Marklin protoype-control

[da1]

Hello fellow modellers,

Last weekend I visited a friend who is big-time into European modelling using Marklin products.  He showed me a screen on the Marklin DCC system that simulated the controls of a steam locomotive (water valves, blowdown, coal, pressure guages, reverse lever, throttle, etc.)  That screen allowed simulated control of the steam locomotive uisng something closer to prototype than a single knob and toggle switch.  The system even tracked consumables (water, coal and sand).

I admit I was smitten.  The control was very fun to play with and could easily occupy several hours.  My friend told me similar controls exist for diesel and electric locos, to.

So, my question...  I've never seen (and I admit to knowing only 78.3% of all the knowledge in the world) a similar type control for North American DCC systems.  Does a simliar 'prototype-mode' control exist for Digitrax, NCE, MRC, etc.?  I imagine it would probably run on a PC connected to the DCC and convert the 'proto-control' to standard DCC track commands.

Anyway, if one of you can give me a bump in the right direction that would be great.

Keep you stick on the ice (kinda like Canada in the Juniors!)
Dwayne A

[rrinker]

 If you've seen the Rail Driver prototypical control stands (originally introduced to run the various Train Simulator games), there is support for those in JMRI, which means you can use it to drive trains in any DCC system supported by JMRI (basically, every one on the market except MRC).

              --Randy