Drawing Track Diagram/Track Board on the Märklin Central Station 3 (CS3 Episode 6)

[@petergorton9848]

Absolutely fantastic! Thanks so much for your efforts. I have messed around for ages creating a very messy track plan - will now try again.

[@ModelTrainFun]

Glad to help! Making the track diagram/track boards requires quite some patience. Sometimes you need to try to redraw to make it look nicer. Hope you have success with the redraw. Enjoy ;-)

[@gullrock14]

Best how-to videos!

[@ModelTrainFun]

Glad you like them. Enjoy ;-)

[@strafrag1]

I did the new panel level for my lower level. All went very well. Thanks for the video.

[@ModelTrainFun]

Hi strafag, I am glad to hear the video helped you. Enjoy and have fun with trains ;-)

[@OgaugeTrainsplusslotCars]

You are a true TOY TRAIN CYBER ENGINEER.

[@ModelTrainFun]

Thanks - hope you enjoyed ;-)

[@ericmoeliker1977]

heel heldere uitleg en praktijk instructie

[@ModelTrainFun]

Glad you liked it. Enjoy ;-)

[@SLINGPC21]

Great Marklin/Trix educational videos. Thank you so much has got me inspired and back into train modelling. Ever so helpful and interesting. Can’t wait for your next videos and please keep it coming.

[@ModelTrainFun]

Great to hear and welcome back to model trains - it's a great hobby. Enjoy ;-)

[@rudi4505]

Hi Bo, Thanks for your phantastic guidelines for beginners. You spell the processes step by step which is extremely helpful. You might know it in the menawhile: The exact turning of the elements in the panel is better to handle if you click onto the little turn mark and then move the pressed mouse indicator a bit away from the symbol's position. Now by drawing a great circle you can turn the symbol degree by degree.

[@ModelTrainFun]

Hi Rudi, Great advice - Thanks! I am glad that you like the channel. Please keep the tips'n'tricks coming - always good to learn more. This one definetely mad it easier. Enjoy ;-)

[@rjrg2008]

Excellent video, best regards from Argentina.

[@ModelTrainFun]

Hi Roberto, Glad you liked it. Enjoy ;-) Bo

[@finngregersen6590]

Super gode videoer, du laver. Især denne her gjorde, at der gik mange lys op for mig. Bliv endelig ved med nye videoer. 🤞😜👍

[@ModelTrainFun]

Herligt - takker. Glad for at du kan lide videoen ;-) Excellent - thanks. Glad you like the video ;-)

[@stefanlorenzen4084]

Mange tak for dine undervisning videoer det har været en stor hjælp. Forsæt gerne med nye programmer😀

[@ModelTrainFun]

Hi Stefan, Glad for at du kan lide videoerne! hygge ;-) I am glad you like the videos! Enjoy ;-)

[@frankolsen5703]

Super Nice video with lots of useful tips and tricks. Keep up the good video making.

[@ModelTrainFun]

Hi Frank, Glad you liked the video! Enjoy ;-) Bo

[@TinkeringJohn]

When you have a switch or signal inside an area, the color of the name box of them in the article list also changes to the area color. Also, to get the trash can on an empty track board, you can get it to come up by moving a resizing handle. Great video.

[@ModelTrainFun]

Hi John, excellent tips! I like the colors on the track board and the colors on the articles is also very handy. Annoying with the trash can, but good tip. Thanks. Enjoy ;-)

[@ddierick]

Superb and very valuable video trainings! Thanks a lot!

[@ModelTrainFun]

Hi Dominique, glad you liked it! Enjoy ;-)

[@mrthomasheder]

hejsa, tak for dit svar. Jeg sidder selv og roder- eller rettere sagt kæmper med den, og din video er virkelig en KÆMPE hjælp ;-) Det er virkeligt bare fedt at du har mod og tid til at hjælpe os andre amatører, igen 1000 tak!! mvh Thomas Heder, Aalborg

[@ModelTrainFun]

Herligt at video hjalp - det er mit mål med kanalen at hjælpe alle og være med til at udveksle tips og tricks. Et tip er at sommetider kan det være nemmere at bruge CS3's webside til at tegne dit layout. Men den seneste version har desvære en del software fejl. I am glad that the video has helped you. My goal with this channel is til help og exchange tips'n'ticks. One tip for drawing layouts is to consider using the web page of the CS3 to draw the layout. However, the lates version unfortunately has quite a few bugs. Enjoy and please share your experiences ;-)

[@APV2013]

Terrific class! Very helpful. Thank you.

