'm DC through and through and my point motors are my two forefingers. lol Seriously though that was a very enjoyable video Charlie thank you, and just to see the trains running round was worth the admission fee in itself. All the best.

iam a dc guy i am housebound and cannot do most things i just run my trains on a large layout but i love your videos they are fun and you do all the things i cant keep up the good work and thank you

Great video. I have a 4 X 8 layout in the making, so at present I am not going to do automation. That's in the future, and this layout is to iron out some things with HO model trains. I have designed block detection circuits for lights and crossings, and you're right, this sort of thing is entertaining. When I was a kid, I set up an HO car track that ran the cars at full speed on the straight away, and reduced speed for the curves. They even slowed down coming into a curve, and slowed to the curve in question. This made it more of a challenge. It took some time to set up, but gave a challenge to race the car matched to the setup on the track. That was in the mid 70s, so this kind of thing is very easy to get hooked on. In the US I think there are horns for starting forward and reverse motion, which is in the Soundtraxx decoders. I love the reverse horn, but don't use the forward, except on one diesel, because it is annoying to hear it every time the engine pulls forward from a stop. I figured out how to have cab chatter at a push of a button, and use it, which is why I quite buying the less expensive Soudtraxx decoder. At the club most, if not all, don't take advantage of the sounds, and only use the engine sounds. They use the horn to identify where their loco is on the track out of sight, and that's about it. I don't like the door slam, because it doesn't sound realistic, but I do like the all aboard. I love the squeal of the brakes and the release, do I turn them up on all my diesels. The release on the Soundtraxx decoders will make the air sound and run the engine at the throttle setting set. It will also let you run up the engine without it going anywhere, if the brake is on. This can catch me off guard, when the engine has the brake on from the last time it was ran. I've used Decoder Pro, but it doesn't work all of the time. It seems hit and miss, so I would question the use of JMRI. I want something reliable, and was hoping you would do a video on your automation selection. Then you did! Thanks.

Charlie, I enjoy your videos so much. I learn with every one of them. My progress with my layout is just starting and the information you have presented over the span of three years has given me enough to think about as I plan. I thank you for that.

I am just getting my 60 year old Hornby Dunlop 2 rail system out after retiring. This is an excellent introduction to the glamorous world of DCC. It was so good of you not just to show the wonderful effects you have achieved but to emphasise the importance of reliability, predictability and repeatability. That must have taken a huge amount of work behind the scenes and thanks for sharing it. With my childhood layout trains would always stop, derail or even fall off. And your comment that you don’t use Series 1 or 2 curves means that practically all my track and points would be scrapped. That’s created some tough questions to ponder. Thanks very much for developing my “train of thought“ in such a “model” way!

DCC: I finally decided to go DCC about 10 years ago but resisted sound decoders for 3-4 years. Then I started acquiring sound locos when they appeared on the 'used' market. Very quickly, the noise was turned off but I missed the bells and whistles, so I have silenced all the sounds except the bell and horn. I like to listen to the trains travel the track and the wheels crossing the rail joints. It is soothing to my ears. As far as 'playing trains', sorry to say this Charlie but the software is playing your trains, and you are playing on the computer. I have been messing with computers in one way or another since the late 1960's, but there are no computers allowed in my train room. Thanks for the excellent video, it must have taken ages to film and edit. Keep up the great work!

I've given no thought to Train Controller on account of JMRI being free and having programming experience. I've never actually seen the price they're charging for Train Controller until now and HOLY CHRIST. I would find it hard to spend that on *any* software

