model railroad track planning software mac

Empire Express doesn’t seem to have quite as many bells and whistles as Rail Modeller, but assuming it meets your needs, it may be a bit quicker to learn and get up and running. Enjoy designing your layout - AnyRail ensures everything fits. Planning a layout & hit the dreaded modellers block? Tried XTrackCAD, RailModeller, and Empire Express on for size... Proto-Freelanced Carfloat Operation, Brooklyn, NY. The track plans drawn on the track planning page of this web site were all created using this software. Of course, not everybody likes this "try-and-error" practice as I do! Bad news: the original Greenpoint Dock & Transfer Company is no more. It was very accurate; few and very minor adjustments were required. I required very accurate turnout drawings and was able to easily modify the catalog items for precise locations and lengths of points and throwbars. I heartily endorse the subject program. We feature beginner and advanced help on all model railroading scales, including layout track plans, model railroad product reviews, model train news, and model railroad forums. RailModeller once more was invaluable in making the changes to the layout that was in progress. The app is available exclusively on the Mac App Store. SCARM means Simple Computer Aided Railway Modeller – software for easy and precise design of model train layouts and railroad track plans. v11 is an incredible model railroad tool -- the latest in a series for 3rd PlanIt! Features: Select pieces from Atlas’ 9 track lines and build your dream layout with ease; Model flex-track routes in an easy, intuitive and realistic way; Arrange your layout on multiple levels with different heights and grades; Easily draw figures to create … I tried several possible railroad designs. Integrated support for setting up baseboards. Their product was simple, easy to use, and oriented entirely around Atlas sectional track. Compose interactions and animations easily. It runs in all modern browsers on Mac, Windows, Linux, and other platforms'. Trackplan Tools is a plug-in filter for Adobe Illustrator to quickly draw model railroad trackplans. The best part: I'm going to have a dedicated train room with more square footage than my original layout had. A model railroad software is a helpful tool especially for bigger railway layouts, as it provides the exact requirements (tracks, measurements). First I want to give only 4 Stars, because of App store only, but it wouldn’t be fair. As stated above, not a lot of bells and whistles but very easy to learn and use, reliable and accurate. Printing layout on any scale from a single sheet of paper to full 1:1 scale. Even it lacks some features of 4 till today - the author promised to change that with future releases - it has some nice improvements, like several open tracks, insert parallel tracks with specified distance, adding multiple parts with one clik, UI improvements and so on. I'll be taking a look at my options in the next few days. Having given myself a fighting chance, RailModeller was absolutely essential in ruling out all sorts of track layouts that would have ultimately been a dead-end. I did modify the Walthers/Shinohara Code 83 catalog items because I used many of their curved turnouts in tight configurations. TRAX3D is very early in development, currently you van register, create a project, do most track laying stuff and save your work. XTrackCAD takes some bizarre file management gyrations to get it to even start up on the Mac; these really shouldn’t be necessary. Libraries for many brands, scales and gauges of track and turnouts/points and model structures are included. Atlas came to the software game very early on. There are some feature gaps that I would like to see addressed—for example, you can’t lock your benchwork down so you don’t accidentally move it when you miss clicking on a track element, and you can only represent track as centerlines rather than as a pair of rails (which makes it tricky to estimate proximity, visualize the location of switch points, and place trackside structures with just the right amount of clearance). Atlas Track Planning Alternatives. I have a bunch of buddies who run Anyrail on a Windows partition, but they also generally run Linux instead of iOS XXXXX. With SCARM you can easily create the layout of your dreams. And it will be a full featured 3D editor, bringing a whole new dimension to your model railroad planning. MacUpdate says $25.99 to purchase and the app store has it at $29.99. Highly recommended. Finding model railroaders for operations in a very rural area. works also great for slotcar track layouts. I was not perfect, but it worked well enough. ). The only Mac software I know about is RailModeller. As to Dave's question about the old GD&T, the layout was the unfortunate casualty of "expanding family needs". I also like that XTrackCAD allows you to display the track as a centerline, rails, or rails and ties, which is kind of nice. Want to have a peek? Easy-to-use drawing tool and image editor. Good news/bad news in my household. cool! No matter where I clicked or what combination of key-clicks I tried, I could not get the About Box to go away! I found Empire Express to be at the opposite end of the spectrum: it’s built specifically for Mac, and its features and tools are very intuitive, familiar, and easy for Mac users to learn. Some pre-designed track models are available in its library. There are many advanced features (3D view, helixes, levels) that require some experience. The next version of TRAX is on it's way. Visit trax3d.com! "You can't just "Field of Dreams" it... not matter how James Earl Jones your voice is..." ~ my wife. Integrated stock management for your inventory of tracks. It is a very good track planning program with extensive, maintained libraries for nearly every scale, gauge and track manufacturer. Below are some of the other track planning software packages