Frequently asked questions
What is Railfan Copilot?
Railfan Copilot is an Android and iOS app for railroad enthusiasts — live train tracking, AI locomotive identification, scanner audio, live cams, and a crowdsourced community of railfans logging sightings and specific locomotives.
Why don't I see any trains on the map?
Make sure location permission is granted and your GPS has a fix. The app only fetches trains within your configured radius (default 500 mi, adjustable in Settings). Try tapping the refresh button on the map.
How does the AI locomotive ID and decoder work?
Photos and train symbols are sent to Claude (Anthropic's AI) for identification. An internet connection is required — nothing is analyzed on-device.
How do I restore my Pro purchase?
Android: Pro is a one-time Google Play purchase — it's tied to your Google account automatically.
iOS: Open the app, go to Settings, and tap Restore Purchases. Make sure you're signed in with the same Apple ID used to purchase.
How do I get a refund?
Google Play: Open Google Play → profile icon → Payments & subscriptions → Order history → Request a refund (within 48 hours of purchase).
App Store: Refunds are handled by Apple at reportaproblem.apple.com.
Why does the scanner use HTTP instead of HTTPS?
Live railroad radio streams are broadcast over standard HTTP audio streams — the industry standard for public scanner feeds. No personal data is transmitted over these connections.
Can I use the app without internet?
The map, community reports, and live train data all require internet. Saved locations and the frequency reference work offline.
How do I delete a sighting, spot, or roster entry I posted?
Tap the sighting or spot you submitted and use the delete/edit option on the card. If you can't remove something yourself, contact us and we'll take care of it.
Contact us
Didn't find what you needed? We're happy to help.
Email: ratt.dawg@gmail.com
For bugs and crashes specifically, please use the bug report form instead — it gives us the details we need to fix things faster.