Throttle

The throttle is the main screen of Model Train Script. From here you control your locomotives, interact with your track layout, and manage automation — all while staying connected to your command station.

The throttle is one of the two workspaces of the app: use the workspace toggle next to the MTS button to switch between driving (Throttle) and editing (Profile).

On iPhone the throttle uses tabs to switch between the three sections. On iPad all sections are visible at once: the layout fills the main area, while a collapsible sidebar gives access to vehicle control and automation.

Connection & track power

The power button in the top-right corner shows your connection status:

• Gray — Not connected. Tap to connect to your command station.
• Green — Connected, track power is on.
• Red — Connected, track power is off (or short circuit detected).

Tap the button to toggle track power on or off.

Drive

After selecting a locomotive from the vehicle list you can control it directly.

Speed

The vertical bar on the left controls speed. Drag up or down to adjust — the control is relative to where you touch, so you don't have to start from the bottom. The current speed percentage is displayed on the bar.

Actual speed (RailCom)

With a Z21 and a RailCom-capable decoder, the speed bar also shows the actual speed of the locomotive in km/h, as reported by the decoder.

Tap the info button (ⓘ) in the toolbar to see the RailCom details of the selected locomotive:

• Actual speed — The speed the decoder reports, in km/h.
• Quality of service — How well the RailCom messages from this locomotive are received, as a percentage. A low value points to dirty track or wheels, or a poor contact.

When no RailCom data is available, both show as unavailable.

Direction

Below the speed bar, two chevron buttons set the direction (forward / reverse). The active direction is highlighted.

Functions

The right side shows a scrollable grid of the locomotive's functions (lights, horn, coupler, etc.). Tap a function to toggle it. Functions can be either toggle (stays on/off) or momentary (short pulse), depending on how you configured them in the vehicle settings.

Vehicle selection

Tap the list icon in the top-left to open the vehicle selector. It shows your recently used vehicles at the top, followed by your full vehicle catalog. You can filter by tags to quickly find the right locomotive.

Vehicle profiles

If your locomotive has speed profiles configured (idle, shunting, slow, medium, fast), tap the star icon to apply a preset with one tap. A profile sets speed, direction, and function states all at once.

Consisting

When a vehicle is part of a consist, the speed and direction controls are hidden — the consist address takes over. If you configured a conditional consist on the vehicle, the consist can be activated or deactivated via a function key.

Layout

The layout tab shows your track plan as an interactive overview. Accessories like turnouts and signals display their current state and can be toggled by tapping them.

Tap the zoom indicator in the top-right to center the layout on screen. You can configure your track plan in the layout editor.

A small chip in the top-right corner shows the current model clock time and speed at a glance.

Mini throttles

A mini throttle is a small, floating throttle for one locomotive on top of the layout. It lets you drive several locomotives at once while keeping an eye on the whole layout.

To open one, place a shortcut with the target Vehicle on the layout. Tap the shortcut to open the locomotive's mini throttle, and tap it again to close it. You can open several mini throttles at the same time.

A mini throttle offers:

• Speed — A slim speed bar: drag or tap anywhere on it to set the speed.
• Direction — Two arrows for reverse and forward.
• Stop — Stops the locomotive.
• Profiles and functions — The locomotive's profiles, followed by its functions.

Drag a mini throttle by its handle to move it anywhere on the layout; it remembers its position. Close it with the close button.

INFO

Mini throttles are available when automation is enabled in the app settings.

Navigation

Tap the navigation icon (turn-arrow) in the top-right toolbar to enter navigation mode. The icon highlights in the brand color while active. Tap it again to leave the mode without driving.

In navigation mode, taps on the layout build a path instead of toggling accessories:

• Tap a track item to mark the start.
• Tap further track items to add the end and any waypoints in between.
• Tap a selected item again to remove it from the path.

If multiple valid paths connect your selection, a path browser at the bottom of the sheet lets you cycle through them. The currently selected path is highlighted on the layout.

Via dispatcher

The Via dispatcher label in the bottom sheet toggles whether the move goes through the Train Dispatcher:

• On (default, highlighted) — Tap GO to ask the dispatcher for a clearance. A notification confirms when the clearance is granted, the turnouts are set, and a clearance bar appears at the bottom. Use its cancel button to release the clearance once the move is complete.
• Off — Tap GO to set the turnouts directly without involving the dispatcher. Useful when you're the only one driving and no scripts are running.

The GO button is green when a valid path is selected and gray otherwise.

Automate

The automate tab gives you control over the automation engine directly from the throttle, allowing you to combine manual driving with automated sequences.

• Status — Shows whether automation is available (track power on and synced), syncing, or unavailable.
• Active scripts — See which scripts are currently running and view the execution history.
• Scripts — Start or stop scripts directly from the throttle.
• Routes — Execute predefined accessory combinations with one tap.
• Flags — Toggle flags that control conditional behavior in your scripts (e.g. enable/disable sound).
• Timetables — Start or stop timetable schedules.

From this tab you can also enter debug mode to test your automation scripts without needing your physical layout.

Main menu

The Model Train Script logo in the top-left opens the main menu, giving you access to:

• Connection — Which device's engine this app uses. Only shown when remote connection (beta) is on.
• Profile — Switch to another profile and see the automation status. To edit your vehicles, layout, and automation, switch to the Profile workspace.
• Tools — Direct access to accessories, CV programming (Z21), feedback sensors, cameras, protocol monitor (Z21), and application logs.