I should have the detection around that switch working today, and signals will come on line as I get them installed.
There’s still work to do on the CTC panel, but it will be talking back to JMRI. We’ll see.
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May I recommend this story in the mean time. One of my favorites and I highly recommend it if you can stomach it.
Have the first working node out on the layout in it’s spot, and communicating with JMRI via the OpenLCB/LCC hub, and my home WiFi. JMRI responds as expected when the switch position is changed.
Next up is getting the detection working, hopefully this afternoon.
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The detection “just worked” with only some tweaking the sensitivity of the sensor itself to fix (the quick change from red to yellow to red again)
Now all I have to do is add resistors to every car I have. Wheeee
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Congrats Bob! Must be exciting.
Looks like the signal lights are quite visible in daylight, cool!
Yea, it’s really neat to see this stuff actually working after so many false starts, development, tweaking, changing, etc.
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We knew you could do it!
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Now you get to teach the rest of us once yours is all set up!
Ordered a bunch more block detectors. If you order in sets of 3, they are shipped together. You can split them easily, but I wont need to. This will be handy because more than half of the nodes will need 3 detectors.
Very cool. I got one years ago to experiment with, but never got around to it. So I’m looking forward to watching you.
Another detection and signaling test, this one with an actual train that I’ve been running around checking out the railroad. There’s still some sensitivity issues with the detector I’m working with, but they work as needed.
Apologies for the sound quality.
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Clearance test of the new low-profile single lens dwarf signal. Fits nicely under the portable clearance gauge.
Nice dwarf signal, looks great.
And nice clearance gauge. Not only measures for correct height of objects, but in the same process removes the non-compliant. 
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Thanks. Yea, I use the 45 tonner and a caboose as my clearance gauges. If the 45 tonner clears it, everything else will. Same with the caboose for overhead.
I should have the next three signals up and working sometime in the next few days (weather and honey-dos not withstanding)
This week it’s going to be near 100 degrees most days, so I’m spending some time working on the design of the nodes. This one is much smaller and still incorporates everything I need.
Clockwise from the top left
Custom node.
Block detectors
Bus strip to blocks
12v in
12v to 5v buck converter
5v internal bus
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Getting into the groove of building the signals. Here we have the signals protecting the switch at the Burke end of Williamsport.
Onward!
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Settled on a design of the model board. Using 3d printed track pieces, and I can just assemble what I need and attach it to a backer, in this case some 3mm PVC board.
From left to right. Exit of Burke yard, future spur, Williamsport passing siding, branchline to Majestic, and the entrance and track at Dead Rooster Gulch.
Still lots of wiring to do around Williamsport, but it won’t be 100 degrees during the day for the next several days, so I should be able to make some progress on that front.
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Bob, do you have some evening pictures?
Not yet, but I can do that in the next few days. Should look pretty neat.
Super cool.