Locomotives

Locomotives in RailKernel and command stations

A command station knows the information required to drive a locomotive: its internal identity, protocol, decoder address, speed steps and functions. RailKernel imports that operational identity and adds project information needed above the protocol layer, such as the owning command station, manufacturer, catalogue number, physical length, locomotive type, function template, image and comments. A locomotive may therefore exist in the command station before it exists in the project. Importing creates the RailKernel definition; it does not duplicate or re-register the decoder. When a connected station supports writing locomotive data, upload and command-station database maintenance are available through Command Stations rather than this project editor.

Import locomotives

Open the locomotives import command from the menu. RailKernel reads the available locomotive roster from every connected command station and gives each station its own tab. The table shows whether an entry will be imported together with its name, address, protocol, UID and function count. The tab caption and footer show how many entries were read and displayed.

Select what to import

Select individual checkboxes when only certain locomotives belong in this project. Check All selects every currently visible importable row and Uncheck All clears them. Show/import only new locomotives hides entries that RailKernel already recognises; clear it when you need to compare the complete command-station roster. Existing address/protocol combinations and command-station traction or consist records that are not normal locomotive entries are protected from accidental duplication. Press Import locs from the selected command station to add the checked definitions. Repeat this on another tab when the project uses more than one station.

The Locomotive Manager

Open Locomotives from the menu to see the project roster. The table can be sorted and filtered and shows the operational identity together with brand and catalogue information. New creates a locomotive manually, Edit opens the selected definition, Control opens direct locomotive control and Delete removes selected project entries. Previous and Next in the editor let you inspect the roster without repeatedly returning to the table.

Locomotive details

Name

The command-station or project name used throughout RailKernel. For imported locomotives this operational identity remains read-only. A meaningful name also gives Suggested model enough information to search with.

Protocol

The decoder protocol, such as DCC, MFX or Motorola. Together with the address and command station it identifies how driving and function commands must be sent.

Address

The decoder address used by the selected command station. Imported protocol and address values originate from that station and are not casually rewritten by editing the RailKernel metadata.

Command station

The configured station responsible for this locomotive. All speed, direction and function commands are routed to that connection.

Suggested model

An AI-assisted query in RailKernel Cloud searches the RailKernel Model Database for products that may match the locomotive name. Selecting a result fills available brand, catalogue number, length and locomotive type data and refreshes the product image. Suggestions are candidates, not proof; always verify the chosen model.

Brand

The manufacturer or vendor. Together with the catalogue number it connects the locomotive to RailKernel Cloud images, product pages, manuals and copyright information.

Locomotive type

The traction category, for example steam, diesel, electric or other. A selected RMDB model can suggest this value.

Catalogue number

The manufacturer’s article number for the physical model. Accurate values are essential for the correct image and documentation.

Length mm

The physical model length in millimetres. RailKernel uses it when placing and following rolling stock inside blocks and when checking whether trains fit.

Function template

Maps decoder function numbers to consistent names, icons and behaviour appropriate to this model or decoder family.

Comment

Free notes about the locomotive, decoder, maintenance, ownership or operational restrictions.

Suggested Model needs a useful name

The cloud search extracts meaningful words and catalogue-like numbers from the name. A generic name such as “locomotive1” says nothing about the prototype or product and is unlikely to produce a useful match. Names such as “ns1215” or “big boy 1” contain recognisable railway information and can return relevant candidates. The example below shows multiple Big Boy models found from the simple name “big boy 1”. Choose the exact manufacturer and article only when it matches the locomotive you actually own.