Charlie, Great video on the uses of automation. For your DC viewers, I installed a Soundtraxx Blunami 2200 Steam 2 decoder in my 0-16.5 On30 C-16 2-8-0. What is great about that decoder is you do not need a DCC system to control it. You can power the Blunami on DC, DCC or even by Battery control it using the Blunami app on an Apple device. You can reprogram the CVs right in the Blunami app. The Lego train guys are posting to RU-vid about installing those Blunami decoders in their trains, which now give them remote control and sound. But, back to my install. I have experimented with running the Blunami equipped locomotive with a Digitrax DCS-52 and I have controlled it with my iPad mini. No problems at all. As long as there is a power source your Apple device can control the loco. I am now about to take the experiments further. Tonight I will try the Blunami powered by a high end DC power pack. I also plan it to put a slide switch in the tender between the track pickup, battery power and the decoder. With the idea that I can just throw the slide switch to the power source I choose. I have an idea that the side switch could protrude through the tender bottom. I have been to a train show where a club's display layout was out of operation for a whole day because something was wrong in the Digitrax system. With the ability to run on battery (DeadRail) one could have run trains while they tried to figure out what was going on in their DCC system. This week, I have posted videos of my Broadway Limited Imports On30 2-8-0 on a Facebook Group called On30 Railroading. I have one running the original QSI DCC with sound, one converted to Tsunami 2200 Steam 2 and converted to the Blunami 2200 Steam 2. Some of my peers have been encouraging me to post content on RU-vid. I keep thinking back to that video you did on being a RU-vid Content Provider. If I could find it, I would like to watch it again. That was an eye opener. Also, I may have an article in the next On30 Annual on converting, tuning and kitbashing the BLI C-16s. Soundtraxx is also asking me to post my conversions, but we are still talking about where to post. I have had a discussion with Soundtraxx on using the diesel versions of the Blunami in battery powered military tanks.

A very interesting video. Fascinating to see train controller working. Scarily complex and I'm sure fiercely expensive to do but mightily impressive all the same. Well done Charlie!

I don’t know why, but RocRail seems often to be ignored from the UK. RocRail is up to par with iTrain and it is free of charge. You could consider taking a look.

Hi Charlie You lost me Just after "hi I'm Charlie"! Absolutely intriguing. Loved watching it All running on auto. I have gone over to DCC a few years ago just for improved Realism. Speed control with back emf is fabulous. No more 0 _ 60 mph starts out of the station. Individual address to locos, lighting,sound, stuff I could only Dream about in the 70s. No idea how it now lends itself to computer control. I don't think I will ever get around to your level of control but love To watch and Wonder. I'm a retired electrician so have basic knowledge of general electronics and PLC programming But I fear I am rapidly getting left behind. With your sessions it does keep me up to date though. As always many thanks Best couple of dollars a month value ever and I can save for future reference when I get confused. Stay safe Howard

Love, love, LOVE the video Charlie, thanks again! Condolences on the passing of your Queen, may she rest in peace!

I am in awe of your knowledge and presentation skills. As a DC (God bless us all) modeller the move to DCC looks to be expensive. As always your videos provide much room for thought. Many thanks and long may they continue.

I think this is what I want, trying to juggle the running of trains and signalling the layout is just so difficult with one person. This video has been a great source of info, thanks Charlie 👍

well done on the explanation especially liked the split screen display of how it worked .Thanks

Impressive information Charlie! Thanks for sharing it in this video. These pointers will definitely help the guys with their respective layouts. Awaiting new updates again!

Excellent video as ever. Well done on achieving all the screen sharing showing the progress of the trains on the layout and on the PC simulantonously. The automatic running is very impressive.

I'm strictly DC but I did watch the entire video nonetheless! ;-) My layout is "circular", but I can sit in the middle and reach everything, including my hand of god points. I am the first to admit electrics, and therefore electronics, is not my strong point, so I just keep it all simple. I have nothing against folk who want to invest in all this gubbins but it's just not for me (old dog, new tricks, etc) and there's only me going to see it. For example, loco noises are all well and good, but I couldn't honestly say I would know the difference if you played a Class 37 "soundtrack" while a different loco trundled past, or vice versa. Still a very enjoyable video Charlie. Cheers

Another brilliant video, Charlie. I appreciate not only the work that is put into the video editing, but also the programming and construction to make this possible. Many, many hours.

Charlie, It's been a delight to watch and soak in all your info and experiences of how you have developed your layout in the last couple of years. I am predominantly a modelmaker of dioramas, but have always had a urge to build a layout. So have started on a very ambitious project of a very large 1960's London based OO gauge layout, which has started with the first board of the 4 lane scratch built engine shed. Through lockdown your video's were inspiring, and this latest video has shed further light on the complexity, and also simplicity of how to run with DCC. Keep up the fantabulous work with Chadwick Parkway. Happy days

Thanks Charlie for taking us on this journey of building the layout I have been watching since your first small layout and the evolution has been very absorbing and informative , it is truly a labour of love and I look forward to seeing more videos , I hope you get the issues on your Pullman and King sorted soon , cheers my friend all the best 👍

I adore watching you Charlie, i dont have any sort of train set, a did have a deltic somewhere double OO gauge when i was young. I'm currentl;y recouperating from a third operation but i find watching your videos relaxing and take the pain away for a short time and you, a fabulous knowledgable egg! Keep up the great work for an ageing trainspotter!

