Beginning in January of 2007 the layout was stripped of mainline track, wiring, and scenery for renovation. approximately 80% of the track and rolling stock (engines and train cars)upgrades has been completed along with much of the scenery.
Model Railroad Introduction
Animation Systems: About
What the Animation Was...
New Animation Systems Overview
Animation Control Circuit
Introduction to Sound
About Animation Sponsorship
Animations available for sponsorship:
Model Railroad Introduction The Brunswick Railroad Museum's HO Scale model railroad layout depicts the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Line from Washington D.C. to Brunswick Maryland circa 1960.
The model consists of 2 mainline tracks each having its own secondary line, 2 yards, and was started in the mid 1970s. Animation Systems (Back to top)
Brunswick Hump Engine
Brunswick Coal Tipple Dismantle
Brunwick Refrigeration Car Loading
Excavation at Point of Rocks
Burning House at Boyds
Tractor Pull at Gaithersburg Fair
Rotating ride at Gaithersburg Fair
Cement Plant Between Georgetown Jct. & Rockville
Yard Engine at Union Station Washington D.C.
Union Station PRR Passenger Train
Union Station NYC Passenger Train
Train Location Monitor
Brunswick Rail Yard Audio
Sgt. Tom's Farm Audio
County Fair Audio
Silver Spring City Audio
Union Station Rail Yard Audio
Animation Systems Infrastructure
What the Animation was... (Back to top)
The animation present in the B&O Model train display consisted of the following:
- Approximately 25 buttons for actuation
- 3 smoke generating scenes
- 3 Auto Reverse Scenes in Union Station (Elkington Yard)
- Several lights that turned on scenes
- A Fire truck’s lights
- Lights at a RR crossing, etc…
New Animation System Overview (Back to top)
After evaluation of the Animation Scenes that were in place the following is proposed for the renovation of the animation scenes within the HO Train Display.
The Model is to be split into five (5) independent
Animation Districts all connected to a central computer
- Each district is self contained with respect to power and network communication used for the animation, the infrastructure
- Each district will have it’s own power supply
- Each district will have it’s own Ethernet connection
- The animation in each district is actuated by the central computer or a switch, button.
There are eleven (11) Animation scenes with physical motion proposed Proposed Animation Scenes with physical action shown as gray boxes within Animation Districts Each animation is turned on by it’s own ‘button’ or the central computer
Animation Control Circuit (Back to top)
Each Animation district has a Animation controller that controls the physical action of the animation Animation Controller
- A custom circuit designed for the Brunswick HO Model Train Display.
- The custom circuit has generic commercial hardware, it’s the software that’s unique.
- Improved Reliability of Animation Scenes
- Custom software allows the central computer to monitor and control of all of the animation scenes in the entire model.
- This will allow continuous monitoring and the detection of problems as they occur.
- Increased uptime of animation scenes, no more undetected problems.
- Isolation of animation scenes allows all other scenes to perform in the presence of a scene that is not working.
- Dash A. will control Sound animation and Physical Animation
- Dash AR. will control Auto-Reverse circuit for train animation
Animation Control Circuit Diagram (click for full view) 
Introduction to Sound (Back to top)
There are five (5) Animation scenes with Sound proposed
- Sound scenes have two parts
- Play background sounds appropriate for that part of the model
- Play sounds turned on by switch, or button
- Example: In The Brunswick Yard sound of a Diesel Rail Yard would be playing all the time as the background sound and a button would make an Engine bell clanging sound Proposed Animation scenes with sound shown as gray boxes within Animation Districts.
Animation Sponsorship (Back to top)
- Each proposed animation scene is summarized in the following slides.
- The ‘Sponsorship Cost’ estimate for each scene is based on amortizing the cost of the common material across all of the animation and the hardware costs for that animation scene as a stand alone entity.
- The labor (custom animation software, system fabrication, and system installation) is considered as $0 cost.
- Each Animation Scene that is physical animation will have a small posting as to the relevance and the Sponsor of that scene.
- Each Sound animation will have a posting for the Sponsor of that scene.
- Each time an animation is activated it will be detected and logged so we can determine what animation is the most popular. This will show which animation scenes might need to be ‘tweeked’ to help improve their popularity.
