Fast Clocks

The development of my layout has been somewhat slowed as I have sought to develop a Fast Clock for the room which is not run as a Powerpoint Presentation where one slide represents one minute which clicks over and a monitor one every 10 seconds. The at approach has served me well but I am looking for something cleaner. Enter ChatGTP.

I asked ChatGTP to design me a system that would provide me  Fast Clocks around the layout room that would display an easy to read fast clock  showing the Session being run, the time and the status of the clock indicating if it is Running or Paused. I also wanted central control so that the clocks can be stopped during a session in case of a major delay.  

The system we designed and built is based on an ESP32 Development Board running a 4 inch TFT SPI Screen. The ESP is loaded with a C++ sketch via the Arduino IDE and is linked to the PC by the internal Wifi in the Layout Room. 

The Central Control is exercised through a Python Sketch running through MS Visual Studio Code which displays a set of controls in the corner of the PC screen. I can set the session, e.g. Monday AM, the Start Time, e.g. 01:55 and the Ratio the clock is to run at. The Central control also tells me what time is displayed on each clock, its connection status and its IP address. Each clock connects via wifi with its own unique IP Address. The control Button are SET (to set the common time etc on each clock, Start to run the clocks, Pause, Resume and Reset which puts the clocks back to 00:00. The MS VS Code also shows the Message flow between the layout and the clocks which each acknowledge receipt of the data.

Here is what the latest version looks like.

The main display

The Master Control

The ESP 32 mounted on my crudely constructed perf board circuit

I am pretty pleased with the outcome and Operators will not have to look far to see a clock with the Time table time displayed clearly in a colourful easy to read display

The Commish

Operations Session 19 Aug 26

 Today's Operations session was based on the  1977 Tuesday AM Schedule. The day started with the overnight Jets, both ways between Dry Creek Yard in Adelaide and Dynon Yard in Melbourne stopping for a Locomotive change in Blue Lake, shortly followed by 901 the Express freight Mile End to Blue Lake with lading for the Apcel Paper Plant at Snuggery. Operator 1 was Ray, Operator 2 was David and Operator 3 was Ron. Steve and  Geoff M acted as Yardmasters at Blue Lake and Geoff T was in charge dispatching from Train Control. 

Ray holds 731 at Wirrega while Steve and Geoff M clear 82 from Blue Lake. 

Once the Jets were cleared from Blue Lake, there was no time to rest as VR 7, an Express freight from Heywood, hauled by an unusual motive power an SAR 800, arrived from Heywood replacing the stalled J Class steamer due to its driver not understanding F7 applies a brake to the locomotive, Fat Fingers.  At the same time 8141 (westbound Overland) arrived from Melbourne for its Locomotive change and onward trip to Adelaide. The Yardmaster had some quick work to move a VLX car from VR7 onto 185, The Apcel Switch Job, which was departing 1 hour (10 minutes) later with its manifest off 901. Ray departed Dry Creek Yard with 161 for shunting at Wirrega and Blue Lake with its load of  empty Grain wagons and empty Livestock. With that we stopped for lunch and a review of the mornings action. 

SAR930 959 crosses the mighty Murray River at Murray Bridge as it hauls 87 on towards its final destination at Blue Lake

Geoff M stables VR 510 after its duty done on the Victorian part of the morning Jet, 9126.

After lunch 161 and 185 completed their shunting moves and the Passenger traffic started. An SAR Brill arrived from Millicent and the Walker Railcar from Heywood into the Blue Lake Station precinct. 10 minutes later the Adelaide bound Bluebird 542 headed off in  Ray's capable hands, while David guided the Blue Lake Bound Bluebird 281 into Bridgewater from Adelaide for the cross with its namesake.

In the meantime Ron departed Blue Lake with Mile End bound 214 Goods, shunting Murray Bridge and Bridgewater on its way through. Once 281 arrived at Blue Lake Mrs Kafoops transferred to the Walker Railcar waiting in the East Station Dock for its trip back to Heywood on VR 56. The final whistle blew on the Platform at 13:45 clearing 583, the SAR Brill heading back to Millicent. Quietness descended on the Train Room as we all retired for Coffee, Tea and Cake to  sit and talk about the experience.

All in all a pretty good day enjoyed by all. The F%&#up Fairies appeared once or twice but none so bad as to spoil the Action. Steve, the Blue Lake Yardmaster was performing at his best, both operationally and in the art of advice giving, which of course is ignored.