| Train Control Centre/Center, strictly spelled Tcc, is a program written by MERG member Howard Amos (HA) to assist in the running of model railway layouts, with considerable emphasis on automation. It is written in the Java language so as to be usable on many different types of computer. It can connect to model railway hardware such as train controllers, train detectors, switchgear, signals, turnouts and control panels via a number of interfaces (eg Howard's own QTU (Quad Throttle Unit) modules, the RPC range of modules by Gordon Hopkins, NCE DCC systems, etc.). In operation, it continiously runs a script, written in Tcc's Train Control Language (TCL) which is derived from, but not compatible with, the scripting language of the same name developed by CTI Electronics for their Train Brain program. Writing your own TCL script is one option, but it is also possible to generate a script for an automated layout from Tcc's Track Defintion Language (TDL). You simply describe the elements and topology of your layout in TDL statements and a complete TCL script is the result, no understanding of TCL being required. An option allows simulation running in order to test a TDL configuration without actually connecting with any hardware. | Train Control Centre/Center, strictly spelled Tcc, is a program written by MERG member Howard Amos (HA) to assist in the running of model railway layouts, with considerable emphasis on automation. It is written in the Java language so as to be usable on many different types of computer. It can connect to model railway hardware such as train controllers, train detectors, switchgear, signals, turnouts and control panels via a number of interfaces (eg Howard's own QTU (Quad Throttle Unit) modules, the RPC range of modules by Gordon Hopkins, NCE DCC systems, etc.). In operation, it continiously runs a script, written in Tcc's Train Control Language (TCL) which is derived from, but not compatible with, the scripting language of the same name developed by CTI Electronics for their Train Brain program. Writing your own TCL script is one option, but it is also possible to generate a script for an automated layout from Tcc's Track Defintion Language (TDL). You simply describe the elements and topology of your layout in TDL statements and a complete TCL script is the result, no understanding of TCL being required. An option allows simulation running in order to test a TDL configuration without actually connecting with any hardware. |
