February 16th- There is a Ring in the Air...
Post date: Feb 18, 2012 6:15:31 PM
For the most part, things were as usual this evening, with one notable exception. The Sue Line group had acquired a RailPro HC-1had held controller and three RailPro LM-1 locomotive control modules.
ProRail HC-1 by Ring Engineering.
(Photo used with permission from Ring Engineering)
Rail Pro LM-1 by Ring Engineering.
(Photo used with permission from Ring Engineering)
The RailPro system by Ring Engineering.
(Photo used with permission from Ring Engineering)
As the Sue Line group had Easy DCC power on the rails and we always run in a walk around fashion, we did not need the PWR-75 power unit and signal repeater. Please see the Rail Engineering web site
( http://www.ringengineering.com//index.html ) for complete information on RailPro.
The HC-1 was set up following the User's Manual to down load pictures, sounds, and light functions from the Ring Engineering website, and two of the LM-1 locomotive control modules were insured into a pair of Proto SD-50's.m(below).
The KCS SD-50 pair was assigned to train 600 a south bound train from Blanchard Yard to Alexandria Yard with 26 grain cars in tow. More about that later.
Lionel Brangham (above, left) is using his WiiThrottle as the Shreveport Public Belt Operator
 in Keithville and Charlie DeVillbiss (above, right) was the Sue City Operator.
Rob Robbins (above, left) was back as the Maryville Operator and
 Mose Crews (above, right) was on duty as the North Park Operator.
Danny Garland (above, left) was at his usual job as the Shreveport Yard Operator
 and Jim Willis (above, right) was, once again the Alexandria Yard Operator.
The dispatcher for the evening was David Colvin (above), who kept the entire system running smoothly.
Rodney Dixon (above, left) appears to be enjoying his extra board train in Robinson
 while Doran McQuery (above, right) is busy switching his extra board train in Sue City.
Paul Harwell (above, left) appears to be careful with his south bound train in Robert's Crossing and Marvin Bennett, Jr. (above , right) appears to be enjoying his north bound extra Board train in Pinecrest.
Ken Ellison (above, left) is using his WiiThrottle to switch his train in Sue City,
 while Charles Kneipp (above, left) is headed for his train in Blanchard Yard.
If we look closely in the photo above, we can see that the KCS SD-50's have arrived to get train 600 from the I-49 east yard in Blanchard.
The journey of Train 600....
Train 600 on the mainline behind Union Street Yard in Shreveport.
Train 600 on the move at South Morgan.
Train 600 in the woods between South Morgan and Brandon.
Yes, I forgot to turn on the headlight.
The RailPro will do the for you, but due to may showings of the features,
I forgot to turn the headlight back on.
Train 600 in Brandon. I had put the maximum throttle setting to 75%.
This gave me what I considered a good correlation to the RailPro HC-1
display of of % to mph. I would run at 5% or 5 mph in the yards and from 10- 25%
on the mainline or about 10-25 mph.
Locomotive Control Screen from RailPro web site.
You can see that several lights and sounds can be
controlled by using the touch screen.
There is a second screen for more functions if you choose.
(Photo by Ring Engineering)
Train 600 heading into Robinson.
Train 600 at North Robinson signal.
Train 600 has a green for the west main while
a northbound train waits on the east main in Sue City.
The two trains meet at Sue City.
The south bound Train 600 (above, left) is being controlled by Direct Radio using RailPro while
The ATSF north bound train (above, middle) is being controlled by a WiiThrottle and Easy Dcc and
the local switcher (just bare seen above, right) a KCS in grey and red is
being controlled by a T9000e radio throttle from CVP Products.
Train 600 is about to leave Sue City.
Train 600 is arriving in Robert's Crossing.
Train 600 sets on the main line on a red signal in Leming.
Train 600 moving through more wood between Leming and Crew's Siding.
I was amazed that the two units moved together so well. The LN-1's "talk" to each other" when mu'ed and I never saw a change in the couplers during the entire evening. They were totally stable.
Train 600 is cleared for the mainline at Maryville,
while a north bound train waits on the siding.
Train 600 has made it into Maryville. The crew has "hog lawed".
It is the end of the session.
With locomotive when run well and run slow, a great deal of fun can be
had by all.
THIS IS NOT A REVIEW.
(All photos of the RailPro system are from the RailPro web site.
The are being used with their permission.
It is a few comments about the RailPro system.
I found the system easy to use.
The locomotive ran smoothly, quietly and without loss of control all evening.
I had good slow speed control.
I could use either locomotive number to monitor the state of the engines.
While installing the LM-1, there was a short on the output to the front locomotive light
(white to blue).
What happened when this occurred?
A caution message came up and after pressing the info button,
the HC-1 reported output one shorted and the circuit had been shut down.
The LM-1 did not "go up in smoke".
Later in the evening I was in a area with a partial short on the track.
What happed when this occurred?
A caution message came up on the HC-1 and after pressing the info button,
the HC-1 reported track voltage too low.
I was impressed.
All control except for the input of a large well placed knob is by touch screen.
This is the main page. You can do almost anything from here.
Select a locomotive to run.
Select a turnout to throw.
Basic set up for locomotive- Give it a name, a picture,etc.
Advanced set up page 1.
Advanced set up page 2.
The control buttons can be customized as you like.
The HC-1 can be connected to your computer and new information, programs, pictures, sounds and light control can be downloaded from the Ring Engineering site as often as you need.