Three versions of Open Rails are readily available to users, as shown below:
For first-time users, we recommend the Stable Version which comes with an installer.
Whichever version you choose, Open Rails has a mechanism to notify you of new versions and to update Open Rails for you. You will find the settings for this mechanism in Menu > Options > Update
Open Rails will check for updates at most once a day. If an update is found, then you can install the update just by clicking on the link in the top, right corner:
If you follow the Open Rails project on the forums, then you will hear about bug-fixes and new features. These are included in the Unstable Version for developers and testers to try out. Once they have been checked and approved, they are published (on Friday) as the latest Testing Version. Any user can easily update to the current weekly Testing Version and benefit from these improvements.
For reference all the Testing Versions (executable and source) can be found in our archive.
T1.5.1-1928-gacd714487
Merge pull request #1106 from twpol/feature/1.6-unrevert-1b669f093
Make control confirmations fade out in real timed0c2856d
Merge pull request #1102 from SteelFill/dpu_brakes35a8982f
Merge pull request #1100 from cjakeman/translate-de2848dab47
Merge pull request #1099 from cesarBLG/fix-tcs-pantographs08d1e2f7
Merge pull request #1097 from SteelFill/particle_emittersT1.5.1-1913-g74ecafa7f
Merge pull request #1093 from openrails/release/1.6c1de846b
fix: Correct invalid characters in manualda10def3
build: Update version numbers to 1.6T1.5.1-1910-gafcdfe10c
Merge pull request #1098 from SteelFill/wheel_speed_consistency34bd6a76
Steam locomotive specific adjustments6bbd2c6a
Remove forgotten debugging output1ca03af7
Merge branch 'openrails:master' into wheel_speed_consistencyd366ab73
Correct use of wheel speed vs ground speed for traction calculations (always use wheel speed in order to obey conservation of energy)T1.5.1-1905-g2db0eb726
Merge pull request #1096 from sweiland-openrails/mouse_cursor_not_visible7a4f055b
See https://bugs.launchpad.net/or/+bug/2111749: When the OR main form does not have the focus, hovering above the main OR form makes the mouse cursor disappear. To get the focus again on that form, you have to click the mouse on that form without knowing where. Risking clicking on some control by accident.T1.5.1-1903-gfdcc8898c
Merge pull request #1085 from cjakeman/manual-updates37e2817f
updates key commandsT1.5.1-1901-g6b9e971dd
Merge pull request #1084 from TheGwyd/Calculate-Delay-While-At-Stopped-Stations70ab3524
Merge branch 'master' into Calculate-Delay-While-At-Stopped-Stations13454ed6
Add Delay Calculation for Stopped TrainsT1.5.1-1898-gdbddf2606
Merge pull request #1101 from sweiland-openrails/help_simulation_options296d878e
Add help buttons for Experimental tab9224ecc3
Add help button for Data Logger tab7031be96
Removed unused fields3d54395d
Raildriver help added5db26e39
Added help button for Keyboard tab6813c065
Added help buttons on Simulations options in MenuT1.5.1-1891-g8228f3523
Merge pull request #1094 from SteelFill/blended_brake_tweaksb9b4843b
Tweak default valuese6e95f1d
Add parameter for minimum speed of blended braking18c3e9c5
Improve blended braking response when using advanced brake cylinders and dynamic brake ramp upT1.5.1-1887-g07be04456
Merge pull request #1095 from SteelFill/control_confirmation55111e97
Make control confirmations fade out in real timeT1.5.1-1885-g12b1a74d5
Merge pull request #1092 from cjakeman/manual-update-timetable344634b2
Adds a second link7cc63cb6
Adds link to #speed descriptiond5816e47
Adds gradient command to Manual18238f45
Adds $req, depart-early and passing -time to ManualT1.5.1-1880-gcf1e59399
Merge pull request #1062 from rwf-rr/train-forces-popup-window9a76b26d
Properly use IsMetric for formatting forces.1ec3dc63
Add to user manual, info about text line.34847efb
Update user manual for the Train FOrces window.c8ac68d7
Minor cleanup.ef2b07be
Show combined brake force, air and dynamics.c7db858c
Merge branch 'train-forces-popup-window' of https://github.com/rwf-rr/rwf-openrails into train-forces-popup-window3b663d2d
Merge branch 'master' into train-forces-popup-windowb96d6fa6
Also show dynamic brake force for engines.de91cc4e
Fix bug with calculating limits when switching trains.3b18c48a
Train Forces popup Window.T1.5.1-1868-g9d945d08c
Merge pull request #1064 from rwf-rr/help-add-train-info-tab1be1fc48
Update user manual for Train Info tab in Help window.fb4a5001
Address comments in PR:6a5b9f51
Minor cleanup and formatting fixes.701cb276
Merge branch 'help-add-train-info-tab' of https://github.com/rwf-rr/rwf-openrails into help-add-train-info-tabcc5379f9
Merge branch 'master' into help-add-train-info-tab52410f9e
More changes suggested in PR review.a57d23d3
Update calculation of Operative Brakes and Tons per Operative Brake.9b3415e9
Use continuous tractive effort, not peak tractive effort.53dd604f
Add TpEPA and TpEDBA, when units are imperial.77728847
Add Max Dynamic Brake Force to Train Info tab.c5711ade
First version of TrainInfo tab in Help window.T1.5.1-1855-g9d6ee3561
Merge pull request #1090 from cesarBLG/null-check-tcs9e0bfe8a
No comments33d25821
Add null check to avoid crash on corrupt signal filesT1.5.1-1852-g24537f48e
Merge pull request #1087 from rwf-rr/improve-signal-error-message1f64f024
Improve warning message for signal location mismatch.The current Testing Version can also be downloaded as a Zip archive:
13 June 2025, 106MB
The documents included in the Testing Versions downloads can be found on-line at:
Note: Multiple versions of Open Rails will not interfere if they are saved to different folders.
To support development, the latest unstable version is also available, which is updated whenever a developer publishes a change. The unstable versions are more likely to contain serious bugs and are only recommended for users wishing to help with Open Rails development.
The Manual for the Unstable version is not included in the download, but is available on-line.
For reference all the Unstable Versions (executable and source) can be found in our Unstable archive.
Improvements to Open Rails are drawn from several public sources as shown here:
We try to make sure that these changes all work and fit together by reviews as marked in orange in the diagram.