35. London Station - Present and Future

[@Tonyd5996]

Absolutely fantastic. I really like all the running details you present in your videos and look forward to new ones all the time. Good work Charlie on the video as well.

[@perthsouth5576]

Another great video Dave, on a fabulous layout. Hugh

[@dylanheaton4055]

Nice one David and team! Keep them coming...that is your video's. I wish I could visit you and your layout and team!

[@leilacentral1883]

Love the London station. Really loved the track cam footage. Very comprehensive learning setup required for the throttles. But I guess once learned it becomes second nature over time. The shunting and traffic movements will create some great situations. Very informative. How to sent a train off in relation to the interlock system and the computer is brilliant. Just shows with extensive planning what can be achieved. Really enjoyed this, Clint

[@jimsmoter4510]

Fantastic update. Looking forward to the changes..

[@Kettenhund31]

Thanks for sharing... You keep giving me ideas that I can use on my layout!

[@DungeWoodRailway]

Great video, interesting changes to come, particularly the goods siding arrangement as I plan to have a similar yard area on my layout. I look forward to your future updates. Cheers Paul 👍

[@TheDaf95xf]

Hi David and team. First wishing you all a very happy Christmas 🎄 Great update on what is becoming a very interesting railway 🙂 Looking forward to following its progress throughout 2020 and beyond 😄 All the very best from Stevie a great follower of Mackinley railway time machine 👍🏻

[@dattouk]

Thank you Stevie..

[@mick9885]

Looks and sounds great, look forward to seeing the changes 👍

[@davidgregory1668]

Absolutely brilliant,good luck with the changes.Look forward to seeing them completed.

[@trainmanbob]

Very interesting changes to come. It goes to show that with a layout of this magnitude, space to achieve what is desired can still be a problem. We all have to compromise, which is why I built a full scale model in N of an actual prototype. Sometimes I wish I hadn't and sometimes I'm glad I did...strange old world !!. Thanks for posting. Cheers, Bob

[@film49uk]

Excellent clip and very interesting indeed .I will be looking forward to a update on London when it is available to watch.......Nice video Charlie well shot ......

[@george_kennedy]

Another great video, many thanks. As for the Digitrax Controller manual that you have created, would you consider sharing it with us?

[@paulappswildlifeart]

Nice video, very enjoyable. look forward to many more, cheers Paul at Sandling Junction

[@SammyBFilms]

What a great railway! And the changes really would be an improvement too. :-)

[@hovermotion]

Cool...you have a lot of devotion for the hobby...

[@geoffwalker315]

Great project using a great DCC system.

[@NicholassTrainChannel]

i like the idea about making the fright sidings straight to allow disconnecting the trains better.

[@keiththomas3444]

For the controller power cabs are very easy to use

[@ainsleyperry5192]

McKinley Railway, David the future large building for Fast Parcels, Fresh Produce etc. There was a facility like this that handled all this type of traffic but it was demolished when the old Covent Garden closed. " Bazing" around in the old Model's Railway's magazine had an article on being a place to model. If Fanny Cradock's around, Johnny, will be into the cooking sherry not far away. This week's Eagle has arrived so I've got to go Dan Dare needs my help. So to yourself and the team, Happy New Year. Cheers, Chris Perry.

[@TransportCambs]

Could you make a tutorial on making the signalling control pannel please at 08:53, would love a tutorial like that!

[@paulvernon3246]

First time viewing. Very impressive

[@thelibrarian46]

It sounds very organised, but I am sure there will be a learning curve during the changes and engineering works ahead.

[@markstafford5586]

A most enjoyable video, as per usual. And I was first view....again. Oh how I like that! Silly isn’t it..

[@dattouk]

Hey Mark... Thanks for the feedback.

[@cholloway0046]

Fantastic work so far! Have you considered using triple (three-way) points for those new sidings?

[@dattouk]

We have found that the three way points are a nightmare with the wagons and rolling stock. We never found a way to get them and the stock to work reliably together!

[@gerrynewton55020]

What a great layout! Can I ask, how did you make the roof arches for the London station?

[@dattouk]

we made them up manually from skinny Plywood. It was a long slow process. In future I would get them laser cut. So much better. We used wire rods (piano wire) threaded through them all to the whole roof stability.

[@JamesPetts]

This is very interesting. May I ask - in TrainController, how do you set up the system for (1) enabling/disabling station roads; and (2) push buttons for taking control from and giving control back to the computer for various sections?

