Alright, let’s talk about this RailMaster thing, ya know? I ain’t no fancy expert or nothin’, but I’ll tell ya what I know, the way I see it.
What is this RailMaster anyway?
Well, from what I gather, it’s somethin’ to do with them trains, ya know, the little ones, not the big fellers that carry folks around. It’s like a computer program, a software thingy, that helps ya control them little trains on your tracks. Like, instead of just flippin’ a switch and watchin’ ’em go ’round and ’round, this RailMaster lets ya do more stuff. Like tellin’ ’em to go faster, slower, stop here, start there, that kinda thing. It’s for them fellers who got them fancy train sets, not just the simple ones like my grandson used to have.
What can it do?
- It can make your trains move, like I said. Start ’em, stop ’em, change their speed. Nothin’ too fancy, but more than just a simple on/off switch.
- Some folks say you can even make the lights work, if your trains got lights, and the sounds too, if they make sounds. Like them choo-choo noises and whistles.
- And if you got one of them fancy layouts with switches and signals and all that, this RailMaster can help ya control that stuff too. So you can make the trains go on different tracks and all.
How do ya get it?
Well, it seems like you gotta download it from somewhere. The internet, I guess. My nephew, he’s good with them computers, he could probably show ya. And then you might gotta buy a license, whatever that is. Sounds like a fancy way of sayin’ you gotta pay for it. But some folks say you can get the newest version from some kinda forum link. Don’t ask me, I ain’t got a clue about them forums.
Is it any good?
Now that’s the real question, ain’t it? Some folks seem to like it alright. They say it works good and does what it’s supposed to. But then there’s other fellers who talk about other programs, like JMRI or iTrain, or somethin’ called TrainController. Sounds like there’s a bunch of ’em out there. And some folks complain that Hornby, the folks who make this RailMaster, ain’t keepin’ it up to date. They say it’s gettin’ old and they ain’t makin’ it better. And some folks even say they are going back to the old DC control, not using this computer stuff at all.
What about this eLink thingy?
Seems like this eLink thing goes with the RailMaster. It’s some kinda box that connects your trains to your computer. You need it to make the RailMaster work, I guess. And you gotta get the right drivers for it too, whatever them drivers are. Sounds complicated, if you ask me. My nephew, he could probably figure it out, but me, I’m happy just watchin’ the trains go ‘round.
Other stuff to think about
Now, if you’re just startin’ out with these trains, maybe this RailMaster is too fancy. There’s simpler ways to do things, you know. Just a basic controller and a simple track. That’s how I started, way back when. But if you got a big layout and you wanna do all kinds of fancy stuff, then maybe this RailMaster is worth lookin’ into. But I hear tell there’s other contraptions out there, like the Dynamis RailController. Folks seem to like that one too.
And what about them other train programs?
Like I said before, there’s others out there. Some folks like ’em better than RailMaster. They say they got more features or they’re easier to use. But I ain’t tried ’em, so I can’t say. You gotta do your own research, I guess. Or ask your nephew, if he’s good with computers.
So, what’s the bottom line?
Well, the RailMaster seems like a decent enough program for controllin’ your model trains. It ain’t perfect, and it ain’t the only one out there, but it seems to get the job done for most folks. If you got a fancy layout and you wanna do more than just make your trains go ’round and ’round, it might be worth a try. But if you’re just startin’ out, or if you don’t like fiddlin’ with computers, then maybe there’s better options for ya. It’s all a matter of what you want and what you’re willin’ to put up with. And remember, this RailMaster thing, it’s not just for playin’ around. Some folks use it for real work, like in railyards, to control the big cranes and trains. They got a special version for that, I hear, called the Railmaster Anchorage Connector. It’s tough and sturdy and don’t need no tools to adjust it. It fits all kinds of rails, big and small. So, it’s a useful thing, I guess, in more ways than one.
Anyways, that’s about all I know about this RailMaster thing. Hope it helps ya some. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I gotta go make some supper. Them grandkids will be here soon, and they’re always hungry.
