5 ms·

I like this but one thing - it looks like the lights only show if a train is at a station , then goes off once it leaves, so seemingly you have random lights -

I like this but one thing - it looks like the lights only show if a train is at a station , then goes off once it leaves, so seemingly you have random lights - instead of a light traversing a path. Or did I misunderstand looking at the gif? Update: I do love this project I would really like this to be resolved so it’s perfect perhaps lights should stay on until the train reaches the next station?

rubber_duck 6y ago
>Although it’s designed to work with TrainTrackr’s own servers, you can reprogramme the chip if you want, and they provide some details for people who can do that sort of thing. Should be simple enough if you're up to it - prove you are worthy to display something like this :)
verytrivial 6y ago
Consider there are over 500 trains active during (non-pandemic) peak so I guess some compromise is clearly required! And yes, a very pleasing display nonetheless.
- Reason077 6y ago
  Yes, there are typically a lot more trains active than stations, so many of the lights would be lit up nearly all the time if you tried to represent each individual train. Some lines (Victoria) actually have more trains in service than there are platforms during peak times.
  - 14 6y ago
    It would be neat if you could say highlight a certain route or two and have a different coloured led show it transverse the line. That way it is not so cluttered with all the other trains but informative to the individual.
scandinavegan 6y ago
Your updated suggestion was my first thought as well. That way you could follow a train as it moves from one station to the next.
shawabawa3 6y ago
> perhaps lights should stay on until the train reaches the next station? At peak times that would mean most lines would just be constantly lit
- pbhjpbhj 6y ago
  Really you need a "tunnel" LED between each station pair, so you could extinguish the one light, light the "in transit" light. I guess it would need 2 or more LEDs per inter-station section (or a colour change).
  - pulse7 6y ago
    This! A "tunnel" LED between stations should be only 25% bright and with distinct color. UPDATE: Maybe a LED per direction in tunnel would also be useful.
    - wtallis 6y ago
      PC motherboard OEMs have done some interesting things with RGB LEDs and areas of the PCB with clear or no soldermask and copper removed from all layers to leave a translucent region of fiberglass that can be back-lit. This can achieve an effect similar to electroluminescent wire, and would be suitable for the tunnel segments of the map.
    - StavrosK 6y ago
      At that point you're better off just getting a screen and drawing whatever you want on it, and kind of losing the point of the project, frankly.
      - pbhjpbhj 6y ago
        Yes, I guess we're information junkies! The feature-creep is real. I seem to recall the actual control centres used to use a big map with the train lines drawn using a line of bulbs, and indicating trains buy a series of bulbs. Similar to this, http://photos.signalling.org/_datas/o/n/d/ondcx12zxd/i/uploads/o/n/d/ondcx12zxd/2015/09/03/20150903192857-1e4557a0-me.jpg http://photos.signalling.org/_datas/o/n/d/ondcx12zxd/i/uploa... .
amelius 6y ago
Maybe let it blink fast while the train is moving towards the station? Or the other way around if you prefer a more calm overall appearance of the board. Experiment with blinking the leds synchronously (or not).
mncharity 6y ago
It might be nice to be able to see train delays and flow. Circuit-board transit maps face the challenge of showing train flow with their few LEDs. Online transit maps have lots of pixels, but face the challenge of showing patterns of flow at time scales larger than a users glance. One brainstormy idea that has come up in conversation, is to do something analogous to wind graphics like [1], which convey air motion using sample particles moving with unrealistic speed. Perhaps one might do something similar with trains? [1] https://www.windy.com/-Pressure-pressure https://www.windy.com/-Pressure-pressure https://www.windfinder.com/ https://www.windfinder.com/
richardhawthorn 6y ago
Hi, Richard here from Traintrackr As others have mentioned, there are more trains running than there are station LEDs, so in central London the LEDs would almost always be on, which didn't look as good. For the MBTA in Boston we added LEDs in between each station, and even went further and added LEDs for each direction, but with only 4 lines it was much easier to put together - https://www.traintrackr.co.uk/product/mbta4 https://www.traintrackr.co.uk/product/mbta4 We're looking into this for London, but making it look good is significantly more complex with the number of lines and large interchange stations.
- G4E 6y ago
  Your projects look amazing, contragulation ! You could fade the led to depict the train distance to the station ? Like that, you would have a nice transition between stations, and if there are multiples train incoming/going from it you sums the intensities ? I think it would add another level of smoothness to it.

