Some
of the significant recent developments are things you really
can't see!
The
new telegraph system is set in the present day but was designed
to emulate operations of a century ago so the wires are underground
and, as was then the practice, the devices are inside the stations.
But there is a real telegraph device on display (not in a station)
and it works (with
DCC)!
Improvements
in automatic scheduling are not visible when the layout is static,
but when trains and special effects are operating, the extent
and flexibility of these become readily apparent.
And
you probably wouldn't notice the new lighting system unless
it is pointed out.
Telegraph
System
One
of the most interesting things added to the layout recently
is the new telegraph system. This permits Morse Code messages
to be sent automatically to any one of four stations on the
layout. As RHJRail is a contemporary operation
(with many preserved and historic components), the wiring is
underground.
A comprehensive explanation of Morse Code can be found on this
excellent website: http://morsecode.scphillips.com/translator.html
Quoting
from the above website:
"If
the duration of a dot is taken to be one
unit then that of a dash is three units.
The space between the components of one character is one
unit, between characters is three
units and between words seven
units. To indicate that a mistake has been made and for the
receiver to delete the last word, send ........ (eight
dots). "
Additional
features of the RHJ Rail system include
the ability to encode specific messages and set the speed (words
per minute) and other factors in the messages sent. For ease
of understanding, these have been set relatively slow.
And
just for fun, there is an actual antique telegraph device attached
to the system which can be used to receive messages. However,
the volume on this is somewhat louder than that in the HO stations
The
device used on RHJ Rail is shown in the photographs
below:

KOB
means key on board or key on base.
A KOB includes a key and sounder.
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The
technology is not very sophisticated
but this was patented c. 1882.
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The
whole system is controlled by the RHJ Rail Automated
Operations Control Centre (AOCC) using a Windows computer, JMRI,
Digitrax DCC, and a number of custom-designed gizmos, many of
which are based on mobile decoders.
In
fact the Morse Code dots and dashes are generated by flashing
a lighting function on and off using a Digitrax decoder. It
is unlikely that this could be done using a handheld throttle
because the response speed is just too slow. It turns out that
computer-generated commands can be sent over Loconet quicker
than commands sent from a throttle.
Technical
details can be found at Technical
- Page 6
References:
New
Overhead Room Lighting System
This
sounds dull but if fact it is really bright! It includes all
new LED bulbs (34 of them!) and LED dimmer switches. It is an
attempt to show the layout in a new light!! Anyway, you probably
wouldn't notice it if wasn't pointed out.
New
Trains
RHJ
Rail is
always interested in acquiring new trains to run on the layout.
There are some and they are being integrated into the Automatic
Operations Control System.
Improvements
in Automatic Scheduling
The
development of overlapped master scripts has been a major
innovation as part of the Automated Operations Control Centre
(AOCC). This means that many trains and special effects can
be run automatically without having to wait for the previous
one to finish.
If
you want a bit more detail, see TECHNICAL
- Page 7.
If
you still don't understand it, then you're not alone. If you're
still interested, contact RHJ
Rail for further information.
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