Traintrackr – Live LED Maps(traintrackr.co.uk) |
Traintrackr – Live LED Maps(traintrackr.co.uk) |
I've been designing PCBs for years, and designed over 250 at last count.
We have a couple of products in the pipeline to come out this year, but I'd love to hear what you think we should build next.
Maybe a general "train to newcastle / Birmingham" map like this? https://map-shop.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/ms00004-uk...
A wimbledon tram one could be good and might appeal to the richer demographic ( im not sure ). https://www.croydon-tramlink.co.uk/info/gen/images/RouteMap....
Finally an overnight sleeper train only (europe) could be good: https://media.timeout.com/images/105981668/image.webp
Just suggestions I have no idea if these are good ideas.
Regular RGB LEDs are a lot cheaper than the WS2812, around 6x cheaper when we made the decision to switch, which adds up when you have 768 of them.
WS2812 LEDs are much easier to route, but if one dies then every LED routed after that one stops lighting up.
If you are less into trains (heresy) but still want to look at unusual maps https://raildar.co.uk/map/KGX is your place to go. its a live junction schematic of any train junction in the UK.
Works on a mobile phone too so I can check what’s happening when I’m at my local station and the train is late
Raildar is a pretty abysmal experience on mobile… locks up on this iPad when I try to zoom in
Nice one, OpenRailTimes[0] is a similar style, but split in to smaller local sections by rail company and area.
I also like SignalBox[1] maps for their more traditional geographic layout, and for "less map -- more data", with accurate times that trains pass through stations and junctions, then RealTimeTrains[2] is hard to beat.
- [0]: https://www.opentraintimes.com/maps
I found an in-box rated USB-C hardwired power adapter, and ran an additional outlet above an existing one. Then used a couple screwed together brass motherboard standoffs I drilled holes into the drywall for. To my surprise just some standard superglue in the holes have held these far more securely than needed.
Looks like a great piece of “90s retro art” and gets a lot comments from guest!
Obviously some compromises must be made for routing the traces but I’d consider the shape of the Loop to be the most essential element of the whole system.
Definitely very cool though!
I want to find more art like this that updates in real-time, then I feel like I actually appreciate it in the long term. With regular static pictures on the wall I tune them out after they've been there a few months.
One time he and his girlfriend did a journey to visit every train station and stop in the UK (posted on a different channel): https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL4PdgT_AV_nXshM-I7xjY...
Sadly for the romantics, they've since broken up...
We should have a couple more technical posts released this year as we update the way our boards get their data.
> (rail transport, slang, British) A person under a train; a person hit by a train after jumping or falling in front of it.
In case anyone else was confused.