rubber_duck 6y ago

>Although it’s designed to work with TrainTrackr’s own servers, you can reprogramme the chip if you want, and they provide some details for people who can do that sort of thing. Should be simple enough if you're up to it - prove you are worthy to display something like this :)

verytrivial 6y ago

Consider there are over 500 trains active during (non-pandemic) peak so I guess some compromise is clearly required! And yes, a very pleasing display nonetheless.

Reason077 6y ago
Yes, there are typically a lot more trains active than stations, so many of the lights would be lit up nearly all the time if you tried to represent each individual train. Some lines (Victoria) actually have more trains in service than there are platforms during peak times.
- 14 6y ago
  It would be neat if you could say highlight a certain route or two and have a different coloured led show it transverse the line. That way it is not so cluttered with all the other trains but informative to the individual.

scandinavegan 6y ago

Your updated suggestion was my first thought as well. That way you could follow a train as it moves from one station to the next.

shawabawa3 6y ago

> perhaps lights should stay on until the train reaches the next station? At peak times that would mean most lines would just be constantly lit

pbhjpbhj 6y ago
Really you need a "tunnel" LED between each station pair, so you could extinguish the one light, light the "in transit" light. I guess it would need 2 or more LEDs per inter-station section (or a colour change).
- pulse7 6y ago
  This! A "tunnel" LED between stations should be only 25% bright and with distinct color. UPDATE: Maybe a LED per direction in tunnel would also be useful.
  - wtallis 6y ago
    PC motherboard OEMs have done some interesting things with RGB LEDs and areas of the PCB with clear or no soldermask and copper removed from all layers to leave a translucent region of fiberglass that can be back-lit. This can achieve an effect similar to electroluminescent wire, and would be suitable for the tunnel segments of the map.
  - StavrosK 6y ago
    At that point you're better off just getting a screen and drawing whatever you want on it, and kind of losing the point of the project, frankly.
    - pbhjpbhj 6y ago
      Yes, I guess we're information junkies! The feature-creep is real. I seem to recall the actual control centres used to use a big map with the train lines drawn using a line of bulbs, and indicating trains buy a series of bulbs. Similar to this, http://photos.signalling.org/_datas/o/n/d/ondcx12zxd/i/uploads/o/n/d/ondcx12zxd/2015/09/03/20150903192857-1e4557a0-me.jpg http://photos.signalling.org/_datas/o/n/d/ondcx12zxd/i/uploa... .

amelius 6y ago

Maybe let it blink fast while the train is moving towards the station? Or the other way around if you prefer a more calm overall appearance of the board. Experiment with blinking the leds synchronously (or not).

mncharity 6y ago

It might be nice to be able to see train delays and flow. Circuit-board transit maps face the challenge of showing train flow with their few LEDs. Online transit maps have lots of pixels, but face the challenge of showing patterns of flow at time scales larger than a users glance. One brainstormy idea that has come up in conversation, is to do something analogous to wind graphics like [1], which convey air motion using sample particles moving with unrealistic speed. Perhaps one might do something similar with trains? [1] https://www.windy.com/-Pressure-pressure https://www.windy.com/-Pressure-pressure https://www.windfinder.com/ https://www.windfinder.com/

richardhawthorn 6y ago

Hi, Richard here from Traintrackr As others have mentioned, there are more trains running than there are station LEDs, so in central London the LEDs would almost always be on, which didn't look as good. For the MBTA in Boston we added LEDs in between each station, and even went further and added LEDs for each direction, but with only 4 lines it was much easier to put together - https://www.traintrackr.co.uk/product/mbta4 https://www.traintrackr.co.uk/product/mbta4 We're looking into this for London, but making it look good is significantly more complex with the number of lines and large interchange stations.

G4E 6y ago
Your projects look amazing, contragulation ! You could fade the led to depict the train distance to the station ? Like that, you would have a nice transition between stations, and if there are multiples train incoming/going from it you sums the intensities ? I think it would add another level of smoothness to it.