[@dattouk]

Hi James, for the control of the station, we use the DTM30 boards. Download the DTM30 manual and look at the interlock logic. It was designed by Lawrence Barker to explicitly interface with TrainController over LocoNet. WRT platform release. The DTM30 boards can be programmed to act with a physical switch and drive a fake LocoNet sensor. The the operator toggles the switch on the control panel (aka a DTM30 input) the DTM30 sends a sensor message ( on or off). We have programmed the same sensor message in Train Controller to have some actions. - Lock or release the exit from AND entry to the platform.

[@JamesPetts]

@@dattouk That is very interesting - thank you.

[@kenr86]

Regarding the learning curve with the Digitrax throttles - the club I'm in has standardized on Digitrax, and yes, they are not easy to use. But at shows, we run JMRI, and everyone has the "Engine Driver' app on their smart phones. It means we don't need to buy 10 or more throttles (at $$ crazy amount each), as everyone has a smart phone. Plus, the Engine Driver app is very simple and easy to use.

[@dattouk]

Hi Ken, Thanks for the idea.. Does the Engine Driver app work on the iPod Touch? No phone signals no interruptions.... David

[@kenr86]

@@dattouk no idea. There are versions that run on android and apple cell phones. Check on the JMRI web site. I would but I'm on my cell phone...

[@dattouk]

I just bought a second hand iPod touch... Here goes.. Thanks for the idea.

[@SammoKarm]

Sorry, this has nothing to do with regard this particular subject video, But. In one of your previous videos you suggested checking weights of rolling stock to aid running, Could you please advise? Is it 25 grm per 25 mm length of stock and where are the measurements of the rolling stock taken from? Thanks.

[@dattouk]

Hi Sam, Yep but we operate a bit lower than that and suffer no degradation in performance. The important thing is that all the stock has the same uniform load per centimetre along the train. i.e. Our 16T mineral wagons are 45g per wagon. If we have another wagon that is 50% longer is is 1.5 x 45g. This logic stops light wagons "popping off" the track around curves. We measure from the centre of couplings.

[@SammoKarm]

@@dattouk Thank you for the info

[@marklaidlay6842]

I'm a new subscriber here, do you explain somewhere why you have two switches on crossovers?

[@dattouk]

Do you mean on the control panel? if so, it's because we didn't think about using just one switch when we started. We have changed with the new panels.

[@danieleveritt4086]

Y not just use jmri software to just use operators mobile phones as controllers?

[@damiendye6623]

would make sense if the computer is already doing most of the work.

[@andrewstevenson5449]

Nice update and insight into operation of McKinley. Re backscenes, it might be worth looking at/talking to Art Printers id backscenes (www.art-printers.com). I've seen their backscenes on a number of youtube layouts, and some of them are becoming a bit recognisable, but they will also do custom backscenes as well as adapt their stock backscenes.

[@dattouk]

Good thought. Thank you for the suggestion.

[@djburland]

What has happened to 2020? Did Covid-19 stop the activity?

[@dattouk]

It stopped us filming.

[@FarlandHowe]

I would suggest you go to a graphics based DCC train controller that work on Android or Apple smart phones or pads. It is wireless, is not connected to the internet and is so easy a 6 year old could pick it up and run trains in 15 seconds.

[@bussesandtrains1218]

Damn that railway must cost millions

[@vxrdrummer]

I have an 8 foot by 4 foot layout that is just track, controller, some basic scenery (not even buildings or anthing yet), electric turntable, and the engines and rolling stock, and its cost me around £2 - 3k already! The board is pretty much still bare. Its not ballasted or had the extra sidings put in or anything yet which is still absolute basics. Its still DC as well so needs the conversion to DCC, alongwith a new controller. Its going to cost thousands and thousands more and its very very basic in comparison to the way their beast is controlled! I'd love to see how much it has cost them overall.

[@clivecobbold6815]

hi mate great video mate i model BR wcml in the 1980s in around lancaster and heysham with intercity boat trains to and from London euston and mancaster victora and dmus to Leeds with the BR sealink carferry duke of lancaster at heysham harbour railway station and stranraer harbour in southwest Scotland with intercity boat trains and intercity sleeper boat trains to and from London euston and sealink livery mk1 trains and dmus to and from Glasgow central with the BR sealink carferry Galloway princess at stranraer harhour railway station and intercity /intercity sleeper trains to and from London euston and glasgow central i have been modelling railways for 50 years now goodbye for now Clive

[@dattouk]

Hey Clive, Get some videos up... Your world sounds brilliant.

