The Track Schematic editor lets you draw a simplified diagram of your layout — mainlines, sidings, industries, and staging — that RailCommand uses for dispatching, switch list generation, and CTC panel display.
What the Schematic Is Used For
- Car routing — RailCommand routes cars between industries based on the connected track graph you define
- Dispatcher display — the schematic becomes a live CTC (Centralized Traffic Control) panel showing train positions and block occupancy
- Switch list generation — crews get industry-specific switch lists based on which tracks connect to which industries
- JMRI integration — the schematic can be kept in sync with your JMRI panel (JMRI Integration Guide)
Getting to the Editor
Go to RailCommand → Track Schematic → Edit.
The editor uses a switchboard-style cell grid — each cell can contain a track piece, turnout, signal, or industry marker. It works in any web browser and on tablets.
Basic Drawing Concepts
Cells and Track Pieces
The grid is made of cells. Each cell holds one track element:
- Straight — single-direction track
- Curve — 45° or 90° arc
- Turnout — diverging routes (left throw or right throw, per the engineer's perspective)
- Crossing — tracks passing over each other
- End bumper — track end
Click any cell and select the element from the palette on the right. Elements auto-connect to adjacent cells when they share a compatible endpoint.
Industries
Mark any siding end or spur as an Industry by clicking the cell and choosing Industry Marker → Define Industry.
For each industry, specify:
- Name
- Commodity received (list of car types and commodities)
- Commodity shipped
- Maximum car spots (how many cars fit on the spur)
Staging Tracks
Mark staging (off-scene tracks) with the Staging marker. Staging is where cars "appear" at the start of a session and "disappear" when they exit the operating territory.
Blocks
Define blocks by selecting a range of cells and clicking Define Block. Blocks are the segments between turnouts that your block detectors report as occupied or clear. If you have block detection hardware connected through JMRI or RailCommand hardware, block occupancy shows live on the CTC panel.
Publishing Your Schematic
Once drawn:
- Click Validate — the editor checks for disconnected segments or undefined industries
- Click Publish — the schematic becomes the active operating plan
- Go to RailCommand → Dispatcher to see the live CTC view
Printing the Schematic
Need a paper reference?
- File → Print Schematic
- Prints at a size that fits on standard letter paper or tabloid for larger layouts
Importing from JMRI
If you've already drawn your layout in JMRI's Panel Editor or Layout Editor:
- Export your JMRI panel as XML
- Go to Track Schematic → Import → JMRI Panel
- RailCommand imports the track topology — you'll need to add industry definitions manually
Next Steps
- Car Cards & Waybills — route cars between the industries you've defined
- JMRI Integration Guide — sync with your JMRI installation
- Operations Intro — understand the full operating session workflow