Thank you for your video and explanation, I enjoyed it a lot. I have gone down the automation rough myself. I started my automation with DC only having multiple trains running on the same track with individual DC controllers, as DCC grew in acceptance the system grew to include DCC and DC trains in any combination running on the same track. This is not fantasy it has been done. I use an industrial PLC (Programable Logic Controler) and writhe my own software code

Good morning Charlie, that was a very interesting thought provoking and entertaining video. I came on board with you several years ago and shortly after I started following you very nearly through in the towel because of what you called rivet counters, oh my am I glad you didn't. You layout is one of the most complex ideas I've ever seen. I admire your dedication commitment to this wonderful hobby. You've said that if you meet with others to discuss ideas then the information flow would be one way. Your knowledge is fantastic and a inspiration to us all. Having said that my level of interest is very restricted both financially and knowledge, I came to this hobby in the 1958 to 1964 period with my dad, and a very simple layout, I rekindled my interest with my son in the early 1980s, and now I'm back again with my grandchildren, you my notice a pattern here. I can only dream of even a small of what you've achieved, but me and the kids are happy with out three small circuits of track and some very old trains which I've managed to keep going, with the occasional s/h model. My interest was kindled as a child as was my son and now my grandchildren. They cannot start in the hobby at the hugely expensive and complex level of dcc, I hope we can continue to enjoy what for me I'm now in my 70s has been a lifetime of enjoyment in sharing with my dad my son and now my grandchildren. I don't envy other people I admire and dream. Thank you Charlie you are a inspiration. My head is spinning with all I would love to say but enough. Take care Eddy xx

Charlie the running session was amazing, I have to say for an embryo you are well along the line from a blastocyst! The thought that you could theoretically set a program to clean the tracks, Run passenger and freight services for several hours, make a BLT and a cupper, then sit back in various locations and watch the trains going by. What a way to spend a dreary winters afternoon, in bright sunshine on a summers day on the railway (perhaps bird song and insects buzzing etc in the background for the quiet moments) Oh Charlie, all the best mate!

Another really useful video Charlie. I must admit that automation is not for me but it is really good to see you demonstrate it on your layout so that viewers can draw from it. As for DCC, it is a yes from me right from when i heard the first sound fitted class 25 project from SWD. I bought the SWD decoder and a Roco digi trainset in order to get the Lokmaus controller. My next purchase was a DCC sound Roco Austrian class 2043 diesel hydraulic (think orange hymek !!). From then on i was sold on DCC snd started by a couple of decoders a month to gradually fit my growing British fleet. Obviously automation is very necessary in a setup like Chadwick but i manual control of my simple operations. Thanks again

Again excellent knowledge and advice shared as your layout moves on. The automation with it's accessory controls proves how realistic your layout is advancing. I agree with you the cost can be frightening depending on the layout size and where you want to go. I believe once you see progress as you have shown it can become somewhat obsessive, but give immense satisfaction. Looking forward to the next and further video. There are great, keep the work up.😀😀😀

Another very informative video Charlie. Great to see the trains all behaving themselves and under computer control. I would think that trying to drive four or five trains all at once, purely manually, would be very much more difficult that a few clicks of the mouse. Please keep up the good work!

Hi Charlie, Thanks for a great professional presentation. I watch all your shows. They give me lots of food for thought. I have an N scale layout 5ft x 2.5ft (2 level) using a Lenz DCC controller and iTrain automation software which has been a great challenge to set up and run as I have diamond crossings and about 40 turnouts on the storage yard and station/depot areas. My latest challenge is fitting full automated signalling, which is now working and is fantastic to watch. Sound has made a huge difference to the realism of my railway and made my hobby much more enjoyable. The ability to monitor my upstairs railway track plan running when I am downstairs for a while on a second pc (or iPad) is useful too and any breakdowns can be seen by the non-changing occupancy indications on the screen. The main issue for me is now where to position electronic control boxes and wiring underneath a restricted-space baseboard. Your layout is much easier to configure hardware as it is spread over a large area, so an important consideration is WHEREABOUTS to position items underneath the baseboard so they don’t clash with turnout motors etc. It has taken me 2 years to get here, and I haven’t even started ballasting yet! Haha. I must be nuts to have started this, but what else would I have done? All the best, Keith

OMG Charlie this is a most wonderful tutorial. Its really great to listen to your easy to understand style and your voice is crisp and clear. I am 73 but am slowly completing my layout. Age related backaches seem to be slowing me down like a long haul goods train huffing and panting to haul it heavy load. But apart from this, you area great source of knowledge for me.

