Railfan Copilot is the ultimate companion app for railroad enthusiasts. Whether you're trackside, at a grade crossing, or planning your next foaming session, Railfan Copilot puts everything you need in one powerful app.
LIVE TRAIN MAP
Track real-time Amtrak, Metra, SEPTA, and freight train positions on an interactive map. Tap any train for full details including speed, consist, and ETA.
RAILROAD SCANNER
Stream live railroad radio feeds from Broadcastify. Listen to dispatchers, crews, and yard operations in real time.
AI SYMBOL DECODER
Enter any freight or passenger train symbol and get instant route, origin, destination, and consist information powered by Claude AI.
AI LOCOMOTIVE IDENTIFIER
Point your camera at any locomotive for instant model identification, railroad history, and era information.
COMMUNITY SIGHTINGS
See what others are spotting near you, updated live.
SUN ANGLE PREDICTOR
Know exactly when golden hour hits your location for perfect rail photography.
ACHIEVEMENTS
Earn badges as you explore railfan locations and log sightings.
APPROACH NOTIFICATIONS (Pro)
Get alerted when trains approach your saved trackside locations.
PRO UPGRADE
Unlock all features with a one-time $3.99 purchase. No subscription. No recurring fees.
Perfect for foamers, railfans, trainwatchers, and anyone who loves trains.
Hi Ronald,I purchased Railfan Copilot Pro on iOS today.The Live Train Map works correctly for Amtrak.However, selecting Union Pacific or BNSF results in “0 trains” nationwide, even when viewing the entire western U.S.The App Store description says the app tracks “real-time … freight train positions.”Is freight tracking currently available on iOS? If so, is it limited to certain railroads or regions?Thanks.
Developer Response
Thanks for the feedback. This app relies heavily on community involvement. Because I do not live in an area with high UP or BNSF traffic, I haven't been able to post frequent sightings myself. However, I have recently revamped this entire activity to help drive better community engagement.While a competitor app uses a similar crowdsourced setup, accessing unsecured, real-time freight traffic data is notoriously difficult unless I implement an ATSC interface—which carries technical uncertainties.I am committed to improving the user experience and am working hard to get the app exactly where it needs to be.Best,Ron
Needs More Issues Fixed
TILE2026
I like the app, although it’s in beta there comes flaws such as1. Less Radio Frequencies2. Bad at Defining CN Train SymbolsAnd 3. Not Enough Radio Feeds :(This app needs A TON of improvement because of this. Sincerly, -TILE2026
What's New in 2.7.0
This is a big one — Railfan Copilot just got a major upgrade with community features, trip tracking, and smarter tools for spotting trains.
Trip Logging
Track your railfanning trips from start to finish. Log the train you're riding or watching, your boarding and alighting stations, notes, and distance traveled — then look back on your trip history anytime.
Profiles & Following
Create your railfan profile and follow other spotters in the community. See sightings and activity from people you follow, right alongside the live map.
Loco Number Lookup
Spotted a locomotive but don't know the story behind it? Enter the road number and get an instant AI-powered lookup.
Amtrak Timetables & Station Departures
Check scheduled stops for any Amtrak train, or pull up a full departure board for any station — see what's coming through and when.
Home Screen Widget
Add the Railfan Copilot widget to your Home Screen for at-a-glance train activity without opening the app.
Smarter Onboarding
New coach marks walk first-time users through the app's key features.
Behind the Scenes
Background location alerts now notify you when trains approach your saved spots, even with the app closed
Push notifications for community activity and nearby sightings
Performance and stability improvements across the map, scanner, and decoder
Updated privacy protections in line with the latest App Store requirements
Thanks for railfanning with us — keep the sightings coming!
Version v2.7.0
The developer, Ronald Minor, indicated that the app’s privacy practices may include handling of data as described below. For more information, see the developer’s privacy policy .
Data Not Linked to You
The following data may be collected but it is not linked to your identity:
Location
User Content
Privacy practices may vary, for example, based on the features you use or your age. Learn More
Accessibility
The developer has not yet indicated which accessibility features this app supports. Learn More
Information
Seller
Ronald Minor
Size
23.3 MB
Category
Navigation
Compatibility
Requires iOS 16.0 or later.
iPhone Requires iOS 16.0 or later.
iPad Requires iPadOS 16.0 or later.
Mac Requires macOS 13.0 or later and a Mac with Apple M1 chip or later.
Apple Vision Requires visionOS 1.0 or later.
Location
This app may use your location even when it isn’t open, which can decrease device battery life.