[@ModelTrainFun]

Glad it was helpful! Enjoy-);

[@bernardfievez9476]

Fantastic, so helpful.

[@ModelTrainFun]

Thanks Bernard! Enjoy ;-) Bo

[@OddvinBidne]

Hi Bo and thx for great videos again. Fyi I got a new CS3+ yesterday, and it works perfectly! Now I can finally move forwards with my layout. Just drew my trackplans on the new one :)

[@ModelTrainFun]

Hi Oddvin, great to hear you got a new CS3+! It seemed the other one was faulty. Hoper you have fun with it and please let me know of your projects and if you need any help. Enjoy ;-)

[@OddvinBidne]

@@ModelTrainFun Hi Bo.I have seen most of your videos before, but need to refresh my memory ;) I dont know if it was a software issue or something else. Now that I can compare the new vs the old I notice this one stayes at about the same temperature as urs in the videos, the old one always got much hotter looking at its temp. and CPU temp. (about 60+) I also noticed it was showing a small amount of Amp on the programming track even tho I didnt use that, this one dont. so now everything works perfectly and Im wery happy :) Finally I can move on , so thanks again.

[@ModelTrainFun]

​@@OddvinBidne I am so glad that your CS3 got fixed. Hope you will have lots of fun with it. Interesting with the small amount of amp on the programming track as I see another viewer has this issue as well (@Derin Hakan Karakurt). However, he did not mention blinking turnouts when turning on turning on locomotive sounds. I tagged him in this comment, so he might have more questions, if this is ok? Enjoy ;-)

[@OddvinBidne]

@@ModelTrainFun Yes thats ok. just a pleasure to help if I can.

[@VojtovySumavskeVlakyCZ]

Great video like and subscribed from Czech Republic 🙂👍👍

[@ModelTrainFun]

Thanks for the sub! Welcome from Czech! Hope you will enjoy ;-)

[@VojtovySumavskeVlakyCZ]

@@ModelTrainFun you're welcome 🙂

[@erichendrikse2946]

Very educational. Great Compliment

[@ModelTrainFun]

Glad you think so! Enjoy ;-)

[@tominnis8353]

Fantastic! Thank you.

[@ModelTrainFun]

Glad you liked it! Enjoy ;-)

[@MykolaKurylo]

Дуже вдячний за відео, як по інструкції зробив схему свого макета. Дякую!

[@ModelTrainFun]

Hi Mykola, I am glad that the video helped you! Have fun with trains ;-) Bo

[@tonyh4266]

Hello, is it possible to link the turnouts to a signal. So that as you switch track the single lights or semaphore moves? I love the information you provide. TonyH

[@ModelTrainFun]

Hi Tony, Glad you like the channel! As you are commenting on this video I assume you have a CS3. In the CS3 you can use an event to change the signal depending on the position of the turnout. You do this by enabling extended events (Open tab above, go to System->System->CS3->Track: Protocols & Operations and enable "Events - extended mode". Now you can create an event and drag the turnout on the trigger part of the event. Choose the position e.g. straight and then you can set the signal to e.g. red or green in the body of the event. As an example you can see here in this video how a signal is turned red when locomotive leaves a contact track "C3". You can drag a turnout onto the trigger in the same way. Hope this helps! Enjoy ;-) Bo

[@lorenzomarinelliclub413]

Hi Bo, I wanted to ask you can you draw tracks using the web surface of the Central station 3 Plus? Thanks for your time. Lorenzo Marinelli

[@ModelTrainFun]

Hi Lorenzo, yes you can use the web page of the CS3 to draw tracks. However, I find that the latest update made it very unstable - try it out, but be ready for some quirks. Enjoy ;-) Bo

[@The_Swe_Goose]

I'm a young boy from Sweden at 11 years old playing with model trains for fun with my grandfather and I'm wondering do the turnouts have serial numbers to sync with the tracks and if so how do I find out those serial numbers?

