Comments on: Take Your Model Train to Work Day http://www.mcwetboy.net/frn/2006/11/10/take-your-model-train-to-work-day/ A Blog About Trains Tue, 17 Jul 2007 14:04:50 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Jonathan Crowe http://www.mcwetboy.net/frn/2006/11/10/take-your-model-train-to-work-day/comment-page-1/#comment-8 Jonathan Crowe Wed, 15 Nov 2006 19:35:42 +0000 http://www.mcwetboy.net/frn/2006/11/10/take-your-model-train-to-work-day/#comment-8 I vaguely remember an <i>MR</i> article that discussed the idea of a control system that could locate the train on the layout -- it'd require a lot of blocks though, I think, more so than under a DC system. Unless I'm misremembering. I vaguely remember an MR article that discussed the idea of a control system that could locate the train on the layout — it’d require a lot of blocks though, I think, more so than under a DC system. Unless I’m misremembering.

]]> By: pastabagel http://www.mcwetboy.net/frn/2006/11/10/take-your-model-train-to-work-day/comment-page-1/#comment-7 pastabagel Wed, 15 Nov 2006 19:10:54 +0000 http://www.mcwetboy.net/frn/2006/11/10/take-your-model-train-to-work-day/#comment-7 Hi, Jonathan! I found this blog via metafilter. I think the keys to expanding the hobby are (1) getting kids early (and off the Thomas the Tank Engine brand bandwagon, and (2) as you noted, bringing the hobby into the computer age. For that you'd need some kind of addressable cars (as you note), but you also need a bus signalling system through the rail. You'd need to be able to address each engine in the system, give it instructions (go to next station, stop for 20 secs, etc) and let the train do the grunt work. Then interface it with the computer so you can put together "shows" of trains coupling decoupling etc. This way you could also connect one person's railroad to another at a show, and address each other's trains. Hi, Jonathan!

I found this blog via metafilter. I think the keys to expanding the hobby are (1) getting kids early (and off the Thomas the Tank Engine brand bandwagon, and (2) as you noted, bringing the hobby into the computer age.

For that you’d need some kind of addressable cars (as you note), but you also need a bus signalling system through the rail. You’d need to be able to address each engine in the system, give it instructions (go to next station, stop for 20 secs, etc) and let the train do the grunt work. Then interface it with the computer so you can put together “shows” of trains coupling decoupling etc.

This way you could also connect one person’s railroad to another at a show, and address each other’s trains.

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