model-railway-signals 4.1.0

Create your own DCC model railway signalling scheme

model-railway-signalling

A DCC model railway signalling application written in Python, enabling automated and interlocked layout signalling schemes to be designed and configured via the UI without the need to write any code. The application is primarily intended for the Raspberry Pi, but will also run on other platforms (albeit without some of the Raspberry-Pi specific interfacing functions).

• Enables layout schematics to be created with signals, points, track sections and block instruments
• Supports most types of UK colour light signals, semaphore signals, and ground signals.
• Interfaces with the Pi-SPROG DCC command station to drive the signals and points out on the layout
• Uses the Raspberry Pi GPIO inputs to provide train detection in support of signalling automation
• Incorporates MQTT networking to allow multiple signalling applications to be linked for larger layouts

Configured / pre-installed systems are now available to purchase from: https://www.model-railway-signalling.co.uk/

What's new for Release 4.0:

• Hidden files and folders now supressed in file load and save dialogs
• Network heartbeats and monitering to check the status of other network nodes
• Ability to trigger application shutdown of connected network nodes on application exit
• Support for the Pi-SPROG3 V2 DCC Programmer / Controller (higher baud rate)
• Quickstart guide updated to reflect settings changes for the Pi-SPROG3 V2
• BREAKING CHANGE - GPIO Ports 16 and 17 no longer selectable for track sensors
• Minor bugfixes and application enhancements to improve the overall user experience

Bug reports and feedback are welcome and appreciated:

• What aspects are intuitive? What aspects aren't?
• What aspects do you particularly like?
• What aspects particularly irritate you?
• What new features would you like to see?

Installing the application

For a first time installation use:

$ python3 -m pip install model-railway-signals 

To upgrade to the latest version use:

$ python3 -m pip install --upgrade model-railway-signals 

If you want to use Block Instruments with full sound enabled (bell rings and telegraph key sounds) then you will also need to install the 'simpleaudio' package. Note that for Windows it has a dependency on Microsoft Visual C++ 14.0 or greater (so you will need to ensure Visual Studio 2015 is installed first). If 'simpleaudio' is not installed then the software will still function correctly (just without sound).

$ python3 -m pip install simpleaudio

Running the application

The python package should be run as a module (note underscores):

$ python3 -m model_railway_signals

If required, a layout schematic can be loaded at startup:

$ python3 -m model_railway_signals -f layout_file.sig

If required, the logging level can be specified at startup (ERROR, WARNING, INFO or DEBUG)

$ python3 -m model_railway_signals -f layout_file.sig -l DEBUG

Documentation, in the form of a Quick-Start guide can be found in the 'user_guide' folder: https://github.com/johnrm174/model-railway-signalling/tree/main/user_guide

Some example layout configuration files can be found in the 'configuration_examples' folder: https://github.com/johnrm174/model-railway-signalling/tree/main/configuration_examples