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Alphington Central Railway

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Alphington Central Railway

What is ACR?  What is ACR?


ACR (Alphington Central Railway) is a freelance HO model railway based around the 1970's & 1980's era. It consists of a number of transit stations, 2 main goods yards and an industrial/rural area. The layout is fully digital using DCC components based on Digitrax Loconet with DCS100 command station, DT400 and UT4 controllers. Main control of the layout is via a computer where all main track running is automated leaving manual control in the yards and industrial area.

The electronics involved include the following-

Digitrax -
DCS100 Command Station/Booster (x1)
PM42 Power Management Modules (x2)
BDL168 Occupancy Detectors (x5)
SE8C Signal Decoders/Drivers (x1)
PR3 USB Computer Interface (x2)

CML Electronics -
DAC10 Turnout Drivers (x6)

RR-CirKits -
TC-64 Tower Controller (x1)

Software control is based on a Celeron 2.8GHz PC with 512KB Memory using XP SP3 using TrainController 7 Gold. Also use Android tablets and Symbian mobile phones with TrainController Mobile for local panels around the layout.

ACR News - Latest Happenings  ACR News
17/01/2011
One side finishedUse SHIFT+ENTER to open the menu (new window).
Have now completed plastering of landscape on one side of layout, this side is the biggest as far as landscaping. Now to start painting!
 
Also worked on train timetable and manifests/switchlists with access via website. So far works well.
 
9/01/2011
Construction continues...Use SHIFT+ENTER to open the menu (new window).
Plastering of landscapes is continuing slowly. Due to this most racks are unusable due to gyprock on tracks. Thinking of stopping all plastering for a while and get trains rolling again.
 
Will see later.
 
23/02/2010
Grain Cars have arrivedUse SHIFT+ENTER to open the menu (new window).
The Auscision grain cars have finally arrived and placed on the layout, still require resistive wheelsets before being placed in service.
 
13/01/2010
Traffic back to normalUse SHIFT+ENTER to open the menu (new window).
Transformer (and spare) have arrived. Installed and tested, all working ok.
 
Have also tested adding extra sensors to slow trains before the stop sensors, in the past braking has been happening too early causing other trains to backup behind waiting for go signals. Looking good at this stage, have ordered extra sensors.
 
10/01/2010
Traffic comes to a standstill...Use SHIFT+ENTER to open the menu (new window).
A transformer used for turnout control has gone open circuit causing traffic to cease till replacement received.
 
29/12/2009
2nd Goods Yard completedUse SHIFT+ENTER to open the menu (new window).
The mainline and both goods yards are now complete with the exception of loco stable tracks in both yards. This now allows testing of the Freight software (ShipIt) for creating waybills, switchlists and timetables.
28/12/2009
Construction continues...Use SHIFT+ENTER to open the menu (new window).
Construction is well under way (when time permits!). Most of the loco's and rolling stock has arrived as well as computer control and DCC components.
 
Layout has been modified due to some inclines being too steep and grade has been changed into a zig-zag which seems to work well under PC control.
 
13/05/2009
Main LoopUse SHIFT+ENTER to open the menu (new window).
Main loop track is now completed. Next phase is the upper level to complete the baseboard. Ran loco over current tracks with changing turnouts and all ran smoothly although a little concerned about the main climb being possibly too steep as engine slowed down maybe a  bit too much. Will have to wait and see once more rolling stock becomes available.
 
On another note baseboard completion maybe sooner than expected as had winfall with project finances. The finance manager has allowed extra monies to be made available.........lol.
6/05/2009
Still waiting....Use SHIFT+ENTER to open the menu (new window).
I have had some boards on order since Jan09 and the order has been stuffed around 3 times. Have cancelled previous order and gone to another supplier so now waiting on THAT order to be filled.....
10/04/2009
Construction underwayUse SHIFT+ENTER to open the menu (new window).
After almost a year of planning and getting bits and pieces together the layout is finally being built and taking shape. Wood and track has been purchased. Orders are in for the electronics and most received, just waiting on occupancy detectors.
 
Controllers, command center and booster received.
  		 

 Favourite Sites
  Digitrax
  CML Electronics
  RR-CirKits
  RAILROAD & CO
  Tony's Train Exchange
  Go Hobbies
  Gateway NMRA
  Micromark

 Layout Links
  Layout Timetable
  Car Locations
  SmartHand Web Access
  Timetable (Scoreboard version)
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