Best Trackplanning Software?

Atlas has and Ok software. Kinda weird at times but works

Check out SCARM. It's Windows only and still free with a great simulation feature though there is a paid extension to the simulation feature if you want more than the basic train. Great support here on the forum.

AnyRail has a free trial, but it's limited to 50 pieces.

There's RR-Track, though it's not free.

There's also RailModeller Pro for the Mac, also not free.

They all have pros and cons and various learning curves. Each has sample layouts, etc. Being free, SCARM is probably the most popular here with lots of folks willing to help fine-tune designs.

I used RRtrack to plan my old layout.   I liked RRtrack ver 4 a lot but have not used for more than 5 years. 

Now I'm redesigning my layout, including a smaller footprint.

I am a recovering windows user who switched to mac 2 years ago.  After hours of wrestling with my old Win machine to run RRtrack, and then down loading SCARM and playing with it, my headache just got worse and worse.  I guess I've totally converted to mac

After reading the previous post, I just loaded RailModeller Express (free version) on my Mac and was busy designing within a minute. 

I'll keep at it to find it's limitations but I gotta say that it looks promising right now if you are a Mac user. 

I use AnyRail.   Its free to download and play with up to 50 pieces of track @AnyRail.com.   It produces beautiful track plans.   Cons:  the 3-D display is primitive and not terribly useful.   But not a big deal for me.   I also have SCARM.  AnyRail is easier to use and learn IMO.  Here is an example plan with AnyRail.:

Dave Sheahen posted:

I used RRtrack to plan my old layout.   I liked RRtrack ver 4 a lot but have not used for more than 5 years. 

Now I'm redesigning my layout, including a smaller footprint.

I am a recovering windows user who switched to mac 2 years ago.  After hours of wrestling with my old Win machine to run RRtrack, and then down loading SCARM and playing with it, my headache just got worse and worse.  I guess I've totally converted to mac

After reading the previous post, I just loaded RailModeller Express (free version) on my Mac and was busy designing within a minute. 

I'll keep at it to find it's limitations but I gotta say that it looks promising right now if you are a Mac user. 

RailModeller makes it so difficult to accomplish basic tasks. Unless, it truly is a mac/windows thing. Working with my friend, a mac user, we try to replicate the design I have in SCARM. It appears to take a few steps more or a graphics design approach to create grades, flex tracks of a specific radius and arc. The 3D is lame and the libraries are lacking. It is still under development and they expect you to pay for it. I understand that it's the only game in town for mac, but sheesh, I have worked with all of them and this one is crazy. Must be a mac thing.

max,

I don't think the software is as important as the planning and one's imagination. paper and pencil can provide you with the tools needed.

What the software can do is provide you with an accurate plan to build from and a really good list of track and supplies needed.

read model railroad design books, anything from well known professional builders whose style that you like.

The software is just another tool, like your drill or saw.

Try SCARM on Windows and make an as built of your layout as the learning assignment.

I share this as a good first read.