Summary
- Framed Washington Metro map uses Raspberry Pi Pico W and WMATA departure API to light 144 LEDs live.
- Laser-cut matboard masks 144 LEDs; data refreshes so you can see every train’s position from home.
- SBC and train hobby overlap shines; public transit APIs make DIY live train trackers easy to build.
One thing I didn’t realise when getting into the SBC community is how much overlap there is with the train enthusiasts. I got my first taste when I reported on when someone made an incredible 3D live map of Manhattan’s subway trains using a Raspberry Pi, and since then, I’ve seen little train-inspired projects pop up here and there.
Well, this time around, we’re checking out the Washington Metro, as someone is showing off their framed live tracker of every train they created as a gift. And, if anything, it’s teaching me that some train services just have their departure data out there as an API. You can just grab it if you want. It’s just sitting there.
This Washington Metro live departures map makes me want one, too
And I don’t even live in Washington
In a post on the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) subreddit, redditor cadnights showed off what they’ve been building for a month as a gift for their younger brother. It’s a map of the Washington Metro, wired up with LEDs and with a Raspberry Pi Pico 2 W using the departure API to keep tabs on where each train is. That way, Cadnights’ brother can see where every train is without leaving their home. Sounds very cool, if you ask me.
Cadnights describes their project like this:…