RailKernel provides extensive online documentation that you can open both on the website and directly from the desktop application. Throughout the application, (i) information buttons explain the function you are currently using. The Help menu provides access to the complete help section and additional topics. You can therefore request targeted help inside RailKernel or browse the full documentation at your leisure. The online documentation is updated regularly to remain aligned with the latest RailKernel version.
Meet the portable N-scale test layout used to demonstrate RailKernel with real trains, feedbacks, turnouts and digital hardware. Follow its design, wiring and construction.
View the Portable Demo →Installing RailKernel on Windows is simple. After downloading the ZIP file, unzip it and run the included EXE installer. Windows may display warnings or virus-related messages because RailKernel is a new application and does not yet have a long reputation history. You may need to bypass these warnings manually. The macOS release is notarized by Apple and should install without issues. The Linux packages are straightforward to install using the standard package management tools of your distribution.
Getting started with RailKernel is very easy. After installation, start the application. RailKernel automatically searches your network for supported command stations and will usually find them by itself. If your command station is not detected automatically, you only need to enter its IP address. RailKernel then connects to the command station. Next, create a new project, select a track catalogue containing the geometry of your rails, and start drawing. You can draw straights, curves and turnouts until your layout is complete. Define accessories and feedbacks, and RailKernel generates the blocks for you. Done. Start driving.
Automatic driving in RailKernel is based on blocks, reservations and routes. Trains reserve track ahead before moving, preventing collisions and reducing the risk of deadlocks. RailKernel supports both Simple Moves, where you define the exact path, and Route Moves, where RailKernel calculates the route between two blocks automatically.
Your RailKernel projects are stored in XML files. Like most model railway control applications, RailKernel stores everything you draw, define and import. This includes layouts, blocks, feedbacks, accessories, locomotives and routes. In addition, RailKernel also stores train positions and train activities, allowing a session to be resumed more easily. The software even remembers which windows were open and restores them automatically when the project is reopened.
RailKernel provides several tools to help diagnose and resolve problems. First, the application uses the log4j2 logging framework, which produces detailed log files that can be invaluable when investigating issues. Within RailKernel itself, the Drive Log is especially useful for automatic driving and offers extensive filtering options to follow train activities and system decisions. Finally, the Project Statistics tool provides an overview of your layout and configuration, helping identify items that may require attention or correction.
RailKernel provides a secured, read-only API through which approved external parties can retrieve complete locomotive records from the RailKernel Model Database. Interested organisations and developers can request a personal access key in consultation with RailKernel.
Read the API documentation →