Chubb, Bruce MMR

State: 
MI
Country: 
USA
Bio: 

Dr. Bruce Chubb is a Master Model Railroader and the author of the model railroading books, How To Operate Your Model Railroad, The Computer/Model Railroad Interface (C/MRI) User's Manual and the two-volume Railroader's Application Handbook - a complete thesis on railroading applications. Bruce is a renowned author in Model Railroader and NMRA Magazine with over 60 articles to his credit. He is a major speaker at numerous NMRA national and regional conventions. Bruce, a retired electrical engineer in digital systems applied to aerospace, is currently occupied full time building and operating his Sunset Valley Oregon System to model ten prototype railroads operating in the Pacific Northwest. Additionally, Bruce is involved helping others incorporate the benefits of a computer interfaced to their model railroads via JLC Enterprises.


Clinics Presented:

Both Sides of the Sunset Valley Story

Married together for over 60 years, Janet has been caught up in the trials and tribulations with Bruce's obsession with trains. Together they have learned a great deal. It's this knowledge that both will be sharing including many pointers to the railroader and to the spouse on "How to make your love grow as the hobby grows." It's a two way street, this working together in life. Understanding and changes are required on both sides. This fast moving dynamic-dual all color presentation is designed to be entertaining and informative to both railroaders and non-railroaders. Attendance with your "significant other" is the best way to mutually benefit from observing "Both Sides of the Story." This is a presentation that everyone should enjoy attending.

Day Time Room
Monday, Aug 24 9:30 AM to 10:30 AM Mt. Hood
Tuesday, Aug 25 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM Weidler

CMRI 30th birthday celebration

2015 Marks the 30th anniversary of the C/MRI system as described by Dr Bruce Chubb. This is a get-together with presentations by Dr. Chubb and some of the manufacturers supporting C/MRI and the proposed S-9.10 CMRInet standard.

In addition to the presentations there will be an opportunity for C/MRI users to introduce themselves and describe their layouts and projects.

Day Time Room
Thursday, Aug 27 7:00 PM to 9:30 PM Mt. Bachelor

Interfacing a computer to your model railroad

Clinician: 

Bruce explains how easy it is to interface a computer to your model railroad. Focus is on the Super Mini-Node that greatly improves I/O distribution and significantly reduces system cost. Up to 128 nodes can be distributed all around your layout making wiring a snap. Simply connect any device directly to the nearest node. Only wiring between nodes is a single 4-wire cable. Applications focus on reducing layout wiring, prototypical turnout control, broad range of signaling systems, staging track control, lighting, animation, automation and interfacing to DCC. The result can greatly increase your railroad's prototypical realism and hobby enjoyment.

Day Time Room
Tuesday, Aug 25 9:30 AM to 10:30 AM Mt. Hood
Wednesday, Aug 26 8:00 AM to 9:00 AM Mt. Hood

Prototype modeling the Pacific Northwest

Clinician: 

Research for modeling and operating the SVOS was conducted with the aid of more than 60 members of OPSIG, LDSIG and SP, SP&S, NP, UP and GN Railroad Historical and Technical Societies. With their assistance, a 5-drawer file cabinet is packed full of prototypical information now in use to accurately model every station, industry, tunnel, bridge, trestle and the general overall railroad right-of-way and its operation. For example, over 250 prototypically based structures are being created. As a thank you for the efforts expended, Bruce illustrates what is being accomplished and the resulting excitement achieved via prototype modeling.

Day Time Room
Monday, Aug 24 2:30 PM to 3:30 PM Mt. Bachelor
Thursday, Aug 27 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM Mt. Hood

Signaling your railroad - Parts 1, 2, & 3

Clinician: 

Part 1 - Fundamental Concepts - Prototype and model

Bruce expands upon Signaling Made Easier series in MR and the Railroader's Application Handbook to cover adapting prototypical signaling to model railroading. ABS, APB and CTC signaling are discussed along with their impact on railroad operations. Clear differentiation is established between block and interlocking signals and speed versus route signaling. Signal placement, compatibility with DCC and how to drive different signal types are addressed. Bruce explains how to use the SMINI card coupled with the power of the computer to reduce layout wiring and system cost while maximizing system flexibility and prototype fidelity.

Part 2 - ABS, APB, turnout control, and grade crossing systems

Bruce explains optimized block occupancy detection and its application to Automatic Block Signaling (ABS). Then, Bruce clarifies how the prototype utilizes "Traffic Sticks" to determine directional movement across block boundaries to set up Absolute Permissive Block (APB) signaling thereby providing protection for bi-directional operation on the same track. The importance of "traffic sticks" in setting up grade crossing warning systems is discussed along with its utilization with a new Prototypical Grade Crossing Control (PGCC) card. Additional coverage includes prototypical turnout control and protecting hand operated switches in signal territory.

Part 3 - Centralized traffic control systems

Bruce explains CTC operations and how it can smooth traffic flow on your railroad. Typical operational scenarios are explained. Straightforward programming techniques make it is easy to "cut-paste-and-change-numbers" to set up a highly accurate C/MRI-based CTC system for any model railroad. Utilizing a standard set of callable subroutines makes the programming easy while maximizing prototype fidelity. Additionally, setting up entrance-exit interlocking plants is discussed along with using dynamic graphic interactive displays to emulate modern dispatching operations.

Day Time Room
Tuesday, Aug 25 2:30 PM to 5:00 PM Mt. Hood
Thursday, Aug 27 2:30 PM to 5:00 PM Mt. Bachelor

Sunset Valley Oregon System updates and operation

Clinician: 

Bruce and his crew of 38 are modeling ten prototype railroads operating in the Pacific Northwest in 1955. Features include the SP from Portland to Dunsmuir using the Siskiyou line, SP's Coos Bay branch, SP&S from Portland to Eugene, independent logging and mining operations, and the NP, GN, SP&S and UP operations into Portland. The system includes 7 classification yards. Up to 120 trains operate during a 24-hour simulated day. Prototypical fidelity with the system designed for super realistic operation is achieved. This fast moving, all color presentation provides an exciting status update and operational overview of this monumental effort.

Day Time Room
Monday, Aug 24 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM Mt. Bachelor
Thursday, Aug 27 9:30 AM to 10:30 AM Mt. Hood