These are the major milestones in the development of Railroad & Co.™:
 
Latest Software Update (Download)


09-15-2022: First public release of +Cargo™ (Download)
09-15-2022: Release of Version 10 of all Railroad & Co.™ programs (Download)

09-15-2017: Release of Version 9 of all Railroad & Co.™ programs
12-09-2012: Release of Version 8 of all Railroad & Co.™ programs

11-18-2011: First public release of +Street™
02-26-2010: First public release of +SmartHand™ Mobile
12-01-2009: Release of Rocomotion 5.9 by Roco.
10-26-2009: Release of TrainProgrammerVersion 7.0
11-23-2008: Release of TrainControllerVersion 7.0 and all extensions

08-08-2008: Announcement of Version 7.0.
12-11-2006: First release of +SmartHand™ Classic
09-19-2006: Release of Version 5.8 of all Railroad & Co.™ programs

09-26-2005: First release of the surround sound extension +4DSound
06-01-2005: Release of Rocomotion 5.5 by Roco.
05-10-2005: First release of the network extension +Net
04-20-2005: Release of TrainController™ and TrainProgrammerVersion 5.5
10-24-2004: Release of TrainProgrammerVersion 5.0
02-21-2004: Release of TrainControllerVersion 5.0
02-04-2004: Opening of the new Railroad &Co.™ Users Forum.
10-09-2003: Announcement of Version 5.0.
01-18-2003: Release of Version 4.7

12-15-2001: TrainController™ wins the benchmark test of the German magazin "Online Today".
10-01-2001: Release of Version 4.5
10-03-2000: Release of Version 4.1.
The software for model railroad computer control, so far distributed under the name Railroad & Co.™, now appears under the name TrainController™. In addition, TrainProgrammer™, the software for programming of decoders, is released for the first time. The name Railroad & Co.™ is now used as a generic term for the entire family of software programs.
10-04-1999: Release of Version 4.0
02-27-1999: Release von Version 3.4
06-21-1998: Release von Version 3.3
12-10-1997: Release of Version 3.0 as bilingual software (german / english)
11-05-1997: Release of Version 3.0 (english only)
03-16-1997: Release von Version 2.6
12-16-1996: Release von Version 2.5
09-13-1996: Release of Version 2.1
06-12-1996: Release of Version 2.0
12-01-1995: Release of Railroad & Co.™ Version 1.0
Since the beginning Railroad & Co.™ has always been a very innovative software system. Many innovations and inventions were introduced for the first time by our products into model railroad computer control. The following list shows our most important innovations and inventions:
1996: Trains are controlled with scale speed (km/h or mph) rather than digital speed steps.
1996: The Railroad & Co.™ Library provides to third party developers a standard application programming interface for different digital systems and allows several simultaneously running applications to share a common digital system. (This library is not provided anymore).
1998: Special support of Stationary Block Decoders allows computer control of analog and digital locomotives in different blocks on the same track.
1999: With Virtual Contacts the number of control points used for train indication, braking and stopping can be increased without installing real contacts on the model railroad layout.
2000: The combination of Train Detection with Train Tracking allows display of train positions on all locations of the layout, that are equipped with feedback sensors.
2000: First Handheld Controller provided in high volume, that is specifically designed for model railroad computer control (in cooperation with Oaktree Systems).
2001: Smart Turntable operation, that does not only allow to turn the bridge to a specific track, but also to turn each locomotive automatically and without manual intervention to a certain direction (e.g. heading to the left).
2001: "Freezing" in cases of emergency allows later seamless continuation of the operation.
2003: Virtual Occupancy indication.
2004: AutoTrain.
2005: +Net™ is first peer-to-peer (non-client-server) system for distributed network based model railroad computer control.
2005: +4DSound™ is the first true surround sound system for model railroads ready for marketing, that synchronizes locomotive sound with the location, speed and motion phases of running trains.
2006: +SmartHand™ is the world's first handheld railroad control system ready for marketing with graphical track layout/switchboard display. The ability to display signal aspects, that are calculated for the currently controlled train according to the current traffic situation on the layout is just as novel as the high sophisticated system of rules and privileges, with which each individual handheld in the system can be taylored to the skills, role and needs of the particular operator. Furthermore +SmartHand™ provides several other novel and unique features. More...
2008: TrainController™ is the first software program offered in three variants ( Gold, Silver and Bronze). It thus offers an unprecedented ability to adapt to the individual needs of each user not only in terms of functionality, but also in terms of costs.
2008: The new Version 7.0 of the premium edition TrainController™ Gold offers a total of more than 170 new features compared to the previous version 5.8. Many of them were first implemented in a program for model railroad computer control. An example is the completely new train management, with which it is now possible to take into account changes of the type, the length or the composition of trains automatically and without necessary intervention by the human operator.
2009: TrainProgrammer™ is the first program of its kind, which provides the possibility to change and examine the speed settings of locomotive decoders in real time with a roller test bench connected to the computer. Another novel new feature is the ability to automatically run in new locomotives with varying directions and speeds.
2010: +SmartHand™ Mobile extends the existing system of +SmartHand™ Classic handheld by the ability to control a model railroad with mobile devices (smart phones, PDAs, tablet computers, netbooks etc.). As the first program for model railroad computer control TrainController™ can thus be operated by devices with Symbian (Nokia etc.), Android (Google), MS Windows Mobile or MS Windows etc. with a uniform user interface.
2011: +SmartHand™ Mobile becomes the first mobile handheld control, which is based on HTML5 technologies. This allows the broadest range of devices to be used for mobile control and unique flexibility with respect to arrangement of the user interface on mobile devices.
2012: +Street™ extends the existing system by the ability to control autos on road systems. As the first program of its kind +Street™ provides full support of hardware based distance control systems. This allows autos to line up themselves under computer control in any number at red traffic lights, closed crossing gates, etc.
2013: +SmartHand™ Mobile is the first touch screen based handheld control system for model trains, which provides a virtual rotary knob for speed control. More...
2022: +Cargo™ is the first program for simulating the production and consumption of goods transported by trains, integrated into software for model railroad computer control. More...