one thing to warn you about. If your navigator goes to sleep during the automated operation it can disrupt the program because it thinks you’ve released the locomotive(s) that were active on it
Yes that is a nuisance although it only starts the
selected (as in the main navigator display) loco if it is stopped at the time.
When I am running in auto, I switch off the navigator to save the batteries. The trains will run all day without any dramas. But before switching off the navigator, I always select a loco address that is not on the automatic program (a spare loco or a loco that you are driving manually around the automatically controlled trains). Because it is a positive action, as apposed to forgeting, it becomes a routine. If you don't want to save the batteries that's fine.
Then when the navigator is switched on, a stopped loco that is controlled by the automation will not start moving.
you can run one train manually and one on auto.
Probably no limits to the number of loco's that can be run. I used to run 1 train manually while I had 4 running on the automatic system. I've changed my track plan and can't do that now. It was when I had 2 main circuits, each with a passing loop. While I had 2 trains on each of the 2 main lines running under the automation, I could drive a train manually from one loop to the other loop between the movement of the auto running trains and park it at the respective passing loop.
I'm too lazy now though, just like train watching!
Alan