09/28/2026
I let AI run my LokProgrammer last weekend.
The headlights on this CP unit were fine as a lead unit, but way too bright running as DPU. On the real thing, those get dimmed and I wanted the same.
Normally that means opening LokProgrammer, figuring out which outputs control what, changing settings, testing, going back in... honestly, it's not fun.
Instead, I opened Claude Desktop, gave it control of the computer, and told it what I wanted. It found the front and rear light outputs and set them to dim in DP mode while I watched and double-checked. Done in a few minutes.
If you're not into AI yet, think of it this way: I'm talking to the computer like I'd talk to a buddy at the workbench, except it's actually clicking through the software.
This is a small example. I've quietly started planning a new 20' x 30' layout, and I'm using AI for a lot of it. So far, it's working great to speed up processes that otherwise are ultra time consuming.
I don't see many people are talking about this yet. And with many layouts already running on JMRI, Raspberry P*s, Arduinos and the like, AI is the next layer on top of all that, and it's the one that finally makes the rest of it easy. I think we're at the very beginning of something awesome for model railroading.
