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ATC Cab

The ATC Cab, short for Advanced Train Control Cab, is a handheld throttle that runs your trains the way the real ones run: notched power, a proportional brake, a proper reverser, and cab signals that show you what’s ahead.

Render of the ATC Cab: two stacked cab-signal heads with lit lamps and a speed display at the top, throttle and brake handles, knobs, buttons and toggle switches below
The original prototype, rendered from its enclosure CAD. Lamp colours and the speed readout are illustrative.

Why it’s different

Most throttles are a speed knob. The ATC Cab is a control stand: real handles, real switches, and the information an engineer actually works from.

Drive it like the real thing

Idle plus eight notches that apply power, not pick a speed: notch up and the train pulls harder and runs faster; ease off and it coasts. The brake is fully proportional, and the reverser only changes direction when you're stopped at idle. Arm the cab with ACK, then go.

All 28 functions, right in your hand

Every function from F0 to F28: lights, horn, bell, sound and anything else your decoder does. FRONT and REAR light selectors give you off, on and ditch lights without hunting for a key.

Switches and consists from the cab

Throw and close turnouts from the cab, with their status shown. Build a consist of up to six locomotives, each facing the right way, with horn and bell on every unit.

Cab signals, right in front of you

Two stacked signal heads show the aspect ahead of your train, with signal speed on the display below. When the signal changes, you see it in the cab, the way the real crews do.

No signals? It still runs

On a layout without signals, everything else works: notching, braking, the reverser, functions, switches and consists. The signal heads stay dark until you add signals.

Works with Digitrax

Connects over Wi-Fi to JMRI using the WiThrottle protocol, on Digitrax LocoNet layouts. Support for other DCC systems is planned.

What you need

To run trains

  • A Digitrax LocoNet system
  • JMRI with its WiThrottle server turned on
  • Wi-Fi in the layout room

To add cab signals

  • Signals set up in JMRI: real signal heads on the layout, or virtual signal masts that exist only in JMRI
  • Block detection, with JMRI knowing which locomotive is in each block
Exploded render of the original ATC Cab prototype: the front panel with its controls above the signal board, the main board and the rear shell Front panelControls, signal heads, display Signal board16 RGB lamps Main boardSocketed ESP32-S3 Feather Rear shellFour M3 screws, USB-C
Inside the original prototype. Board outlines are from the released KiCad files.

Where it stands

This is the original prototype, and it’s on the bench now. The circuit boards are routed, the printed enclosure is being assembled, and the firmware and JMRI bridge are written and waiting for their first run on a live layout. There’s no price or release date yet.

Want one? Tell us how you run your layout, which DCC system you use, and whether you have signals: . It shapes what comes first.

Digitrax and LocoNet are trademarks of Digitrax, Inc. JMRI is an independent open-source project. The ATC Cab is an original design and isn’t affiliated with Digitrax, JMRI or any railroad.