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MODEL RAILROADS

This page showcases some of the model railroads using the C/MRI products purchased through Easee Interfaces.  It is meant to show you some of the things you can do with the C/MRI on your railroad.

Click on pictures for larger versions.  Scroll down for more model railroads.
Jeff Warner's PRR/RDG/WM South Central Region
Jeff's HO scale operating layout models two parallel, competing railroads, so he uses two separate C/MRI systems, linked to "talk to each other" where the railroads connect to each other.  The Reading and WM use a 1950's era US&S CTC machine that interfaces to 7 SMINI nodes (4 for the CTC machine and 3 "field" boards distributed around the model railroad) and controls 32 blocks (DCCOD's), 16 turnouts, and 26 signals.  The PRR uses a 1992 era Conrail computer-based CTC machine (center right), interfaced to 5 SMINI nodes, to control 49 blocks (DCCOD's), 20 turnouts, and 45 signals.  The PRR CTC machine was a compromise, since space was not available in the basement for another 1950's era machine.

To help differentiate between railroads, the PRR uses its well known "position light" signals (top right), the WM uses "Type D" or "traffic light" style signals, and the RDG use "Type G" or "cat's eye' style signals.  Jeff also models "cab signals" by placing repeater boards "above the sky" (bottom right) to make signals easier to see during busy operating sessions.

More information on Jeff's model railroad can be found on his website.

 

Steven Mallery's PRR Buffalo Line
Steven's HO scale operating layout models the heavy helper grade of 1963's Pennsylvania Railroad Buffalo Line.  Steven's prototypical US&S style CTC machine (bottom right) interfaces to 15 SMINI nodes (8 for the CTC machine and 7 "field" boards distributed around the model railroad) and controls 55 blocks (DCCOD's), 31 turnouts, and 57 signals.

A US&S style CTC machine requires a "bank" of SMINI nodes (or equivalent) to control all of the switches and knobs, as well as to display all the proper lights.  Steven's machine uses 8 SMINI nodes (center right) along with a LOT of terminal strips and wire.  Notice how all wires are labeled at the terminal strip for easy troubleshooting.

Steven's Buffalo Line sees freight trains of up to 70 cars and many hopper trains, as well as a few passenger trains.  Located mid-grade, "Emporium" interlocking sees a string of empty hoppers waiting for a freight to crawl up the 2.9% grade to "Keating Summit" (top right). 

More information on Steven's model railroad can be found on his website.

 

Larry Reynolds' PRR Altoona Area
Larry's HO scale operating layout models the busy 4 track mainline of the Pennsylvania Railroad between Enola, PA, and Pittsburgh, PA.  Larry's US&S style CTC machine (top right), which is located upstairs from the basement model railroad, interfaces to 18 SMINI nodes (9 for the CTC machine and 9 "field" boards distributed around the model railroad) and controls 83 blocks (DCCOD's), 35 turnouts, and 72 signals.

Four track mainline means wide signal bridges, such as this one at "Slope" interlocking (middle right) of course with the distinctive PRR position light signals.  Larry uses 4 aspects (proceed, approach, stop, and restricting) on two heads for each signal.

For a future project, Larry plans on installing a second C/MRI system for his "staging operator" to use with their smaller CTC machine (bottom right) that will have 5 SMINI nodes controlling approximately an additional 50 signals and 30 turnouts.

More information on Larry's model railroad can be found on his website.

 

Nick Kulp's Cornwall Railroad
While Nick has torn down his original Cornwall Railroad to build a new, improved version, the original Cornwall was an HO scale operating layout modeling this south-central Pennsylvania shortline, as well as the Reading and Pennsylvania Railroads to which it connected.

The original Cornwall used a combination of semaphores (top right), Pennsylvania Railroad position light signals (middle right), Reading Railroad "type G" or "cat's eye" signals, and the Cornwall Railroad's "type D" or "traffic light" style signals -- all controlled with the C/MRI system.

Nick is one of earliest users of the JMRI PanelPro software and the Cornwall's CTC panel (bottom right) is one of the examples provided with the free JMRI software.

While Nick still isn't 100% sure what the "New Cornwall" will entail, it is sure to include C/MRI based signaling and be controlled with the JMRI PanelPro software.

You can contact Nick for more information at:

 

Model Railroad Club of Toronto
The O scale Model Railroad Club of Toronto uses JMRI and CMRI super-USIC nodes to manage its signal system.  The Club railroad, called the Central Ontario Railway, has been located in the same location since 1946, however it has undergone continual and extensive upgrades over the many decades of operation.  What is interesting is that we have interfaced the CMRI new components with legacy systems such as our dispatch board, and occupancy circuits.

The MRCT uses JMRI to manage inputs from 65 blocks, 32 mainline track switches, and outputs to 61 signal masts.  We use Type D and Searchlight signals throughout the railroad.   Signals aspects are prototypically modeled using Canadian Railway Operating Rules c.1962, with some three head signals showing up to 9 different aspects: Clear (G/R/R), Approach Medium (Y/G/R), Medium Clear (R/G/R), Approach Slow (Y/Y/R), Approach (Y/R/R), Medium Approach Slow (R/G/fY), Slow Approach (R/R/fY), Restricting (R/R/Y), Stop (R,R,R).  We also use the system to run a grade crossing that is fully interlocked with the signals as the crossing is in the middle of an interlocking zone. 

Future plans are to complete the removal of the decades old, but fully functional, relay logic signal system still in service on about 20% of the mainline and to interface the system to run a fully indexed turntable.

More information on the club can be found on their website at: www.modelrailroadclub.com.


John Signor's Southern California Railway
John Signor has been at work on his current layout since 1991 and his CMRI-based CTC system for over two years now. The Southern California Railway was written up in Kalmbach's Great Model Railroads 2004. Recently the CTC system went on line and is fully functional.

The railroad, based in Southern California in the 1960s, is a hybrid of the Santa Fe, Southern Pacific and Union Pacific, but the signal system is based on SP practice. The machine itself was assembled from original Union Switch & Signal equipment by Rod Loder of Salem Oregon. Electronic components were from Bruce Chubb, but pre-assembled and tested by Don Wood of Easee Interfaces. (Don has also been very helpful in explaining the finer points of wiring up the operation.) Tri-light LEDS are from Jim Hinds of Richmond Controls. Signal logic and debugging courtesy Martin Nile and Dennis Enghdahl.

Summing it up, John said recently that "this is what I have wanted since I was 12 years old, of course if I would have had it then I would have never made it through high school!" John would also like to thank Martin Nile and Dennis Engdahl for compiling the signal logic code and debugging, and Lee Nicholas, Mike Burgett and Dave Maffei for advise, assistance and encouragement during the process of bringing the CTC to operation.

More pictures and links to Youtube videos can be found here.

 

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