Railway Model
In the summer 2009 we built a automated H0 scale model of a shunting yard for PR purposes. It is being used a number of times each year to demonstrate to perspective students and the general public that theoretical computer science is being used in places where one would least expect it.
The railway model is about 125cm wide and 250cm long. The engine with onboard DCC decoder is steered by the SPROG II unit connected to a computer. The SPROG II unit, although originally meant as a Decoder Programmer is fully capable of being used as a command unit for a DCC track, given that its signal is amplified by a booster. The turnouts are decouplers operated through a pair of ROCO decoders, also controlled by the SPROG II unit.
The model has no feedback loop. Resynchronization is achieved by slowly pushing against the stoppers that are positioned on the end of each sorting track.
Photos while building and from exhibition
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Table -
Testing position -
Testing layout (2) -
Almost done -
Model in progess 2 -
Model in progress 4 -
Model in progress 6 -
Model in pogress 7 -
Exhibition 1 -
Exhibition 3 -
Extruded foam -
Extruded foam (2) -
Control cavity -
Half done -
Model in progress -
Model in progess 3 -
Model in progress 5 -
Model in progress 8 -
Exhibition 2 -
Exhibition 4