Download > Versions

Three Versions of Open Rails

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.

Updater

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 > System

Open Rails will check for updates at most once a day. When it finds one, it raises a red flag in the Notifications icon.

Use the "What's new" button to find out more about an update or the "Install" button to launch the automatic update process:

Testing Version

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 most Fridays) 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.

Recent Code Changes

• T1.5.1-2201-g9e1a5bfdb Merge pull request #1082 from peternewell/water_gauge#1
  Allow variable water level in glass gauge
  • b29e9602 Add user configuration check.
  • 7ef05d99 Changes requested as part of review
  • 4d46ee44 further adjustments to motion pumps
  • 030bad31 Merge branch 'master' into water_gauge#1
  • 701642a4 Adjustment to motion pump
  • 2e11e5cb Attempt to resolve conflict
  • 619fc257 Adjust motion pump operation
  • 46c51cc8 Adjust AI control of motion pump
  • 02ddbfe5 Further adjustments to AI algorithim
  • d80a7286 Adjust logic for AI algorithim
  • e500ca97 Further adjustments to AI algorithim
  • 89189d61 Adjust AI boiler feed algorithim
  • 58cc6010 Update documentation and boiler orientation
  • b5918dfe Attempt to fix conflict
  • f3a4ef5b Correct default definition of injector types
  • 971ab90b Update AI boiler feed algorithim
  • daa2c74f Adjust back pressure operation due to exhaust injector
  • 6550dab0 Revert "Add volume controlled curve for back pressure"
    This reverts commit 6fcbe31f0646b0c7002d75fdcf39b480a4ffc663.
  • 6fcbe31f Add volume controlled curve for back pressure
  • af5bc461 Add documentation to manual.
  • b49a6938 Adjust back pressure operation
  • b191a549 Correct sizing issue with large locomotives
  • a0547a3e Adjust default val;ue of live steam injector
  • 1e9d30b9 Make changeover dependent upon cylinder back pressure
  • a407e889 Correct typing error
  • deec96c2 Add auxilary steam operation to injectors
  • d4acd110 Refactor Steam Tables
  • 23243bec Add exhaust injector characteristics
  • bf65e04c Set up default curves for live steam injector
  • 26498150 Change water delivery rates for water injector
  • 45c4272d Adjustments to injector water delivery
  • e4d7f70c Correct issue with calculation.
  • ebf08790 Enhancement of injector operation
  • f1ade962 Start redesigning injector feeds
  • 85381706 Adjust default value for water glass
  • 2d205398 Temporary application to use the gradient water level
  • 56bb9928 Correct water gauge level representation
  • 625c9177 Adjust water level change on gradient
  • d3722cd4 Adjust injector operation
  • 5d1572f3 Corect initialisation value
  • 0cf717c8 Adjust AI injector filling algorithim
  • 50bb7797 Minor addition to manual.
  • b2da36fd Refactor code for injector operation and water gauge
  • 5845a1af Correct issue with -ve indication
  • ca0d8e52 Further enhancements to grade water
  • a3128ae0 Add extra line to HuD
  • b96420ff Initial work to allow variable water level in glass gauge
• T1.5.1-2153-g32215473b Merge pull request #1176 from SteelFill/parser_tweak
  Remove Implicit Requirement for Engine Name to Come After "Engine ("
  • 4cd961bc Remove unneded string read in Engine( section
• T1.5.1-2151-g8388cf62b Merge pull request #1178 from SteelFill/diesel_fixes
  Fix Diesel RPM Rate of Change
  • 015769e7 Fix imprecision in diesel RPM change and correct rate of RPM decrease

See more code changes

The current Testing Version can also be downloaded as a Zip archive:

02 January 2026, 107MB

• Installation Guide (English)

The documents included in the Testing Versions downloads can be found on-line at:

• Architecture Diagram V1.pdf
• Contenct checker.pdf
• How to Provide Track Profiles for Open Rails Dynamic Track.pdf
• Installation Guide En.pdf
• Localization Manual.pdf
• Manual.pdf
• ORTS Trackviewer manual.pdf
• Processor Flow Chart.pdf
• timetable-editor_de.pdf
• timetable-editor_en.pdf

Note: Multiple versions of Open Rails will not interfere if they are saved to different folders.

Unstable Version

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

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.