[@ModelTrainFun]

Welcome to the channel - I hope you will enjoy model trains with your grandfather ;-) Making the turnouts shift from the Central Station 3 (CS3) requires a couple of steps: 1. You must have a turnout 2. You must install a turnout mechanism that can change the turnout 3. You must install a turnout decoder that can understand the CS3 and shift the turnout using the turnout mechanism. These are expensive items to add to the turnout - however, you can still use the turnouts manually without them. But this means it is not connected to the track diagram/track board as you have to do it yourself. It is still fun to use the layout with manual turnouts. You can see how to install a turnout mechanism in this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/npulkGCdppxjZ5o You can see how to install a turnout decoder in this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/lWfPeH6HaLudaLM Got any nice locomotives? I hope this helps and have fun model railroading with your grandfather! Enjoy ;-)

[@evangiles4403]

The turnouts and track are the 24XXX series - You use switch decoders ( 74462 or 74467 for a double slip point ) that are attached to the bottom of the points and they use whats called an address which can be from the numbers 1 to 255 and you set these addresses via dip switches if you use Marklin products only if you want to use any other you need to use DCC products The best thing to do is buy a starter set and then get use to using a mobile station once your used to that you can get the CS3 or CS3+ With the mobile station you have very limited capability and my advice to you is to go over to the CS3's once your familiar with how digital works

[@BernardSCHEER]

Thanks for the wonderful video.If my track drawing is misplaced on my diagram, how can I recenter it ? Salutations from France !

[@ModelTrainFun]

Hi Bernard, you can move the diagram around and zoom. Use pinch to zoom and select next to a board and move. However, it can be difficult on the CS3. I suggest you just select the track board as you see at 1:04:10 in the video. Enjoy ;-)

[@MaartenvandenBout-yv3ky]

In this way to drawn a track, can I see how many rails of a certain type I need ?

[@ModelTrainFun]

Hi Maarten, this is an approximation to get an overview of your layout on the CS3 - it is not an exact layout diagram. Hence, it cannot be used to determine which tracks your need. Enjoy ;-) Bo

[@jesperquark1608]

Hello again Is it possible to draw track layout in multiple lewels? Er det muligt at tegne spordiagram i flere lag, dag min bane er i 3 niveauer? Tak for en super genenmgang!

[@ModelTrainFun]

Hi Jesper, I am going to respond in English so other viewers also get the benefit of reading it - if this is an issue shoot me an email (see the Channel About). You can make multiple panels with track diagram. In this way you can use the panels to draw different sections of your layout. As an example, this could be one panel for the visible part of the layout and one for the shadow station. The track diagram is 2D and as such does not have any height. As a guiding rule the track diagram on the CS3 does not have to look exactly like the layout in real life. The idea is to make a representation of the layout where it is easy to get an overview. As an example consider the London underground where you have an easy overview map where the lines look straight contrary to how it looks in real life. The trick is to draw something the makes you recognize the layout without have all the small bends and curves. In the same way consider how you would look at and interact with the track diagram. It could be a good idea to have a panel with your main station, one with the main line and one with the shadow station. You can jump between the panels by placing links or just choosing the panel in the menu at the top. You can see in the video how to create multiple panels here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fpqZg2arnL9gibM You can see in the video how to create the links here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fpqZg2arnL9gibM How to jump between panels is illustrated here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fpqZg2arnL9gibM Hope this helps! Enjoy making layout diagrams ;-)

[@JohnWhite-vu5ug]

Can I copy a control panel to a Control Desk on the CS3+?

[@ModelTrainFun]

Hi John, unfortunately that is not possible - they are two different ways to make diagrams and are not compatible... Enjoy ;-) Bo

[@agxlives]

Your videos are a great starting point for CS3 knowledge. Thank you!! A question: is it possible to have more than one layout saved in the CS3? I can see doing it via backups, but can more than one layout be available and selectable. Not run at the same time, but simply unplug the CS3 and move to an alternate layout. I have my small layout and am debating adding a larger one in another room. Thanks again.

[@ModelTrainFun]

Hi Chas, You could have multiple layouts across several panels as you see in the video from 55:38. However, the issue will be addressing. If you have a turnout with address 1 one layout, then you cannot have another turnout with address 1 on another layout. Well you can, but you cannot have the same turnout on two different panels. What I have done in the past to circumvent this is to make a turnout "T1" with address 1 and another turnout "T1." (added a dot) also with address one. Then you can place each turnout T1 and T1. on each it's panel. Other options are as you mention doing backups. However, dont forget you can connect two separate layouts to same CS3. If you run out of power on the combined set of layouts you can add a booster. In this way one layout is powered through a booster while the other through the CS3. This means you must separate the addressing for turnouts, accessories and locomotives. Hope this helps. Enjoy ;-)

[@jenserikebbesen8405]

How come does all you accessories eg turnouts have a Märklin symbol?

[@ModelTrainFun]

I think you are talking about the red "m" on many (not all) of the accessories? I believe this is because it is a mfx accessory. It seems to fit the bill that the ones that do not have mfx does not have a red "m". Enjoy ;-)

[@furedipeter2146]

Great video, thank you. I'm just wondering if I can create my own symbol in the panel by CS3? For example, a special signal that I use on the layout (or other things), let's say a speed indicator? Is it possible?

