Station Blue Automation Videos

The following video demostrates a model railway layout automated using the Dotric Station Blue train controller system. Also demostrated is how to set up a automated train schedule.


Station Blue And The Christmas Train

We have received a number of enquiries regarding the use of Dotric Station Blue with G scale model railways. What better opportunity to try out Dotric Station Blue with G scale than the Christmas Train - in this case the Bachmann White Christmas Express?

I believed that G scale model railways operate at a higher voltage than HO and N scale model railways. However, this particular set was supplied with a controller that varied the voltage to a maximum of 15 volts. So the 13.8V DC power supply that we use on our trade stand worked well. But of course Dotric Station Blue does not control DC trains with voltage variation. It uses pulse width variation which as a bonus worked well with the standard Bachmann locomotive sounds.

It was decided to make the standard oval a little bit more interesting by adding a second oval (or rectangle really) and joining the two with points. However, I could not purchase Bachmann points with point motors (if they exist at all). Instead I used LGB points which require a small modification to the connected Bachmann track sections.

Unfortunately, the LGB points motors are nothing like a Peco PL10 or Tortoise motor. They are snap action motors that are low current by snap action standards, that rely on polarity reversal to signal a points change. Sadly, Dotric Station Blue does not have a points controller that operates in this way. For the purposes of this exercise, I wanted to use the new "soon to be released" USB combination board which has stall motor (Tortoise) points outputs, so I created a breadboard circuit to perform the Tortoise to LGB conversion. If others want to do similar things, then Contact Us and depending on the level of interest, we my develop a commerical Tortoise to LGB converter.

Some mechical adjustments were necessary to get the Bachmann locomotive to run sucessfully over the LGB points. Weights were added to the pony wheels and the distance between the wheels were adjusted. Masking tape was also placed over one of the points guide rails to effectively push the locomotive in the correct direction.

Two infra red detectors were used to aid automation. Of course the usual under track installations were not possible, so beside the track installations were used instead with the infra red detectors disguised as Christmas presents.

Two infra red detectors were required in the oval around the Christmas tree to facilitate the multiple loops around the Christmas Tree. With only one infra red detector in the oval Dotric Station Blue interprets the passing carriages as an early arrival and stops the train! A third infra red detector in the front rectangular loop would have added precision to the running in that loop if it was thought necessary.