Important: How and Why Not?

Position and place the train

Physically park the complete train in a block, facing in the geometrical direction of that block. Position it so that it occupies the exit feedback: the last feedback in the block direction. Open the context menu on that occupied feedback or block and choose Place Train Here. Select the appropriate Simple Train from the dropdown and press OK. RailKernel now marks the placed train on the canvas with a blue line representing its full configured length. This line is the digital position of the physical train, so check that it points in the same direction and covers the expected part of the block.

Why does it say “Cannot Place Train”?

Place Train Here is available only when all placement checks succeed. Placement is blocked when one or more of the following conditions applies:

• No project is loaded, or no feedback was selected.
• The selected feedback is not currently occupied.
• No unplaced Simple Train is available. Define a train first, or remove an already placed train from the layout.
• The feedback does not belong uniquely to exactly one block.
• Another train is already placed in that block.
• The block is currently reserved by an operation.
• The selected feedback is not the exit feedback: the last feedback in the geometrical direction of the block.

Choose Cannot Place Train to see which check is blocking this particular placement. RailKernel reports the current reason, so you do not have to work through the list by trial and error.

Start an automatic movement

After placing the train, open the context menu of its block again. When the train can depart, the menu offers Simple Move and Route Move. Simple Move sends it to the next reachable block. Route Move lets RailKernel find and operate a route to a selected destination. If safe departure cannot yet be established, these choices are replaced by Cannot Move Train.

Why does it say “Cannot Move Train”?

An automatic movement is blocked when one or more of these checks fails:

• No project or valid source block is available.
• The source block has no positive maximum speed configured.
• Project Statistics still reports open connectors or unreachable elements, so the layout is not ready for automatic driving.
• A turnout, crossing, double slip, three-way turnout or other routable conflict track has no accessory definition and therefore cannot be protected and reserved.
• The responsible command station is unavailable or is not in GO state.
• No Simple Train is placed in the selected block, or that train already has a movement pending.
• The train has no valid project locomotive, and therefore no command-station identity to drive.
• RailKernel cannot determine the train’s exit side from its placement and the block direction.
• No reachable next block or target feedback can be determined.
• The next block already contains a train, is occupied by feedback or is already reserved.

Choose Cannot Move Train to open RailKernel’s explanation of the current blockage. Correct that condition and open the context menu again; Simple Move and Route Move appear as soon as the departure checks succeed.