The AutoTrain Feature
The Train Controller Bronze Modelling package allows you to control trains via the Uhlenbrock Intellibox IR.
One way to control a train is to use the AutoTrain feature. The AutoTrain feature allows you to move a train between two blocks. Train Controller will automatically search a route between the two blocks, turn all switches accordingly and drive the train from the start to the finish.
AutoTrain takes away your freedom to specify the route in detail. It is a convenient way to move locomotives if you only care about start and the target of a route but not which blocks are passed in between the start and the end.
First put a train on a block. Click on the block and choose the option “Assign Train”. A list of locomotive opens, select one of the locos and also select one of the orientation boxes. The ‘OK’ button is only activated if a loco and a orientation is selected.
Once a loco is on a block, click on the AutoTrain symbol (‘A’ Symbol) or select AutoTrain from the context menu.
AutoTrain now opens a small dialog window. This window is used to configure what role the blocks have in the route. One block has to be given the start role, the same or another block has to be given the target role.
On the layout select the block you want to start from. This is the block that you put the loco on in the prior step. In the AutoTrain dialog, use the green arrows to assign the start role to the block. There are two arrows which define the direction that the loco will drive when starting the route. Once you clicked the arrow button, the block will be marked green at the direction that the train will start from.
Now you need to assign the target role to a block. The target block can be the same block as the start block. If you assign the start and end role to the same block, Train Controller Bronze will find a circular route. The train will leave and arrive at the same block.
You can also assign the target role to another block. Train Controller will then drive the loco from the start block to the target block. Train Controller will automtically choose a route.
In order to assign the target role, use the orange buttons in the AutoTrain dialog. The target block will also be marked orange in the layout view. The orientation matters. If you want a train to enter the target block from the left, you have to select the target button that puts the orange marker on the right side of the target block. The orange marker marks the end of the route.
After the start role and the target role have been assigned, click the ‘A’ button in the AutoTrain dialog to start the route. The loco will move over the layout and AutoTrain will control all switches to open the automatically choosen route.
Debugging
What if nothing happens? What if the route does not work?
- Verify that one of your locomotives is working correctly. Put that loco onto your layout. Use the Intellibox to manually control that loco. Now you know that the Intellibox can send commands to the loco.
- Check that the PC is connected to the Intellibox. Use the device manager to find the COM port (on windows) that the intellibox is connected to.
- In TrainController, edit the settings of the Intellibox. Use the correct COM Port. Control a switch manually in order to verify that Train Controller can talk to the Intellibox and the Intellibox sends commands to the layout correctly.
- In Train Controller, control a locomotive manually, that is without AutoTrain. I do not know how that works but you should be able to have a manually controlled throttle for your locomotive and the locomotive should accelerate and brake correctly.
- Try out AutoTrain after all steps above did work correctly.
Sometimes a locomotive does not run correctly. Try to put oil into the locomotive and try to push the locomotive over the layout manually in order to help it gain speed until it is able to run itself. A case was observed where TrainController and the Intellibox were working 100% correctly but the loco just was stuck on the rail and would not start the route!
You should test with your most trustworthy locomotive. Use a locomotive that never fails. Basically you want to exclude all sources of errors to narrow down the real issue.