Control Panels

After utilizing the PanelPro feature of JMRI for several years, and finding some shortcomings with regard to interlocking and routing, the Eastern Region has switched to CATS (Crandic Automated Traffic System), which is also built on JMRI.

An advantage of using an electronic panel for control, rather than a traditional, physical CTC machine, is that it is very easy to reconfigure, connects to the layout with only one wire, and is very easy to relocate... heck, it can even work over a wireless network or over the Internet!

Below you will find a screen shot of the dispatcher's CTC panel. It spreads across two 20" flat panel displays, each with a resolution of 1600 by 1200. Though quite modern compared to the 1954 era modeled, the panel is quite effective.

click for a larger image

With regard to what's on the panels...

White track segments indicate track under the control of the dispatcher, which is currently unoccupied, and for which no route is authorized through it.

A red track segment indicates the track is occupied. The dispatcher can optionally display the train's ID above the indication. (A bug that I am working on with the publisher of the software is that, upon power-on, occupied blocks are showing a direction which is often incorrect. They should, in fact, not show any direction at all.)

Grey track segments indicate track not under control of the dispatcher. These may be industrial tracks or track under local tower control. In my case, much of the trackage is either unbuilt, or built but as-yet unpowered.

Clicking on a turnout on the schematic actually sends the command to throw the turnout.

When a dispatcher wants to authorize a route for a train, he clicks on the interlockings home signal. If the route is clear, the track segments light green across the route until the next control point or restrictive signal is reached. As the train progresses across the route the route disappears behind it.

There is a fleeting option which allows multiple trains to run across the same route with the signals resetting as blocks clear to allow following traffic.

CATS also allows for indicating track "out of service" (purple) or authorized for local work (blue).

CATS provides for interlocking of assigned routes, as well as "switch locks" for switches that connect to the main. Local crews can put in a request for a switch and the dispatcher must respond by either throwing the switch or unlocking it.

Physical signals are not yet on the layout, but when they are added, they will be controlled by the CATS system with little additional effort.

Some of my labels and other details require some "fine tuning" yet, but overall I am pleased with the result to date.

The CATS system maintains a Train List (akin to a Movement of Trains sheet) so there is very little paperwork necessary. An export may be done at the end of a session. This export may be imported for playback or taken into Microsoft Excel for analysis. (I am hoping I will be able to migrate it to web display fairly easily.)