#1: The Hump Engine (Back to top)
-
Location:
- East End of Brunswick Yard Overview:
- The hump engine shows how cars went into the Brunswick Classification Yard. Concept of Operation:
- Utilizes B&H Brunswick Auto-Reverser circuit attached to send a motorized car up and over the hump into the yard. The car starts coupled to a dummy engine on the east side of the hump. The car pulls the dummy engine up to a auto decoupler that releases the engine, which then rolls backward to stoppers on track, and rolls down into the yard for a few feet. Car stops and reverses itself back up the hump, it picks up the dummy engine and halts. Components:
- B&H Brunswick Auto-Reverser
- Occupation Sensors
- uncoupler
- Breaking mechanism
#2: Coal Tipple Dismantle (Back to top)
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Location:
- East End of Brunswick Yard Overview:
- Razing of coal tipple as transition to diesel is complete Concept of Operation:
- Utilizes B&H Brunswick Auto-Reverser circuit to run a locomotive attached to a gondola car full of debris from the razing of the coal tipple. Utilizes a B&H Brunswick Motor control circuit to move the crane at the Coal Tipple to simulate loading of the gondola car that is behind tipple when animation starts. Loco pulls full gondola car down track several feet and reverses and stops with gondola car parked behind tipple. Components:
- B&H Brunswick Auto-Reverser
- B&H Brunswick Motor Control
- Occupation Sensors
- Motor for Crane
#3: Refrigeration Car Loading (Back to top)
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Location:
- East end of Brunswick Yard Overview:
- This shows cars being loaded with ice in the Brunswick Classification Yard. Concept of Operation:
- Utilizes B&H Brunswick Auto-Reverser circuit to run a locomotive attached to refrigeration cars that are being pulled into the ice loading station on the east end of yard.. Loco pulls refrigeration car down track to ice loader waits a few then pulls car back to original location. Components:
- B&H Brunswick Auto-Reverser
- B&H Brunswick Auto-Reverser
#4: Excavation at Point of Rocks (Back to top)
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Location:
- Behind Rt. 28 at Point of Rocks Overview:
- Shovel (or 1960 excavator) digging hole next to Rt. 28 Concept of Operation:
- Utilizes a B&H Brunswick Motor control circuit to move the arm of the shovel/excavator up and down behind the pile of dirt. Components:
- B&H Brunswick Motor Control
- Motor for shovel/excavator
- Excavator
#5: Burning House (Back to top)
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Location:
- Boyds Overview:
- House that smokes and simulates that it is on fire Concept of Operation:
- Utilizes a B&H Brunswick Motor control circuit to turn on smoke generator and run fan that disperse smoke Components:
- B&H Brunswick Motor Control
- Motor for fan to disperse smoke
- Smoke generator
- LED driver for fire simulation
- Fire truck and firemen
#6: Tractor Pull at Fair (Back to top)
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Location:
- Gaithersburg Overview:
- Tractor Pull at Montgomery County Fair Grounds Concept of Operation:
- Utilizes a B&H Brunswick Motor control circuit to run tractor in straight line as it pulls a sled with weight. Components:
- B&H Brunswick Motor Control
- Motor to move tractor
- Sound
- Tractor
#7: Ride rotate at county fair (Back to top)
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Location:
- Gaithersburg Overview:
- Rotating ride at Montgomery County Fair Concept of Operation:
- Utilizes a B&H Brunswick Motor control circuit to spin ride around Components:
- B&H Brunswick Motor Control
- Motor to spin ride
- sound
#8: Cement Plant (Back to top)
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Location:
- Rockville-Georgetown Junction Overview:
- Oven and tumbler making cement Concept of Operation:
- Utilizes a B&H Brunswick Motor control circuit to turn on smoke generator that represents the oven used to heat the limestone and run tumbler that gets hot and mixes limestone, clay, and gypsum. Also run conveyer belts to simulate processing. Components:
- B&H Brunswick Motor Control
- Motor to spin tumbler
- Conveyer Belt System
- Smoke Generator
#9: Union Station working yard engine (Back to top)
-
Location:
- Union Station/Ekington Yard Overview:
- Switching of cars in yard Concept of Operation:
- Utilizes B&H Brunswick Auto-Reverser circuit to run a yard locomotive train between two sensors. Train will be simulating switching operations in yard. Components:
- B&H Brunswick Auto-Reverser
- Occupation Sensors
