Download

RailControl can be downloaded on the Download-page.

Installation

The downloaded archive can be extracted everywhere on the computer.

Installing on Windows

On Windows the archive has to be extracted in a subdirectory. For example D:\ is not allowed, D:\ModelRailway\ is OK.

Configuration-File

In the extracted archive there is a template of the configuration file (railcontrol.conf.dist). At first start of RailControl it will be copied to railcontrol.conf. Usually it is not needed to change any settings in the config file.

Starting RailControl

RailControl can be started with a double click on the executable file railcontrol.exe (Windows) respectively railcontrol (other operation systems). To get logging informations from RailControl it is recommended to start RailControl from a console. Also possible is to change the behavior of RailControl with startup arguments.

Shutdown RailControl

RailControl should be terminated by entering q+Enter or Ctrl+C in the RailControl-terminal or by using the top left button in the browser.

Important: If the X in the top right of the RailControl-terminal is used some settings are not stored correctly and problems can apear when starting RailControl again.

Entering q+Enter or Ctrl+C in the terminal or using the terminate-button in the browser multiple times will terminate RailControl early. This should only be used if RailControl does not shutdown cleanly.

Browser

If RailControl already has started one can connect with a recent Browser. RailControl lists the possible links that can be used in the browser. One of these links can be copied into the browser. Links with localhost, 127.0.0.1 and [::1] only work on the device where RailControl is executed. The other links also work on other devices.

Functions and Configuration

After connecting with the browser, the important functions and configurations can be reached in the menu bar at the top:

These are the functions from left to right:

Button Quit Terminating RailControl-server, including stopping all trains
Button Booster Turn on/off current on the track
Button Stop Stopping all trains immediately (speed zero)
Button Signal Red Stopping all trains in automode at the next signal / at end of street
Button Signal Green Putting all trains into automode
Button Full Screen Show RailControl in full screen.
Button Program CV-Programming. Is only displayed when the control and its API support it.
Button Menu On narrow screens the second part of the menu can be made visible.
Button Settings General Settings
Button Control Configuration of controls
Button Loco Configuration of locomotives
Button Multiple Unit Configuration of Multiple Units
Button Layer Configuration of layers
Button Track Configuration of tracks
Button Track Group Configuration of trackgroups
Button Switch Configuration of switches
Button Signal Configuration of signals
Button Accessory Configuration of accessories
Button Feedback Configuration of feedbacks
Button Route Configuration of routes
Button Text Configuration of texts

Automatic Operation

The automatic operation is described on page Automatic Operation.