Track Planning Software

I suggest doing a search in the various forums because this question comes up quite a bit and has been pretty well discussed

RR-Tracks seems to be overwhelming favorite around here, not perfect but the best so far

This has been done before but the forum eats everything older than 6 months. So I'll just start off by saying that the majority of the members here use RR Track. They all seem to like it.

I personally use XTrkCad. It's free for starters, it's easy to use, and it's free. It has plugins for most tracks built in so tubular O/O-27 is there, so is fast track but those are what I use.

The yahoo group is good for help. They got my a file to use Marx O-34 curves pretty quickly.

What I don't like is it's lack of a layout control panel so and it's lack of included structures but you can get some add-on's through the yahoo group.

here http://ogaugerr.infopop.cc/eve...forum_scope=57660482

I use RRTrack. When I was ordering it, I was thinking, man this is kinda expensive, but it has turned out to be a bargain considering how much I've relied on this tool for designing and building 2 layouts.

The layouts I've done with it were ones using new-to-me track systems and I was able to simiply print out the track list and order the exact pieces I needed. It's like building your own custom layout kit.

It has been remarkably accurate between the on-screen world and the real world.

I have not used the flex track functions, so I don't know about how well it handles that.

There definitely is a learning curve. Also, there are many operational quirks that make it different than what you've come to expect from software. These are differences in clicking and dragging, and menu type things that are kinda annoying and are things I will never get use to.

They reveal that this is definitely a small nitch market software package that wouldn't be ready for prime time as a large market offering. However, they pale in comparison to the benefits of using a track layout system, in my opinion. Note that I said "a track layout system" since I don't know the others and would be interested in hearing about them.

One thing that I forgot was why I started thinking about planning. I had a small oval which isn't much fun.  I didn't have a lot of money, so I started looking and imaging possible layouts. Thor;s Trains has lots of ideas and are free.

 

Finally thought a large dog bone would be a good start ( I live a a small apartment so I have to clean up after playing, which is the main reason why I have stayed with fasttrack. Fasttrack comes apart and goes together lots and lots and lots of time. The joints are tight ( I didn't notice that to be the case with real trax)). It;s also readily available here. Mth and atlas, not so much.

 

I tried scaling the drawing but since I didn't have exact piece dimensions figuring out how many pieces I need didn't work very well. I ended up buying more than I needed. The local shops consider track that goes out the door used, so I could return it. Realized then that over buying could be a costly mistake. The shops here offer a 15% discount if you reach a threshold of $100 -- so under buying could be costly.

 

So yeah I want a good way to plan.

 

I'll try and link the threads I found helpful, since links from the old forum don't work:

 

https://ogrforum.com/d...ent/2415514336678806

 

https://ogrforum.com/d...ent/2415514337011594

 

https://ogrforum.com/d...ent/2415514336731236

 

https://ogrforum.com/d...ent/3119198893178680

 

I personally use Anyrail, it's dirt simple to do most tasks.

Does anyone make a system for Mac? I'm planning my new layout and could use it. Don

I agree, but without MTH libraries or any accessories I am questioning its usefulness to me.

 

I have to say for only 5 minutes and had a loop built,without reading a manual or help, It is "dirt simple".

 

I am hoping the rr track people will contribute to this, as It seems to be a great unknown as to what it is and can do.

 

The youtube I found of it showed it too like anyrail was drag and drop. So if it is that simple I might go with that.

 

Anyrail might be there when the libraries are filled in. I do like the trainplayer direct support.

@scalerail try railmodler for a native application...

 

Personally I would load WINE (http://www.davidbaumgold.com/tutorials/wine-mac/) and then just run one of the windows programs. Most run under XP, so I don't think it would be likely to any compatibility issues.

Yes, Railmodeller works quite well on a Mac.

@dillion or any other rail modeler users, can you give us more details about ease of use file formats,or anything else that might come to mind.

 

I have no idea about it. What support there is or what help is available.

Here is a picture of my layout using the Ross Railset to give you an idea.

Just click on the imbedded link RailModeller for their Web Site.  It is quite easy to use.

I could not have designed a layout with the density and complexity I have without using Railmodeller and countless hours of trying alternatives. The layers feature is great.

 

The only negative is that things that worked in Railmodeller just did not quite work in reality. I am guessing that some of their dimensions are incorrect. Also I can slightly open or over tighten a curve of track but there is not a easy way to simulate this in Railmodeller.

 

One of these days I will figure out how to post pictures in a size large enough to be read in this forum. I have several color coded by piece-type Railmodeller representations of my layout that might give someone ideas (and laughs).

 

If anyone plans to use AtlasO track exclusively, I would recommend using Right Track Software version 8 if they don't already have track planning software. It's free and does the job. Version 8 does not have the bugs version 10 does.

I use rail modeller, they seem to update it at least twice a year.  I even use it for slot car planning 

@Russell

 

Thanks for the details in the steps. That sort of repeats what I saw on youtube. Anyrail sort of mimics this, so I am assuming it is as easy if not easier.

 

 

Wow, that's great news.  I had been lamenting the lack of Mac track planning software and was not aware of this.  I will definitely check it out!

 

- Mike

As will I, since I'm now back in the world of first class computers!

For those interested, if you go to the RailModeller web site, there are links to "You Tube" tutorials.  However, I found it easy enough to learn just by trial and error.  It's not perfect but it beats drawing the layout by hand.  It also gives you a complete parts list with OEM prices so that you have an idea of how many 0-72 RH Switches (for example) you need to order and approximately what it is going to cost you.  I ordered all my track and switches based on the parts list and only had a few pieces of track left over.  I used Ross sectional track and switches and although the library isn't complete I was able to make do.  For example #5 switches aren't in the rail set library but they are in the Atlas library so I used them in the layout but ordered Ross when finished.  Good luck! 

Ok, I just got RR-Tracks and WOW!!

 

It is easier than ANY of the programs I went into detail about earlier. Parts look like parts they represent. The overview window is really nice feature. I had a loop in 5 minutes (tie with anytrack).

 

How you select pieces is more intuitive and easier than anytrack, and the libraries are the most complete of any of the packages.

 

For O gauge I definitely think this is the way to go. I don't have any of the other gauge libraries but several N and HO people on youtube use RR-track, and say it is the easiest they have tried, and use it.

 

For everyone on a MAC, I still ask you to try WINE. I'm going to see if a MAC user friend of mine will let me try and install RR-track 5 with it on his MAC(OSX lion) and let you know. If it works, I think you'd be reinventing the wheel going with another track software.

"I have been working with RailModeller and the supplied FasTrack railset. I love the software, but I find that the railset specifications seem to be somewhat imprecise. Has anyone else out there attempted to update the rail set with the Railset Editor to get better results? I have worked at this a bit, finding that many of the switches were incorrectly specified. The basic problem I have is that I cannot always build the layout I create with RailModeller because the software doesn't allow for very minor give and take."

 

I have been having an issue where pieces should line up, but they don't.  I'm talking within a tolerance of 1/8 to 1/16th of an inch difference.

Ditto to all of the above on Railmodeller. I last used it 1 yr ago. At that time the length of their half-section of tubular O-gauge was wrong by 1/2"  so I made my own half-track and quarter-track (hacksaw creations) and added them to their library. But when I updated Railmodeller I had to copy my library additions to their new version.

I never did figure out why the computer layouts did not quite match the real world. In any event it allowed me to try dozens (hundred?) of variants before finally re-doing the real world for three layout expansions.