Charlie, thank you for another great video, that has given me soooo much to think about. You are right, where do you stop, and how much money do you spend. I see new products demonstrated, usually a DCC Concepts part, and I think wow, how good is that, then check the price, and think, hmmmm, a simple toggle switch will suffice, I can't justify that much money. I run DCC, and do use some of the sound functions, but not all, but you get what you get. It was great to see your trains run, auto-magically, you are very inspirational. Cheers, and stay safe, Michael

I haven't even assembled my train tables from the move yet, and now I already addicted to automation. Thanks Charlie... lol. Because I will be building end to end layout to start with, I will have to do shuttles, and work out a time table for that, so I can have say 3 trains running, two mainline trains point to point with loco change, and one or two trains at grain silos loading and discharging in the sidings. Well that's the aim. lol. Very nice to see a working automated layout. I now have a goal to work toward.

I’m a DCC user for ? 15+ years and have promoted it to anyone who will listen. My train controllers are my building crew and well qualified to take charge of their given assignments. That said it is quite fascinating to watch your fully automated system. Well done. On the business of sound and particularly flange squeal there is a system in development by Iowa Scale Engineering where the squeal is automated throughout the train at wherever the sensors are placed. I’m probably giving a poor description so best to check out their website for this soon to be available bit of kit. Ah yes there is always something new in the offing. All the best. Joe

Dremel make a Flex Shaft attachment which has a smaller head, making cutting track square alot easier. It also allows you to control the speed with one hand while you cut, sand, engrave etc with the other.

Thanks Charlie, amazing what you can do these Days with DCC. Thanks for sharing.

Hi Charlie. I am a DC bod and my layout runs on hundreds of metres of copper wires for control. But I do watch your videos and the wonders of DCC control. If I had the money I would change over to DCC. But for now DC will do me well. Regards Alan in the loft in Dover :o)

I am now 55 and started with my first layout when I was 10 with one Wren Loco " City of London" . Since then , I have married , had a family and got back into the hobby. I honestly think that anyone now starting the hobby and wanting to go for the DCC option is being priced out by greedy manufacturers. By the time you buy a loco, add the chips etc , for a youngster that's a lot of pocket money. All my locos on "Ashford OO Gauge Model Railway " are DC, and I don't think I'll change given the expense. Keep the video's coming , they are a pleasure to watch.

Very interesting video. Automatic multi train and point control was always extremely popular with the germans from the sixties, I'm guessing that computer programs have superceded it to a large extent, of course the Japanese have continued the DC tradition, the Tomix TNOS system being a point midway I guess. One of the big things of the German system was the fun of working out how all the bits of the jigsaw were going to fit together and what the final picture at the end was going to be. Good viewing Charlie

Thanks for the clear description and great camera work!

Very impressive Charlie, thankyou for sharing. I 100% agree with your views on CV 6. CV 's 2,3,4,6,5 are basic but very critical for speed matching too. I think I've finally convinced my fellow club members as well!

Thanks for the info. I had thought of building a DCC shunting yard, as you say, DCC might no be worth while.

Great photography of moving trains, which I am sure you will enjoy developing. I loved that as well as the DCC helpful video. Thanks Charlie

Another cracking video, thanks Charlie. Press start, sit back with a coffee and watch them all trundle around... Bliss.

My pleasure my friend. I love seeing your trains running around. You have ate doing some great work. Glad you are getting something out of our Facebook page. We have things to learn from each other.Cheers Dazzy Jay.

Great video Charlie very impressed with the layout the automation you have acheived. You have my mind ticking over re my layout. Keep up the excellent work. Dallas

Wonderful Charlie, so much work to get this all set up. Well done

Fantastic once again Charlie, watching your videos with a nice cup of tea on a Saturday morning has become a highlight for me. I am contemplating modeling Irish steam in N gauge.. wish me luck 😁

Great stuff. Finally got all my track down and working well. installing blockdetection modules is the next step. My layout is smaller than this, but I like the computer control aspect of this hobby.

