Traincontroller Gold V8 114
Kathrine Selvage
Would like to start of a conversation about the 2 products on sale at the moment for controlling your model layouts. I am looking at the pros / cons between "Traincontroller" vs "i-Train" as I will be looking to buy one of them.
So question to people who already use these can you suggest more pros / cons about both software and also their limitations would be a great help plus if you was to start over again would you still pick that software or look at something else?
IMO it is the best there is. Yes it can appear to be expensive but if you consider how much you have invested in model railroading, the price of TC may seem more affordable. I have locos that cost more than TC.
Point 3 of your cons for TC is not quite correct, often upgrades are posted with the version these are free but upgrades between version have to be paid for. But to be fair if you want a developer to speed time on solving issues and making product better I can live with paying for upgrade.
My layout is fully automated. Naturally it has occupancy sensing and turnout control as they are required. But I also have signals (just because I like the look), electromagnetic uncouplers, a customized Walthers DCC turntable, fascia mounted keypads for turnout/uncoupler control and a few other features.
One feature of TC sometimes overlooked is the ability to mix manual train control and computer control allowing me to run a way freight, doing switching operations, while the computer runs "through" trains from/to the staging yard.
I don't know iTrain but I've been a keen Train Controller (Gold) user since 2004. It is an expensive initial outlay and yes there are major version changes to pay for if you want to keep it up to date (you don't have to). I'd guesstimate that in 14 years I've spent about 1000 on the programme(s) including the upgrades so equating to an average of around 70 odd a year.
However I believe it to be the best there is out there as it provides almost limitless automatic operatonal features - it seems to me there's nothing it can't do and the options are only limited by the imaginaton. Even as an experienced and long time user, there are still a whole raft of features I haven't explored yet. Now it's an integral part of my model railway world and I wouldn't do without it.
In addition there are other 'add on' programmes eg Train Programmer for simple on-screen DCC chip setting, Train Animator where you can design your own loco sound projects which works superbly with their amazing '+4D Sound' software programme. Again though, these add ons have to be purchased but as a suite of programmes working together they take railway modelling to another dimension.
My layout (link in the signature area below) is fully automated running about 30 trains. Some of the locos are linked with their own sound project - that is, no on board sound chip but authentic loco sounds played through a 5.1 sound system which is fitted around my layout room - the clever software makes the sound 'follow' the loco around the layout. The sound quality has to heard to be appreciated. This is acheived by clever interaction between 'train tracking' in Train Controller, use of Train Animator where the sound project is made and stored, and the +4D Sound Software.
I have been a Traincontrol user but I did not use it for 2 version updates due to family issues and was told that I would need to pay almost the same as a full licences for the upgrade and why am I complain about it also it doesn't support the car system I am using for moving cars which has been promised so I am looking at Itrain which dose has UK support in the hands of DCC train Automation which is the UK Reseller of ITrain and offer classes on using it. I will say Train control is good software but I can't use my current DCC system with my version train control and looking at the cost of getting my self working again I think Itrain is the way to go for me.
Thank you Alan and Richard for your feedback about train controller. I must admit I do like to look of both software packages, so its not a easy decision for me as I want to make the right choice for me. One thing which Iain showed me in his video about his layout using itrain is how easy it was to set up your blocks and run schedule routes and also give commands to other trains to run manually (cheers Iain).
My mind is swaying to itrain, mainly because I found a clip on youtube, which Andy from "calling all stations" gives a great introduction to itrain. The bonus, if I heared him correctly is that after your 2 months evaluation of itrain, you just loose the ability to control no more than 3 trains on a schedule. (Which is great if its true).
This would really help with my costs as I could spend more money on turnout controls, signals and uncoupling as I also have to change my DCC controller from my gaugemaster prodigy advance to somthing else (Lenz, Z21 or DR5000). My layout is a small one in my study which is an end terminus using cassette loading of trains and a single TMD working shed / refueling point. (see attachment)
You have seen the size and plan for my layout for comparison and looking at your plan I would suggest that the simple economics, if nothing else, will sway you towards one product rather than the other
I have absolutely no doubt that iTrain Standard will handle your layout (that is what I use) and it is possible depending on what you want that iTrain Lite would meet your needs - however even if you started with Lite (after the 2 or 3 month trial) then found that you wanted the 100% automatic control gained in Standard (where I train calculates and runs routes, as opposed to you defining routes) then you can upgrade to Standard for the difference in licence cost without any additional premium.
Thanks for the info, was thinking of trying I-train. But as a traincontroller user I stay with it for now as I like the image to show in a block. Also you can see what train has reserved the route on the switchboard. As to the images yes there not photographic in quality but I like the way you can see at a glance what train is where on the layout
With a layout this size you could probably get away with TC Silver if you want to go the TC route. My layout is about twice that size and fully automated with TC Silver. Yes there are a few things in Gold which would be nice to have and make things a bit easier but there are quite a few workarounds that can be done in Silver to get the same effect as in Gold and save yourself a bundle.
I would suggest thinking very carefully before getting TrainController in conjunction with Lenz . Unless it's changed recently, TC won't track the locations of trains being driven by other handsets, unless they are manually assigned via TC, which appears to be a pain. I've not done much running of trains recently but I think just assigning all the trains to manual control puts a lot of load on the system as it has to keep asking specifically for any activity on each train rather than the command station notifying it when something happens. Other software seems to have found a way round this, although I don't recall exactly how, but Freiwald considers it is something for Lenz to sort out and as we all know Lenz has done very little on product upgrades recently.
The Lenz version 4.0 software, being released later this year with the LZV200, resolves this issue. Existing LZV100s can be upgraded but no details have been released yet. I know Lenz have said "this year" many times since the LZV200 was first announced many years ago, but I get the feeling they mean it this time....
TC also supports manual control including running of TC Schedules. In this mode TC controls the turnouts and signals but you control the throttle. There are options to allow you to ignore all signals or have TC enforce them preventing you from overrunning a red signal.
I'm way off needing it yet, but I looked at TC a little while back. It's frustrating that to use a turntable properly you instantly HAVE to have the Gold version. For my planned layout I could get away with Bronze but would prefer Silver. Except I need a turntable...
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