[@clivecobbold6815]

@@dattouk hi mate I have know way for putting videos on KZbin at the minute I have photos of my layout but can only send them by email mate clive

[@amandamontage5244]

Try visiting AJMRailways.com for some superb backsenes photographed professionally of some UK scenes and which can be made longer than the standard lenghts and in different heights.

[@dattouk]

Thanks Amanda. Appreciate the suggestion

[@spencerhardy8667]

I always thought DCC uncoupling would have been one of the earliest features developed. Hornby's ZeroX in 1979 to today... (that's equivalent to 1879 to 1920), and yet you lot are the only team I've seen with a viable working system. Today's exquisite ready to run models still using 1955 Triang D tension lock couplings seems as anachronistic as military ceremonial dress being used in modern combat situations. But uglier. First people to produce a DCC auto coupler that clips into the standard socket might earn a decent living.

[@dattouk]

Keep up with the comments Spencer.. Brilliant.

[@clangerbasher]

Hades? Ah......Birmingham New Street.........

[@markcrocker934]

Digitrax as a controller is being left behind. The new Android systems are so much more intuitive and attractive particularly for younger people in the hobby. I am just converting to ESU. Nice update anyway, thanks. Mark

[@dattouk]

Hi Mark, I got excited about the ESU developments 5 years ago, but a number of important factors held me back from migrating to ESU. The data bus is somewhat inflexible from a physical perspective with 6 to 7 pin DIN style connectors being required. ESU don't publish their bus protocol. There are no 3rd party developers and there isn't any diagnostic software to monitor the bus. In addition, I really value the boot up process on the Digitrax LocoNet which triggers a general reporting of all devices on the bus when power is turned on at the track level (GPON). That allows me to immediately confirm that the 200 or so boards on the bus are all alive and reporting correctly and finally the power management PM42 devices report short circuits on the different zones of the track and more importantly automatically turn the power back on when the short circuit has been removed. All these points added up to tell me not to migrate.

[@markcrocker934]

McKinley Railway thanks for taking the time to respond. Your set up has such complexity that I can understand your perspective. On my HO scale railroad I have to confess that I use Digitrax for signals (SE8Cs) and block detection (BDL168s) but use MRC (Gaugemaster in the UK) for loco control via their Prodigy Advance wireless set up. It still talks to the Digitrax Loconet but the throttles are so much more intuitive. Currently using the ESU on my O gauge British layout which is way less sophisticated and certainly a million miles from the requirements you need to run McKinley. It will be interesting to see where the open source Android developments go. Thanks again. Mark

[@tomlawton7087]

Would it be possible to share the test sheets, so we can all confirm we can use our controllers to a suitable skill level?

[@TheSps24]

I'm going to be the killjoy here. The McKinley layout comes over as a cold soulless project to me. I wish I could like it, but I can't. There is something missing. A heart! Its an experiment in devotion to technology. Thus it becomes bland and dreary as a spectacle. If it was a car it would be a Nissan Juke, works well, but nothing to get the juices flowing.

[@markstafford5586]

Sps24 isn’t that interesting! This is one of the very few layouts that have electronics aspects of our hobby as a fundamental focus. It is that trait that attract me. I know that electronic excellence isn’t a “mainstream” pursuit for many (At all). But there is no denying that McKinney is way way up there in the technological stakes. I love it.

[@dattouk]

I am comfortable that the audience and the rest of the team find the McKinley project exciting. We have passion with a big P and it's in the people The technology we are exploiting is just a means to the end. If you use an iPhone it is the same thing - There's a ton of technology in that small package, but you and I just press simple buttons. When people come and operate the layout, they love getting immersed in the operations. They don't see the technology. They are blown away by trains running all over the layout reliably and the demands of getting trains out on time. One big obstacle is actually doing the videos. Most of us freeze up badly. Try it yourself - video just one your dreams and share. Allegros-R-Us

[@markstafford5586]

McKinley Railway i totally agree. This hobby has any faces, automation is but one. But mckinley is not limited to “just” automation. You guys are talking all sorts of great stuff. I applaud your efforts. Yours Mark the Mckinley number 1 fan boy!