[@ModelTrainFun]

Hi, glad you find the video useful! Unfortunately, you cannot customize the symbols. Would probably be complex for Märklin to implement. Out of curiosity - what is your idea with the speed indicator? Are you talking about showing max speed on a section of track? Enjoy ;-)

[@furedipeter2146]

Hi, thanks for the answer, it's a pity you can't make your own symbol. I was actually referring to the signaling pictures. In Europe, railway signals in a few countries show permitted speeds different from the standard speed. For example, the train can go 60 km/h instead of 40 km/h on a switch. I assume that CS3 doesn't have 5 or 6 aspect signal in library to choose, I suppose maximum 4 aspect signal I can find. So I thought I'd make it if possible, but it's not.

[@ModelTrainFun]

Hi, one option I can think of is to make a 4 aspect signal and then have an extra light next to it to either turn on/off - or change between the speeds. However, all of this depends on the decoder you are using. Which decoder are you using for 5- or 6- aspect signals? Enjoy ;-)

[@furedipeter2146]

@@ModelTrainFun Hi, so here is my story from Hungary. Currently I have a carpet layout of C track. However, at the end of the this year, I will build a permanent dream layout in the garage. Dimensions 4.6 x 2.7 m. The visible part will be C track, the hidden yard will be K track. About 16 trains can run in traffic. Now I'm looking for the right control station, that's why I'm watching your great and well detailed videos. I used to use Railroad & Co. (a previous version) of TrainController and I might choose that one in the end, but I haven't decided yet. I'm thinking of ESU Ecos because it's cheaper than CS3, although it can't do automation. I like the Z21 of Roco, but unfortunately apart from DCC, it only supports motorola, not mfx. Other. Roco and qdecoder make 5-6 aspect decoders. I have to say that Qdecoder is a signal decoder specialist.

[@ModelTrainFun]

​@@furedipeter2146 Sounds like you have a great project to look forward to. With respect to control station there are many opinions about this and in the end it is a personal taste. With respect to the price - at my model train shop they are in the same price range: (ESU 50210 ECoS 2 EUR 639 vs Märklin CS3 + power supply EUR 600+83). So both expensive. For larger layouts consider software automation like TrainController. I believe it is easier than CS3 automation. Then you may even consider if you actually are going to run trains manually. If not, then the control station is really just a gateway between the software and the tracks. Is MFX really needed? Very nice, but maybe Z21 is enough? I have even considered playing with the Digikeijs DR5000 which is a lot cheaper and only does DCC. However all latest Märklin accessoires are DCC compatible... but maybe this is going too far? One will always have something with Märklin Motorola protocol? Another alternative is to buy a used CS2? Well - lot of choices and options out there. Personally I like the CS3 as it enables lots of functionality both when driving manually, for automation, interface to a PC and manual control from a PC/phone/tablet. I have heard of Qdecoder before and did a quick read in the manual, but it was not immediately apparent to me if what you see on the CS3 would correspond to the signal on the qdecoder. I do not experience with this one - sorry. I do believe I have seen it work with TrainController independently of what control station you are using... I am wondering if advanced signalling really only is easy/possible using software automation? Most control stations will probably not offer great support for this. Just some thoughts - hope it helps. Enjoy ;-)

[@JohnPap_Net]

Amazing tutorial! Unfortunately I do not have a central station. Are you aware of any other programs one can use on their pc in order to draw their track? Thank you.

[@ModelTrainFun]

Hi John, If you are thinking about a program for drawing the layout there are many. I use SCARM (www.scarm.info/), but there are many others like WinTrack (www.wintrack.de/). If you are thinking about a program that where you can draw the layout and automate the trains - again there are many. I have experimented with WinDigipet (www.windigipet.de/info/en/) and TrainController (www.freiwald.com/pages/traincontroller.htm). There is also JMRI (www.jmri.org/) and iTrain. You can find even more out there. Hope this helps. Enjoy ;-)

[@JohnPap_Net]

@@ModelTrainFun After going through the programs you suggested, I ended up using SCARM. I find it very nice and easy to use. I have already started designing my track layout. 🙂

[@ModelTrainFun]

@@JohnPap_Net Sounds great John. Lots of fun to draw layouts. Do you have a room big enough to make a decent layout?

[@JohnPap_Net]

@@ModelTrainFun Well, the biggest layout I can make is 250cm x 150cm and this is what I am working on.

