StationMaster

Self Adjusting Deceleration

The StationMaster has a feature which can automatically determine the best deceleration profile when stopping at a station.

This feature is available when both DECEL and STOP sensors are used.

To Operate:

1. Use at least 6 feet of distance between the DECEL and STOP sensors.
2. Program deceleration rate to maxiumum.
3. Program number of trains that will be controlled.
4. Sit back, and watch the fun.

How it works:

An ideal station stop will realistically decelerate the train down to a creeping speed and then the train will slowly creep for a few seconds until it reaches the STOP sensor. The information below is FYI only since the StationMater will be doing all the work.

• The StationMaster can maintain separate deceleration profiles for up to 5 different trains and cycles between them on every deceleration. The number of separate profiles is programmed using the train count. If programmed for 1 train then 1 train profile will be used, etc. When a Deceleration is started the StationMaster will cycle to the next train's profile and determine the best deceleration profile for that train.

• There are three modes of operation and they can be observed by watching the RED/GREEN LED.
  1. When flashing RED the train is decelerating.
  2. When flashing RED/GREEN the train is CREEPING and hunting for the STOP sensor. If the train has stopped then the speed will increase every 20 seconds until the STOP sensor is detected.
  3. When flashing RED/ORANGE the train is CREEPING and hunting for the STOP sensor using the optimum creep speed.
• When the train hits the STOP sensor while blinking RED it will decelerate faster next time.

• When the train hits the STOP sensor while blinking RED/GREEN it will count the number of RED/GREEN flashes and stop faster if it has not creeped long enough.

• After every stop (when flashing RED/GREEN) the CREEP velocity will be decreased to find the slowest that this train can run. Eventually the train will decelerate and stop before hitting the STOP sensor because the creeping speed is too low. At this time the StationMaster will wait 20 seconds for the train to reach the STOP sensor. If that never happens (and it won't because we're stopped) the StationMaster will increase the creeping speed and wait another 20 seconds for the train to be sensed. Once the train is sensed this creeping speed is programmed and operation will continue without ever stopping short of the station again.

• Once the ideal creep speed is determined for the train, the StationMaster will flash RED/ORANGE when creeping into the station to indicate that the optimum creep velocity has been determined. The train will not stop before reaching the sensor and will realistically decelerate and creep into the station.

Note that this optimum creeping speed will be re-programmed every time the StationMaster is powered down and powered back up.

The reason for this is that trains could have been changed or re-configured since the last run. A train with a light consist will behave differently than a train with a heavy load and the StationMaster will determine the best deceleration profile for each train. This might mean that heavily loaded trains will always stop short of the sensor when first powered up, but after a 20 second delay (or 40, or 60) they will be operating perfectly. This is a one-time condition. (Only on power up)

This automatically adjusting station stops looks extremely realistic when the train decelerates into the yard and then slowly creeps into the station. If a train stops before approaching the station that also looks realistic, knowing that it will eventually move to the station and stop at the correct location.

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