As always; Great Work Charlie! You explained everything about train automation very well. Thanks! You have a fantastic layout too. (Automation without feeling intimidating is my goal. This with my hope to automate my HO scale New York City Elevated and Subway perhaps using JMRI, or possibly "Train Controller". The goal would be to dispatch each train from a specified yard track to the system, terminate, returning in the opposite direction of traffic to its appropriate yard track, for the evening).

Great video as usual. I took great inspiration from the early days of McKinley and designed my layout with that in mind. It helped getting involved with setting up a visitor attraction in Birmingham (which I understand is no longer there), which gave me a chance to try it all out before splashing the cash. I can't envisage running my layout of 40+ trains, 110+ points without automation.

Hi Charlie Another entertaining video. You have mentioned in your videos that if you are using used points or track to always use new fish plates. Just wondering if you or one of our friends out there know whether it's worth cleaning the underside of the rails where the fish plates would sit. I would think if the points or track have been previously glued, ballasted, or weathered it would be of great importance to make sure they are clean and have good electrical contact, especially if every piece of track does not have droppers. I look forward to watching more of your entertaining presentations. Happy Modelling, Craig Stow.

Awesome video Charlie. That must have taken a long time. Thank you for your effort.

Great video Charlie, superbly filmed, narrated and editted. I watched several times in order to follow the trains (and hunt down the man on the viaduct .....) and follow the changes on the train controller programme. I like to follow the technological aspect of DCC Its amazing what can be done. What I like is the possibilty to run several trains at the same time and your point about not being able to operate points without it, is obviously very salient. That said, with thought, enjoyable layouts can be built with lesser degrees of sophistication. The dublo layout that me and my dad built was end to end inside a double tracked mainline loop, it was wired and signalled such that when a train had to cross the other mainline to enter one of the ends the signals went red and power was cut at the signal until the train had cleared, a small and simple piece of electrics but it made it seem so realistic for me and my friends when we operated it. Of course it had to operate to a strict timetable as well. The Duette was perfect for this one controller for the loop and the other for operations within the end. I wonder whether my father would have been interested in DCC if it had have been available 50 years ago or so? Ill ask him, - flying back to the UK this afternoon for a long weekend with them! Happy memories!! Look forward to seeing some saw dust flying in the next video. Good luck from Spain!!

Another great and informative Video. Would love another video on more detail about the wiring for Automation

DCC interests me for these things in priority: 1. Acceleration / Deceleration physics 2. Engine / Machine noise appropriate to #1 and running at speed. Random fan/compressor/pressure-valve noises. 3. Potential to experiment with automation (I want to railfan a point-to-point layout including automatic run-arounds, with realistic stops & starts. Bells, whistles, and lights are nice but not necessary. To get around the "tiny" speaker sound in n-gauge, I am thinking of using the sound decoder in a stationary mounting, driving a real amplifier & speaker: my planned layout is a relatively small shelf size where the oddness of stationary engine noise is overcome by the high fidelity and volume of the noise. I think that good sound and good acc/dec physics are powerful ways to help us "suspend our disbelief" and can cover a "multitude of modeling sins." So just my 2 cents! 😊💜

i model dc but still found this very interesting and you explain everything very well its a bit technical these days but a lot of fun not like years ago when i ran my triang jinty 47606 on a circle of track on the carpet great video thanks for sharing

That last part, about getting the flow of the trains correctly........ I can easily imagine where having something that is intended to be 14th in line (sequentially, a.k.a. "Event 14") could rather easily end up actually waiting on some other train's "Event 10" because of a difference in speeds of the trains, some "unintended other delay" because of another train not starting "on-time" .... I'm going to "lose my own point, here" if I'm not careful. The idea I'm trying to convey is that getting the sequencing correct in the "controller" could be really difficult for some. Kudos to the folks such as yourself that have that capability.

Flange squeal sound located at the points - brilliant idea!

Brilliant Charly, many thanks for sharing. Yes, Train Controller is very addictive and very powerful. Wish I knew more:)

I'm not a modeller Charlie but I found this a fascinating video on DCC plus all the advantages it can bring

Train controller 10.0 came out this week and Rudy has started a new series of tips. If you into automatic train control it’s a very helpful site.

That is a good review of an extensive subject! All hobbies and interests have a cost. A model railway tends to be over a longer term where the ongoing costs diminish as you advance - providing you dont buy new trains all the time! It still represents good value for money when you consider the total hours of enjoyment / frustration that you will get out of it. The initial investment cost of Train Controller is high but it is an extensive program and lets you do what ever you want. I am really pleased that it works with DC as well. Tip: go to the view tab and deselect the 'Grid' option for a cleaner looking switchboard.

