Create a block

In TrainPanel, a block is an identified portion of your layout designed for reliable model railway block detection. It’s the base unit for safety and routing: a block can be occupied by only one loco at a time.

Boundaries: start and end

A block is defined by two port references:

  • The start port (block entry).
  • The end port (block exit).

Every rail located between these two ports (following connectivity) belongs to the block. You don’t pick the rails by hand — connectivity decides.

Block
Block

Creation procedure

In Edit mode:

  1. Open the Blocks sidebar section, click +.
Add a new block
Add a New Block
  1. Instructions appear in the block properties panel (on the right)
Block Properties Panel
Block Properties Panel
  1. Click the start port on the canvas (a free port at a rail end). While you move the mouse, rails will highlight if you can click them to select the port.
Click a Port
Click a Port
  1. Click the end port.
  2. Give the block a name (“North Yard”, “Passing Loop 2”).
  3. Save.

The block appears highlighted on the canvas with its assigned color.

Edit the boundaries

On the block’s card:

  • Edit start port or end port: redo the selection on the canvas.
  • Edit name: free-form.

If you change the boundaries, the rail list is recomputed. A locomotive that was inside the block before the change may end up outside or in a different block.

Delete a block

Delete button on the card. The track itself is untouched — you only remove the logical identity of the block.

Going further

  • Detection mode: see Detection modes (coming soon).
  • Attach sensors to a block for automatic detection: see Sensors.
  • When a block stays “stuck”: see Reservation and release (coming soon).