Dear @MTH RD
I really appreciate the updates you've posted on the future of the DCS system. Like many others, I'm excited for the prospect of a new handheld remote that might have enhanced Legacy control features and other bells and whistles.
That said, I know one of the sticking points with our hobby, especially O-gauge, is getting younger folks involved. I do think that for generation Y, Z, and those that will follow, smartphone apps are the way to go. The other thing that seems to garner their interest is "gamification" of things. It works on us older folk too, but no one can deny it's probably video games and computer technology that displaced Model Railroads and Toy Trains as America's favorite hobby.
Therefore, I have an idea for your DCS WiFi app. What about a system where layout owners can link their layouts "virtually" and transfer traffic through the App? Let me explain. Maybe Joey has a layout where he runs from Balitmore to Pittsburgh on the old Western Maryland line set in the 1940s. He tracks the shipments as they come in, and gets things across his railroad along with other local traffic and whatnot. Now Bobby and his dad, have a layout that goes from Pittsburgh out to Chicago, on the PRR lines west, and they're doing something similar , taking steel from Pittsburgh out to factories in the Midwest and Chicagoland takes iron ore from the mines in Michigan back to Pittsburgh. The agreement works in reverse as well.
Both of these operators want to link their railroads and take shipments all the way from Baltimore to Chicago and back, how do they do it?
Well, they link their DCS App accounts and "sign" a transshipment agreement. Then the DCS App servers track when Joey drops a shipment off for Bobby and vice versa. The TIU could track train movements on their respective layouts and report back when shipments are picked up.
Teams of people could form to move their "traffic" from one point to another and compete against parallel routes. Who can do it the fastest. Could the TIU detect a derailment? Who does it the most safely? This could all be tracked on a server where the WiFi App connects back to and reports the "shipments" and train movements. It could even specify the consists that need to be made (within reason). Bobby has double stacks but Joey only has container on flat spine cars? Well, he needs to make a longer train or make twice as many trips! Want to be more efficient? Buy some MTH double stacks and do a clearance increase on your railroad.
I think it could be a very engaging virtual railroading experience!
