06-15-2014, 08:01 PM
You have a great start so far on the layout. What you describe for the automated running of your railroad is called CTC (computerized train control) there are some that have been from scratch and there might be a couple plug and play systems out there. They usually include prototypical signals(semaphores) that match what is going on the layout. Not sure you would use signals on a logging layout. But anyway making your own sounds fun.
DCC( digital command control), DCS(digital command system), TMCC(Trainmaster command control) and legacy are all command systems that work very much like a computer network with the track being equal coax or cat5 cable and each locomotive like a client PC this allows you to give different locos on the same track different commands or to lash them up to work as a team. They allow for speed matching 2 or more locos which is almost impossible to do in conventional mode.
What you are wanting to do is a step beyond to total automation, it will be very cool once you get it up and running.
DCC( digital command control), DCS(digital command system), TMCC(Trainmaster command control) and legacy are all command systems that work very much like a computer network with the track being equal coax or cat5 cable and each locomotive like a client PC this allows you to give different locos on the same track different commands or to lash them up to work as a team. They allow for speed matching 2 or more locos which is almost impossible to do in conventional mode.
What you are wanting to do is a step beyond to total automation, it will be very cool once you get it up and running.