Your first layout in 10 minutes

The goal: lay out an oval of track, drop a locomotive onto it, and run it in the simulator. No hardware needed.

Step 1 — Create an empty project

On launch, you’re already on a fresh project in Edit / Sim mode. If not: File → New, and pick a scale (HO by default).

Video tutorial: Your first layout - adding tracks

Step 2 — Open the track library

In the left sidebar, expand the Library section. Filter by brand (e.g. Fleischmann) and pick a rail family.

Step 3 — Lay rails

Drag a straight rail onto the canvas. Bring a second one close by: their ports automatically align (magnetic snap) and the connection is made. Continue with curved rails to close the oval.

Tip: while placing, press Tab to cycle through the ghost rail’s attach port (handy on a turnout, or to flip which end will snap to the neighbour).

Once placed, select a rail and use the gizmo to move or rotate it.

Step 4 — Check connectivity

Once the oval is closed, open Network → Check connectivity (or let TrainPanel offer it on save). If any ports should be connected but aren’t, the app offers to link them automatically.

See Layout audit.

Step 5 — Create a locomotive

In the Locomotives sidebar section, click +. Give it a name (“Demo”), a DCC address (default 3), confirm. The loco appears in the list, status Stopped, off-network.

Step 6 — Place the locomotive on the layout

Still on the loco’s card, click Place on layout. The canvas enters positioning mode: click on a rail to drop the loco. Press Space to flip the direction of travel.

Step 7 — Switch to Manual mode and run

In the toolbar, switch from Edit to Manual. Click the locomotive (or open its card), then push the throttle. The loco starts circling the oval.

See Throttle.

What next?

To go further, add a block (Create a block) and a sensor (Sensors).
To turn all of this into automation, see Automatic control (coming soon).