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Train System Controller

This is the micro-controller that I use for all of my train cars and locomotives. It allows throttle, reverser, and brake information to be easily transmitted along an entire consist of train cars. It has nodes for electrical cable anchors on the front and back ends of a car or locomotive, nodes to transmit data to other cars in the train, nodes to control both the independent brakes of a locomotive and the train brakes of all of the cars, nodes to transmit throttle information to all connected locomotives along with reverser or directional information, and inputs for all of that information.

The system requires the following components to properly function:
- Two Instrument Panels
- At least one throttle lever or comparable system
- Small connectors at the front and rear of a vehicle to serve as the coupling system
- Electrical Cable Anchors on the front and rear to simulate the air hoses

The first instrument panel will be to indicate whether the vehicle is the controlling vehicle or if it's controlled remotely. This system determines if the current vehicle is subordinate to others and if the controlling vehicle is in front of or behind the current vehicle. It needs to be setup with the following items:
- 1. A switch or toggle button for "External Control"
- 2. A switch or toggle button for "Power from Rear"
- 3. An indicator for "Ext. Ctl. Active"
- 4. An indicator for "Power from Rear"
It is possible to use large toggle switches instead of an instrument panel and the controller allows for those types of inputs instead, if so desired.

The second instrument panel will be to show the current brake status information. It shows the current number being sent to the brakes of wheels designated as either train car wheels or locomotive wheels. The train brake output is connected to wheels on cars while the independent brake output is connected to wheels on locomotives. This isn't the "Proper" way but it still serves the same purpose. I even added a system in which the train brake lever partially applies the independent brakes as well. It needs to be setup with the following items:
- 1. Dial from 0 to 1 for "Independent Brakes"
- 2. Dial from 0 to 1 for "Train Brakes"
- 3. Indicator for "Ind. Brakes Active"
- 4. Indicator for "Train Brakes Active"

The one "Required" lever is specifically for the train brakes and it has to be set from 0 to 1 and it should be on all train cars and locomotives. Locomotives also require levers for the independent brakes, throttle, and reverser to be present in order for the system to function properly.

The electrical cable anchors must be at the front and rear of the cars near the coupling system. It is important to remember which end is considered the "Front" of the vehicle. I made it so that the end with the levers and panels is the front of my cars. The system distinguishes between whether the controlling vehicle is in front of or behind the vehicles being controlled. It also distinguishes whether the vehicles are facing the same direction.

Setting the system up on a train car is fairly simple. I install the controller on the under side of the frame near one of the sets of wheels. Connect the front and rear cable anchors to their designated positions on the controller, connect the transmitted data to the electrical cable anchors, connect the lever for the train brakes to the train brake input, connect the direction control panel (the first instrument panel) input and output to the nodes, and connect the brake status output to the second instrument panel. Make sure that the train brake output is connected to the brake nodes on all the wheels on the car.

Setting the system up on a locomotive is a little more complex and requires a few more things on top of everything listed for train cars. There needs to be levers setup for the throttle and independent brakes which should be set from 0 to 1. The independent brake output needs to be connected to the wheels of the locomotive. There needs to be another lever installed for the reverser which needs to be set from -1 to 1. The system is designed to serve as a 3 position switch in which the switch is active from 0.21 to 1.00 and -1.00 to -0.21. The locomotive must also have a functioning engine or propulsion system but the actual drive clutch is controlled by this system due to it being intertwined with the functionality of the reverser. One more switch is required for a locomotive and that switch is used to "Invert Reverser" data. This toggle switch is set when a locomotive is spawned reversed relative to the rest of the train or other locomotives. This system multiplies the received reverser data by -1 to make sure the locomotive is moving in the same direction and not working against the other locomotives in the consist.

The controller uses the following composite data channels:
- Number Data:
- - 1. Locomotive Throttle
- - 2. Reverser Position
- - 3. Independent Brakes (Locomotive Only)
- - 4. Train Brakes (Full Train Consist)