Another excellent video. Chadwck is really maturing. And the features keep falling into place (proper prior planning works, even with the odd hiccup).

Hi Charlie, so beautiful to see your trains running, I can see how fun train automation can be especially being able to make all the sounds programmable. I'm old school DC and I love your BR Blue era, maybe one day I'll do DCC

Great video Charlie. Loved the running session and the explanation of how it all works. Found the comments really interesting too. Quite diverse opinions there. I am sticking with DC myself. That’s quite complicated enough for me at my age. Always enjoy watching your videos. Thanks for sharing. Roy.

This is so interesting!!! I am now wanting to do this!

Interesting about your comment on flange squeal, Iowa Scaled Engineering are about to release a product that you install on track it detects a train and releases a sound of wheel squeal at the location of the curve etc

Hi Charlie, l found that running session hugely impressive. Your knowledge must be beyond "embryonic". Really looking forward to more scenic work, expecially the station though l m sure uou ll be testing, testing, testing for some while before progressing. Love uour channel. Cheers!

Thank you for all your teaching Great videos and well explains

Thank you Charlie for another interesting video, sadly I've gone down the road of Gaugemaster Prodigy so I don't think I can use train automation. It's always nice to see your layout running after I watched you build it right from the start. Look forward to the next video.

A fantastic video Charlie, I appreciated the yellow dot/stop point! It was nice to see that! I love your ability to explain this, even with you yourself saying you're a novice, if you don't know how to explain something WELL, it doesn't matter if you're a novice or an expert! well done! This really has cemented the fact that i want to do block detection myself!

Hi Charlie, very informative video. Would be very interesting to see a video of the costs involved in getting to that level of automation? 😀

What a wonderful video,and very insightful. Thank you so much.i am at (62) still very much learning,I am into dcc in a big way,it has to be the way forward....but on my layout I have to have dc for my quite large stock of wrenns,...Best of both worlds 👍

One reason I have stopped using Digitrax decoders and switched to ESU decoders is so I can have railcom and ABC braking.

Really interesting, thank you. I'm building towards automation using JMRI, Arduinos and individual components for the, well, less expensive option but the principles are the same. The Train Controller panels do look very pretty.

That is really a fine setup. Look forward to further progress.

Quite like this video. Thanks! I find the speakers in the locomotives will never be good enough to justify the price of DCC and Sound. I tend to listen to music while running trains anyways!

Thanks Charlie for a very interesting video! I will do so more research! 👏

Very interesting video Charlie!!!! Thanks for sharing and stay safe my friend!!

Great video and it's good to see what you have accomplished with Train Controller and the possibilities there are with it you just couldn't run a sequence like that single-handed. I use the JMRI system myself but have never taken it further than simple route planning . As we all know the biggest enemy of reliable running is contamination and dirt on the track or the locos, in such a case what would happen to the sequence if say the first loco coming off the helix stalled when there was a second one following two blocks behind. Regards, Richard

Inspiring vid. Thanks Charlie

Fantastic video as always, thanks for taking the time to put it together and edit. Being on the verge of trying to automate part of my layout I was curious as to what hardware you and others use for block detection? As far as I can tell some sections (certainly in fiddle yards) need 2 blocks and so with this in mind it seems like it could become a very expensive affair to have a lot of block detectors, or maybe I have misunderstood the need for so many blocks. Great layout progress and looking forward to the next instalment already. Cheers, Dave

A very interesting and objective presentation Charlie thankyou. I'm not convinced it would ever be for me. Even our Grandson is not enthusiastic despite being very computer literate as they all seem to be these days at 13 years old! We've been at too many exhibitions where they've had a 'bit of trouble' and it's all gone pear-shaped.

