> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://dcc-5ccd5152.mintlify.site/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# BigFred Quick Start: Log In and Drive Your First Locomotive

> Log into BigFred, register your first locomotive, and drive it using the web throttle. Complete walkthrough from first login to moving trains.

This guide walks you through everything from opening BigFred for the first time to controlling your first locomotive. You'll need the address of the BigFred server on your local network — ask your layout admin if you don't have it.

<Note>
  **Default admin credentials — change them immediately.** On a fresh installation, BigFred seeds one admin account with the username `admin` and PIN `123456`. This account is well-known and must be changed before the layout goes live. Log in as `admin`, then go to **Account → Change PIN** right away.
</Note>

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open BigFred in your browser">
    On your phone, tablet, or desktop, navigate to the BigFred server address on your local network. It will look something like:

    ```text theme={null}
    http://192.168.1.50:8080
    ```

    You should see the BigFred login page. If your browser warns about an untrusted certificate on an `https://` address, that is normal for a local-network server — accept the exception and continue.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Log in with your username and PIN">
    Enter your **username** and **PIN** in the fields provided. Your admin will give you these credentials when they create your account.

    The login form also contains a **Layout** dropdown. Select the layout you are joining for this session — your admin configures which layouts appear here. If there is only one layout, it will be pre-selected for you.

    Tap or click **Log in** to continue.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Add your locomotive to your vehicle list">
    Before you can drive, you need to register your locomotive. Go to **My Vehicles** in the navigation menu and choose **Add vehicle**.

    Fill in the form:

    | Field                             | What to enter                                                                            |
    | --------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
    | **Name**                          | A human-readable name, e.g. `ET22-1175`                                                  |
    | **DCC address**                   | The address programmed into the decoder (1–9999)                                         |
    | **Kind**                          | Choose `Locomotive`, `EMU`, `Driving wagon`, `Trolley`, or `Wagon`                       |
    | **Decoder template** *(optional)* | Pick a template if one matches your decoder model — it pre-fills the function key labels |

    DCC addresses 1–127 are **short addresses**; 128–9999 are **long addresses**. Use whichever matches what is programmed in your decoder. Your admin assigns you a pool of addresses you are allowed to register — if your address is rejected, check with your admin.

    Save the vehicle. It now lives in your personal vehicle list.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Add your vehicle to the layout roster">
    Your vehicle is registered, but not yet visible on the layout. Go to **Fleet → Vehicles** (the layout roster) and find your vehicle in the **Available vehicles** list. Click **Add to roster** to make it active on the current layout.

    Once added, your locomotive appears on the layout's shared roster and is available for you to drive — or to lend to another operator via a lease.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Open the throttle and drive">
    Navigate to **Throttle** in the menu.

    1. Select your vehicle from the roster dropdown at the top of the throttle page.
    2. Choose the **command station** you want to use — the admin configures which stations are available on your layout.
    3. Use the speed slider to accelerate, the direction toggle to reverse, and the function buttons (F0, F1, …) to control lights and sounds.

    The throttle keeps a **wake lock** on mobile devices so your screen stays on while you're driving.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Change your PIN">
    Once you're up and running, change your PIN to something only you know. Go to **Account → Change PIN**, enter your current PIN, then choose and confirm a new one.

    Keep your PIN secure — it is the only credential that protects your account and your locomotives.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## What's next?

* Read [Core Concepts](/user-guide/concepts) to understand layouts, consists, interlockings, and leases in detail.
* To group multiple locomotives into a consist, go to **My Trains** and create a train with your vehicles as members.
* To join an interlocking as a signalman, click any interlocking row on the dashboard home page.