What is Automated Route Setting, I hear you all ask !
For the non-Modern Image enthusiasts out there, Automated Route Setting or ARS is a computer-based route-setting system now used in BR's powerboxes for setting train routes without the signalman having to break a sweat.
Basically, an ARS system will examine track-circuits in conjunction with a timetable recorded on tape, identify a train on a track, and set the route through a powerbox's signalling area, signal-by-signal if it has to. There are manual over-rides for late trains and faulty equipment, but the vast majority of trains can pass through under ARS control with track circuits checking all the time that all is safe.
Can we make use of this wonderful device to signal our model railways, giving us more opportunity to drive our trains instead of spending far too long prodding push-buttons and setting our next train to run into another ? Well, the short answer is Yes !
This is more than possible, and although I can (and will - eventually) go into the computerised methods as part of my desire on letting the PC interfere with railway modelling, we should also consider what advantages ARS can give us if we give the technology a chance, at a much lower automation level.
A good place to start is to automate some of the aspects of turnout moving, so that instead of setting up a route through eight turnouts by pressing eight individual buttons, you can hold down one button and press another to deal with all eight at one shot - if these buttons are on a mimic diagram, then you hold down where you come in and press where you leave - route set the easy way !! (See diagram below for details)
INSERT DIAGRAM
The drawback is that the route setting between two points cannot be changed to a diverging route if a turnout fails - so you have to go back to manual button-pushing when equipment fails and with multi-track set-ups - you can make quite a mess if another train is already passing over a turnout as it changes underneath it, then it's time to call out the Breakdown Train for a bit of lifting of stock ...... and yes, I have done this in the past as part of the learning process.
That's a good beginning but a little more automation maybe ?
You could always install track-sensors under the in-and-out lines so that a relay-driven interlock can isolate the turnouts in use once set and stop any route setting until the train is out of section - manual emergency over-ride required, but remember that the prototype railways have had their best accidents because of equipment over-ride !
Now one thing that eventually irritates me is the tail-chaser layout at exhibitions where the same express sprints round every 15 seconds for 5 minutes ..... you get to know the loco and stock very well indeed. Don't get me wrong here - it's good to see something moving on a layout, but the monotony of seeing the same train 20 times in quick succession kills me dead after a while.
Now what if you have a block of sidings in your yards at the back of the layout all power-controlled by the turnout setting (ie train stops when turnout is against it !) - first train goes out and does a circuit and re-enters it's siding but trips a micro-switch which changes the turnouts at the entry and exit ends of it's siding to the second track and out goes number 2 - same scenario for 2 and 3 and 4 and ...... how many tracks have you got back there !!
The most obvious criteria here is a manual over-ride to stop it happening all the time, and a switch position that doesn't leave half of the train over the entry turnout as it enters and doesn't allow the same train to skid to a halt over the exit turnout (and into the path of the next train !!)
Going back to the automated turnout setting, you could design a timetable of trains passing over pre-determined routes (give them namecodes like 2M for platform 2 to Main Line for example) and make a switch-panel that 'presses' the required two buttons as you move a counting switch to the next notch.
ANOTHER DIAGRAM
We're still roaming around in the realms of switches and diodes, and I haven't even mentioned connecting up the PC yet ...... well, your wait is over !
In closing up, we're going to be 'cooking by microwave' with the theory of getting the PC involved.
The ARS systems are based around computer-power for the very reason of equipment-failure and flexibility of use - if a turnout fails, then the ARS is programmed to not route over that turnout (although generally it throws it's hands up and the signalman gets some work to do !)
Now what if your PC can me made to see where the trains are through track-circuits, know what the turnouts are doing by switched-feedback of their positions, and know where a train is intending to go because of a timetable ...... well, good old PC is going to be able to safely route your trains through to their destinations without chopping them in half (although it helps to fit something so that the back-half is detected, as well as the front half !)
You can even make life difficult for yourself by making 'faults' in the track for the ARS to work around - I'm sure that the programmers will write the program to circumvent this very eventuality ...... and this technology is already here at a price, and is being developed all the time to become within the budget of most enthusiasts !!
And what are you doing while all this is going on ? Well, driving the trains, of course !!!
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