[@ModelTrainFun]

@@JohnPap_Net You should be able to get a decent layout at this size. If you are making different levels - remember to think about and later test the angle/grade of the track. In Scarm you can also view the grades of the track - I seem to recall SHIFT+L a couple of times... Use SHIFT+L again to get back to model numbers on the track. Enjoy ;-)

[@JohnPap_Net]

Good tutorials raise questions. So I have one. 🙂 At 22:39 we see that you have two turnouts, T4 and T5. Does this mean that you have the DIP switches of their decoders to have numbers 4 and 5?

[@ModelTrainFun]

Hi John, I normally name the accessories according to their address, so T4 & T5 are turnouts on addresses 4 & 5. Furthermore, the lower numbers are typically also MFX decoders. For non-MFX decoders I assign a higher number 200+. In this way it is easy when I change my temporary layout to just rediscover MFX. Enjoy ;-)

[@JohnPap_Net]

@@ModelTrainFun So, the address of the article list on the Central Station is in fact the address on the layout and this is how the Central Station knows how to control the article.

[@ModelTrainFun]

@@JohnPap_Net You can name your turnouts whatever you like - this is just my convention. The address is configured when you create the accessory. Enjoy ;-)

[@JohnPap_Net]

@@ModelTrainFun Please allow me to say that your convention is really clever. Oh, and by the way, I am sorry for bothering you with so many questions, but you are a good teacher. 😁

[@ModelTrainFun]

@@JohnPap_Net No problem - I enjoy helping people getting started ;-)

[@mrthomasheder]

Hejsa, super video! Har lige købt en cs3+, synes bare screen server mode er ekstrem langsom, eller er det bare mig som har et problem?

[@ModelTrainFun]

Tillykke med din CS3+ - håber du bliver glad for den. Syntes ikke at screen server mode er langsom, men generelt kan CS3 blive lidt sløv - efter et par klik er den god igen. Jeg ser det mest når jeg ikke har rørt ved den i et stykke tid, så er den langsom de første par tryk. Congrats with your new CS3+ - hope you will like it. Personnaly I do not find the screen server slow, but the CS3 tend to be slow when it hasn't been touched for a while. The gui seems to fall a sleep and needs to be woken up again... Enjoy ;-)

[@johanblinksma2365]

SUPER

[@ModelTrainFun]

Thank you! Enjoy ;-)

[@rogernilson3986]

How big is this layout? Dimensions

[@ModelTrainFun]

2x1.2 m (6.5x4 ft). Enjoy ;-)

[@rogernilson3986]

@@ModelTrainFun thanks. I sure will. I can’t tell you how helpful your videos have been for my daughter and me.

[@ModelTrainFun]

@@rogernilson3986 Glad you like them.

[@oyvindhaaland728]

Hei kan en bruke cs2 til dette?

[@ModelTrainFun]

Yes - but they are not as nice. On the CS2 its more like the control desk and not the nice diagrams of the panel. However, still good for making good funcitonal track diagrams. Enjoy ;-)

[@djlynk1977]

Great stuff thanks for this video, I just got my CS3 3 days ago and thanks to your vid was able to do a decent job of drawing my quite complicated layout with around 35 turnouts! Do you have an instagram?

[@ModelTrainFun]

Glad it helped and congratulations with you CS3 - I really hope you will enjoy it. Wow - 35 turnouts! How many pages of layout did you end up with? Don't forget you can control the layout from a cell phone or PC as well. Unfortunately I do not have instagram. Currently, only on KZbin. Enjoy ;-)

[@djlynk1977]

@@ModelTrainFun for now its just 1 page layout! 😬 I may try and break it down into more manageable, but I am loving being able to see the whole layout and plan routes better...and the loco control is very smooth! I plan on connecting to a PC or iPad soon, but I have to figure out how to run an ethernet cable into my garage! I can't believe wifi is not standard on such an expensive piece of Tech!! I will watch the rest of the tutorials 😉

[@ModelTrainFun]

@@djlynk1977 Splitting into more layouts will help you, but it can be cumbersome. You can use the CS3 functions to help you move to other pages - hower I usually end up with things looking odd. But give it a try ;-) Enjoy ;-)

[@djlynk1977]

@@ModelTrainFun thanks, I may play with that! I guess the thought of scrolling from layout to layout page whilst trains are running and I have the loco screen open is a lot! I plan on connecting to PC screen sometime, As the CS screen is too small ! Thanks and I have been really enjoying the transition

[@evangiles4403]

You shouldn't need to run a cable to your garage you can use a wifi/router extender that can be plugged into your garage power supply and then can be connected to your earthnet on the CS3