Gents...
This past weekend saw over 100 visitors to the mighty NYC as part of the
LDSig/OpSig Conference here in the local area. We all had fun and the
trains ran well. One interesting technique that might be of interest for
folks looking for a "new way" to run their layout was demonstrated at an HO
club -- but the concept would apply to an S layout just as well.
The task at hand was to operate turnouts in a congested yard that did not
have a fascia or track diagram anywhere on the layout. Pushbuttons were
used along the edge of the layout without any visual feedback as to turnout
routing. Also, there was no indication of which pushbutton operated which
turnout motor. All in all, a pretty marginal situation frought with
potential for human error.
The solution involved Apple's new I-phone which has a large touch screen.
After accessing the appropriate web site, the touch screen displayed the
track diagram of the yard in question. While touching the screen, you can
spread your fingers apart and zoom in on the track diagram which is then
considerably enlarged. You can also move the track diagram from side to
side with finger movement. Then, once the turnout to be actuated was
clearly visible, you could simply touch the route desired (curve or
straight, normal or abnormal, etc.) and the switch motor would move the
points to the desired position. I think the I-phone and the club's layout
were located in a Wi-Fi Hot Spot (whatever that is) so the cell phone
connection was very dependable. The I-phone's touch screen then displayed
the turnout in it's newly thrown position. All this done with a cell phone
in a matter of seconds. Neat. Really neat. Who needs control panels with
zillions of toggle switches any more?
I am sure that some of us were just waiting for this new technique to come
along to justify the expense of purchasing an I-phone. Right? No more
throwing brass investment casting's that replicate tower levers just to move
the points. Thank goodness for modern electronics.
Cheers......(no tongue in cheek this time)...Ed L.
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