CP Rail action

My local NMRA division held it's monthly meet last weekend. Unfortunately I couldn't be there due to work commitments, but here's two pictures by fellow member Brian Moore, taken of the action. Plenty of modern CP Rail power in the form of 4000+hp GE locomotives. The top picture shows several being serviced at the Anson depot, while the other picture shows three hauling a string of hoppers past the grain silos and signal bridge at the other side of the yard, while the sun has set behind the mountains, and the crew change for the night  has taken place ....Rumor has it that they controlled their loco's with an iPhone running Withrottle software while nobody was watching...

JMRI software 2.9.5 test version released

JMRI software is continuing to get developed further and further. April 12 saw the release of version 2.9.5v of Decoder Pro software. It should be stressed that this is a developer/test release, and therefore bugs could be expected. However many previous bug fixes are included and the software has (among others) the following enhancements:

Many improvements and fixes to throttles

You can have more than one LocoNet connection, for example one for signals and another for throttle connections

A new preferences dialog that's simpler to use

AutoDispatcher script now included

Easier dialogs for adding sensors and turnouts

You should note that the official 'production version is still version 2.8.0. The current release is the next step towards the upcoming production version 2.10/3.0 this summer.

NMRA BR spring meet April 17th 2010

The below message is reposted from the yahoo NMRA-BR group, in an attempt to make more people aware.


The NMRA British Region's Spring Meet and Train Show will be held on Saturday 17th April 2010 at Felpham Community College, Bognor Regis, West Sussex. PO22 8EL

Featuring 16 American themed layouts and trade support, the Meet will be sure to be of interest to all who model American Railroads.

Open to NMRA members only from 10 a.m., the show will open to the public from 11 a.m. until 4.30 p.m.

In addition to the trade stands, NMRA members are invited to use the 'bring and buy' stalls to buy and sell their used unwanted items. PLEASE NOTE; Bring and Buy is only available to NMRA members as sellers
and will NOT BE AVAILABLE FOR ANY PUBLIC PURCHASES UNTIL AFTER 12 noon, providing another NMRA members benefit.

Felpham Community College is situated near the Butlins Bognor Regis Holiday centre with plenty of parking.

Admission £4.00
NMRA members £3.00
Under 12's free

--
Mike Hughes
Marketing Co-ordinator NMRA British Region

DCC and computers

For some time now I've been researching DCC systems, and as I'm currently on a very tight budget, trying to find the cheapest solution possible, that still leaves many features found on the more expensive systems.

I initially settled on a NCE Powercab , but then someone suggested to take a look at the SPROGII.

This little device was designed to be used with JMRI software (which is FREE), to program decoders. However, partly thanks to the power of the JMRI software you can use it as a DCC system throttle, powering a small layout, which is what I have. What's more, I already own an iPod Touch, and there's a nice little app called WiThrottle that through JMRI turns your iPod touch or iPhone into a wireless DCC cab.
I am very intrigued try this out as it would mean minimal investment for me ,just get the SPROGII, (I have all the other soft and hardware already), and a few decoders and I'm up and running in DCC. Should I get a bigger budget available in the future, then I will invest in a decent DCC system, and continue to use the SPROGII to program my decoders on a separate programming track.

More Links

I've added a couple of links to the growing list of what I regard as useful websites of manufacturers, modelers etc.  It is not a complete list, and I do not get sponsored by any of these, it's just stuff I personally (would) use and recommend checking out at the very least.
If you have anything that you feel I should include, drop me a line or post a comment and I'll check it out!

Cheers!

background sound effects

Sound is ever more a part of modelrailroading. The advances made in sound decoders for locomotives are ever greater, with prices coming down slowly, and the first surround sound systems are becoming available too. However there is more you can do of course. How about sounds of railroad communications? A friend recommended the following: Railroad Radio has several data streams that can be played through winamp, iTunes, real player etc. When played through a set of separate speakers located near your railroad, it will add to the atmosphere.
Have a listen. You may have to try a few different streams as they are not always busy all the time.

Snowplow action

In one of the first posts on this blog, I showed you the snow plows build by fellow modelers.
One of which was a Jordan Spreader. I discovered footage today of the real thing today, be it from a different railroad.  I've included the footage below.