#10: Union Station Passenger Train (Back to top)
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Location:
- Union Station-Ekington Yard Overview:
- Movement of cars around yard Concept of Operation:
- Utilizes B&H Brunswick Auto-Reverser circuit to run a Passenger train between two sensors. Train will be simulating entering and leaving Union Station. Components:
- B&H Brunswick Auto-Reverser
- Occupational Sensors
- Special train representing The Pennsylvania Railroad
#11: Union Station Passenger Train (Back to top)
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Location:
- Union Station-Ekington Yard Overview:
- Movement of cars around yard Concept of Operation:
- Utilizes B&H Brunswick Auto-Reverser circuit to run a Passenger train between two sensors. Train will be simulating entering and leaving Union Station. Components:
- B&H Brunswick Auto-Reverser
- Occupational Sensors
- Special train representing The New York Central Railroad
#12: Train Location Monitor (Back to top)
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Location:
- Catoctin/Rockville Overview:
- Shows trains location Concept of Operation:
- Utilizes B&H Brunswick LED Display Circuit to illuminate LED that shows station shop that the a train is near. Components:
- B&H Brunswick LED Display Circuit
Audio #1: Brunswick Yards (Back to top)
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Location:
- Center of Brunswick Rail Yards Overview:
- Sounds of rail yard with diesel locomotives Concept of Operation:
- Utilizes Fantasonics Dreamplayer to continuously cycle through a sound file playing at low volume that is 20 minutes long. This file runs simulates sounds heard in everyday operation in a freight yard that has diesel engines. Up to four (4) buttons will be deployed to act as triggers that will play specific sounds when pushed that also would be typically heard in this environment. Components:
- Fantasonics Dreamplayer
- Speaker System
Audio #2: Sgt. Tom's Farm (Back to top)
-
Location:
- Germantown Overview:
- Sounds of a farm Concept of Operation:
- Utilizes Fantasonics Dreamplayer to continuously cycle through a sound file playing at low volume that is 20 minutes long. This file runs simulates sounds heard in everyday operation in a farm that has animals. Up to four (4) buttons will be deployed to act as triggers that will play specific sounds when pushed that also would be typically heard in this environment. Components:
- Fantasonics Dreamplayer
- Speaker System
Audio #3: Sounds of Fair (Back to top)
-
Location:
- Gaithersburg Overview:
- Sounds of County Fair Concept of Operation:
- Utilizes Fantasonics Dreamplayer to continuously cycle through a sound file playing at low volume that is 20 minutes long. This file runs simulates sounds heard in everyday operation in a fair that has rides, etc.... Up to four (4) buttons will be deployed to act as triggers that will play specific sounds when pushed that also would be typically heard in this environment. Components:
- Fantasonics Dreamplayer
- Speaker System
Audio #4: Silver Spring City Sounds (Back to top)
-
Location:
- Silver Spring Overview:
- Sounds of a city Concept of Operation:
- Utilizes Fantasonics Dreamplayer to continuously cycle through a sound file playing at low volume that is 20 minutes long. This file runs simulates sounds heard in everyday operation in a fair that has rides, etc.... Up to four (4) buttons will be deployed to act as triggers that will play specific sounds when pushed that also would be typically heard in this environment. Components:
- Fantasonics Dreamplayer
- Speaker System
Audio #5: Union Station/Ekington Yard (Back to top)
-
Location:
- Union Station-Ekington Yard Overview:
- Sounds of rail yard with diesel locomotives Concept of Operation:
- Utilizes Fantasonics Dreamplayer to continuously cycle through a sound file playing at low volume that is 20 minutes long. This file runs simulates sounds heard in everyday operation in a fair that has rides, etc.... Up to four (4) buttons will be deployed to act as triggers that will play specific sounds when pushed that also would be typically heard in this environment. Components:
- Fantasonics Dreamplayer
- Speaker System
Animation Systems Infrastructure (Back to top)
-
Location:
- Entire Model Overview:
- Power Supplies Concept of Operation:
- Utilizes Animation Control board to turn on and monitor power supply for each animation district. Power supply provides 12 VDC, 5 VDC, and 5 VDC Stand by. Each power supply is capable of sourcing 400 Watts to the animation. Components: (one set for every district)
- Power Supply
- Power Supply Controller