Amazing running session Charlie nott sure witch way to go with controlling my simple layout thankyou for the tips and video

Most enjoyable Charlie, how about a meet up at Shepton Mallet Western Australia? I'm thinking I might take my layout to DCC automation one day in the future. Cheers

Gday Charlie, some Great footage there, I like the sound of DCC but it would cost me a fortune to change and I'm not sure I'd be able alter some of my Older Locos, Mick

Please pardon the coming wall'o'text. Another fine presentation. Thankyou Charlie. After having watched quite a few videos on how easy it is to instal and operate a DCC system, I've come to another decision in regard to my layout. I do want to automate my layout as much as possible so as the few trains that I run will stop at predetermined points on the layout for a set amount of time and then head off to complete their respective journeys at least to their next designated stopping point. Ideally this would be to bring about the action of stopping a train at a station platform to allow passengers to board and alight, or in the case of a freight train, to allow it to stop at a depot in order to exchange or transfer their various loads. When the trains are "out of sight" or off stage (however one would express it) they would be able to remain so, idling, again for a set time and thereby create the illusion of their long distance travel to and from a far off destination. It's my hope that I would be able to organise this in such a way that an observer would see trains running, stopping and starting, appearing and disappearing going about their business much in the same way as they would in real life. Now for a bit of background story here. (the wall'o'text I mentioned earlier). My Parent's were both railway employees for at least 20 years each. My Mother was a Station Assistant as the title was back then and over the years worked quite a few stations about suburban Melbourne and my Father was a Signalman of considerable qualification in that he was rated as able to work any signal box in the state regardless of size and complexity and this was just before the age of computerised controls and monitors... It was all mechanical.. big wheels and big lever and lots of bells and buzzers. On occasion as a child I'd be allowed to visit and watch them in their roles and so saw much of what went on a day to day basis. It gave me an appreciation of the expectations and responsibilities they each had but it also showed me that a statewide rail system to run efficiently and to capacity only needs forethought, planning, adherence to detail and of course dedicated people to do their part in keeping that system running... and all this achieved with not a single computer anywhere to be seen. I might be tilting at windmills here but it occurs to me then if such a marvel of massed and diverse engineering was possible way back then, then why couldn't I recreate my own mini-marvel but with far less going on and on a much smaller scale today? And so my quest is to create an automated layout without resorting to anything that requires a computer and its associated software to make it all tick, tock, clack and whirr to it's turkish delight... and mine. Any links that you could provide that would point me in the right direction to companies that manufacture and sell the appropriate hardware, would be appreciated.

Very interesting video Charlie, I can understand why people want to go down the DDC road, however it is not for me. I like the challenge of changing points using toggle switches, running 4 trains at the same time with Gaugemaster controllers etc. What I do not like at all are the sounds, cant stand it, much prefer the sound of my trains clicking over rail joins and points. The other point as you touched on was cost, most of my locos and rolling stock are pre owned, bought from Hatton's, Rails of Sheffield, eBay or at shows there is no way I could justify the cost of the equipment.

Love watching your channel Charlie. Only got entry level EZ command DCC because i dont use more than 6 sound functions it keeps cost down and i get the same enjoyment with my layout as some of the more complex layouts i have seen.

I wanted to say just how sorry I am about Her Majesty the Queen passing. I cried. 60 years old and I cried. I live in Az, born an American but my Heart has always belonged to England. My mother used to say they gave her the wrong child because I always stood up for or was talking about England. Queen Elizabeth, like so many of us, had been Queen all my life, She was my HERO and was a ROLE model for anyone who believed in Honor and Devotion. Not like the American politicians who are sell outs and cowards, Her Magesty always put England and the Commonwealth first. I know this is a train channel, and I truly love Charlie, but I have been so heartbroken over her passing I had to say something. Thank you to those who can understand and my thoughts and prayers are always with England. May God Save the King!

Another great and informative RU-vid video Charlie. Whilst at this stage I haven’t considered the automation route when I build my first layout, however, the information and explanations as to there ‘merit’ then I will give it some serious consideration. I do see the appeal and how operating your layout can be more fun following the automation route and I value your honesty as to the expensive nature of this wonderful hobby, but at the end of the day, no hobby is cheap, one just hopes that the hobby doesn’t become even more expensive as time moves on. We all have a budget, but at the end of the day it is the little things which give us the pleasure despite how much it costs.

Great video Charlie. Everyone’s got a budget so you have to prioritise what you wish to gain. Personally DCC has never interested me.

Another great video Charlie. Thanks for the inspiration. Regards. Martin

Hi Charlie, I had given dcc for my layout but being down under so to speak, I felt the expense wasn't going to be any advantage, I have made all my own controllers using heavy amperage transformers and no problems, track detection is with a very simple circut which also controls the points when route setting, if the money was available I definitely would go down the route you have taken, as always a great video, thankyou