Train Control               

At the moment I am using Version 4.0 A7, I have found it to be very reliable and a stable program.The backup and help from the guys at Railroad & Co has been very good with prompt replys to your questions.

TrainController™ provides you with the ease of point and click to operate your switches, signals, routes and other accessories displayed on track diagram panels, which are individually created for each yard or section as desired. You can run your trains with on-screen throttles,external handhelds connected to your computer, or with your favourite throttles or handhelds supported by your digital system. You can operate digital locomotives equipped with own decoders as well as conventional models without decoder. Digital and conventional locomotives can run on the same track. Far reaching automation features make railroad operations manageable by one person, which match those found on the largest club layouts. Indicators enable you to display on the screen which engine/train is on which track.

TrainController™ enables you to control your engines and trains with a handheld, which has been especially designed for the software. Actually the RAILROAD & CO. Handheld is the world's first remote control, which is designed for computer controlled model railroads. This handheld works like a remote control for the Train Window visible on the computer screen. It exceeds by far the possibilities provided by the normal computer keyboard, mouse or joystick. The handheld is useful for a single operating person, to support operating sessions with several users, or for large layouts. Up to 16 handhelds can be connected at arbitrary locations on the layout.

Q: How can I hear about new updates of Railroad & Co software?

A: The best way is checking the WWW home page of RAILROAD & CO. from time to time. This site will be kept up to date with the newest informations about the software. The address is: www.freiwald.com.

Q: Is there a printed instruction manual available for RAILROAD & CO. TrainController™?

A: Yes. The RAILROAD & CO. User's Guide is a very good starting point to learn using RAILROAD & CO. TrainController™. It provides all you have to know to be able to use the software professionally.

Additionally each RAILROAD & CO. product is delivered with a comprehensive and easy to use online documentation.
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Q: Is RAILROAD & CO. also available for the Macintosh?

A: No, the version for Windows 98, Windows NT, Windows 2000 and Windows 3.1 is the only one.

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Q: How often has RAILROAD & CO. been sold?

A: RAILROAD & CO. products are used by several thousand people in more than 40 countries and all continents.

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Q: I was told, that the speed and timing reliability of a Windows program is not sufficient to operate a model railroad. For this reason it would be recommended to use one of the available DOS programs.

A: This argument is often used by manufacturers of DOS programs. Nevertheless using special techniques it is possible to operate a model railroad with high speed and reliable timing even on Windows. RAILROAD & CO. TrainController™ is the first model railroad control software, where such special techniques have been applied. For the first time a Windows program for model railroad control is available with timing reliability comparable to a DOS program. Additionally the graphical user interface of RAILROAD & CO. TrainController™ provides more convenience and is more forward-looking then a DOS program.

Q: Which additional hardware do I need to control my model railroad with my computer and RAILROAD & CO.?

A: You need a so called digital system. Such systems are provided by several manufacturers. RAILROAD & CO. is the only computer program supporting the digital systems of all leading manufacturers. Most of these manufacturers provide own Internet web sites, where comprehensive information about the particular systems is published. The list of supported digital systems contains links to the web sites of the most popular manufacturers.

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Q: I want to operate only my switches, signals and routes with my computer. My locomotives should be driven conventionally. For this reason a complete digital system, with which I can drive also digital locomotives, is actually to expensive for me. Is there a less expensive solution?

A: Yes. RAILROAD & CO. TrainController™ supports special equipment, which enables the operation especially of switches and signals. Using these articles it is not necessary to purchase more expansive central units, computer interfaces or similar items, which are able to operate locomotives, too. This special equipment for control of switches and signals can be connected directly to the computer . It is provided by CTI, RCI or MegaDecoder Another option is the use of PC Interface Boards 8255, which can be mounted in your PC.

Q: I want to operate my switches, signals and routes with an external control panel connected to the computer. Is this possible?

A: Yes. RAILROAD & CO. TrainController™ is able to operate switches, signals and routes automatically, when it receives feedback signals generated by the digital system. For this purpose you can connect the buttons and switches of your control panel to input contacts of feedback encoders. Additionally you can direct RAILROAD & CO. TrainController™ to operate the appropriate switches, signals or routes automatically whenever a certain feedback contact is activated.

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Q: My digital system is not able to report the state of feedback sensors to the computer. In order to use the outstanding automation possibilities of RAILROAD & CO. TrainController™ I need this feature. What can I do?

A: You can connect a second digital system, which provides feedback monitoring, or a special feedback system to a second serial port. A list of suitable digital systems is provided here.

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Q: Is it possible to operate conventional engines, i.e. locomotives, which are not equipped with digital decoders, with RAILROAD & CO. TrainController™?

A: Yes. RAILROAD & CO. TrainController™ provides the possibility to operate your conventional locomotives with stationary block decoders. These are computer controlled throttles, which are mounted at fixed positions on your model railroad instead inside the locomotives. Even the operation of conventional and digital equipped locomotives on the same track is possible. For more details click here.

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Q: Which decoders can be used as stationary block decoders to operate conventional engines?

A: You can use regular engine decoders of any digital system as stationary block decoders. To use an engine decoder as stationary block decoder, mount it at a fixed position of your model railroad and connect the output contacts, which are normally connected to the motor, to the track. The input contacts, which get their input power normally from the rails are to be connected directly to the digital system.

To be on the safe side you should ask the dealer or manufacturer of the engine decoder, if it can be used as stationary decoder without the risk to be damaged. The supplier of the program shall not be liable to you for any damages.

Another possibility is the use of Track Driver boards of RCI or Smartcab boards of the CTI system.