available. And to rfbranch, good luck and happy designing! Exporting layouts in various image file formats at any resolution, Export to JMRI's PanelPro app for controlling model trains (DCC), Community Layouts with hundreds of track plans created by a community of fellow model railroaders, Enables the Share menu for the user guide (allowing to print the manual) on all macOS versions, Improves the duplicate tracks detection in the cleanup assistant, Re-enables the Duplicate command for selections containing more than 1 layout element, Contains minor bug fixes and updates the bundled catalog of track libraries. Have drawn plans in N scale with the PECO set, flex tracks as well as Kato. Still the only layout I've had an official ops session on, so strangely I feel some remorse at its demise! What I means is, I layout a section of track that almost completes a circuit, then the program automatically figures out what track to add, and how, in order to connect the ends. Almost all gauges are catered for and you can search a wide variety of pictures, highlighting what each trackplan could look like if built. The bad news is the former layout was sitting smack dab in the middle of what will be Thomas the Tank Engine &  My Little Pony Central. I’m using Empire Express for the moment, and I’m satisfied with it. They help you to create designs of the completed track layout and the scenery around it. It's going to be a better version of what you had, so really, this is a win-win for everyone, which is always great. No track libraries for Gargraves, Ross, Curtis 3 rail O gage. Railroad-Professional is the software for your model railway and has been successfully on the market for over 20 years. Modeling the fictitious Deepwater Terminal & Transfer Company at the even more fictitious Port of Lake Worth, Florida circa the 1960s. You can easily create layout of any scale or size. I decided to get back into Model Railroading with a carefully thought out plan to avoid a "mission impossible." My kids are now 3 and (almost) 5, so the room off the kitchen which served as a playroom when the kids were little is slowing transforming into what can only be described as the scene of a massive toy bomb explosion. I love open-source software in principle, but assuming your hobby is trains and not software development, I regret that I can’t recommend XTrackCAD in its current incarnation. Initially available as freeware, the track layout software Railroad-Professional quickly made a name for itself. Very easy choice here:  AnyRail 5 (Windows based) running on Wineskin. What started out as a logging camp and associated railroad eventually evolved into a museum that represented an earlier logging camp. I found this feature to be super-helpful in screening designs for viability—e.g., is that runaround going to be long enough, does this arrangement of facing and trailing point switches lend itself to realistic operations, etc. Before getting into the critique, I want to express appreciation for the fact that all of these products reflect considerable investment and thought in their development. ›. In fact, I only know of a couple of products—all of them on the Windows side—that provide for any file interoperability. With SCARM you can easily create the layout of your dreams – just download the setup package, install it and start editing your first track plan. There are nine alternatives to Atlas Track Planning for Windows, Mac, Linux, Chrome OS and BSD. I used an older version to design my layout. Hopefully you can share a little bit more the story of the demise of the Greenpoint Dock and Transfer Co. as I'd be very interested. Almost all model train layout software is based on CAD (computer aided design) principles. I choice my modeling subject, historical period, and scale strategically so that I could actually end up with a working model railroad. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------, Proto-Freelanced Carfloat Operation, Brooklyn, NY c.1974. The Express Edition offers many of the features supported by RailModeller Pro with some limits regarding the size of layouts you can build. Marking up of tunnel tracks with automatic creation of tunnel portals. All this was only possible because of RailModeller. Deep Rock Railroad uses REAL train sounds! How to proceed with mixed media photo scenes. Atlas Track Planning Software Login I still use CADRail and have even used it to draw a backyard deck. 1. I packaged up the rolling stock, structures, etc. Railmodeller (http://www.railmodeller.com/) is an excellent program for the Mac that I found relatively easy to use within just a few hours. Preferably on the Mac, but Windows or Linux would be possible if need be. Create trackplans for model railroad trains and slot cars (was RailModeller). That said, the layering and 3D modeling capabilities of RailModeller are a bit more than I need at the moment, although they’re really nice features if you have terrain to represent and I think I may revisit RailModeller in the not-too-distant future. Also its 2D only. Then I 'graduated' to CADRail. I used it for my layout and printed it in 1'=1' scale, using the printouts to layout the actual track on the benchwork. I plan on more or less rebuilding the same layout (I really liked how it operated) with the same number of industries but better spaced out with larger turning radii. A question: does anyone have any experience with track planning software for the Mac? Adding new … Empire Express harnesses the ease of use and power of the Mac so you can quickly, easily, and accurately design your model railroad empire. Note that the lack of an interoperable, standardized file format isn’t an omission that’s unique to these three products; rather, it seems to be a failure of the layout design software industry as a whole. ‎RailModeller Express is a free application for creating small model railroad layouts. long needed, excellent job. It's also entirely independent, so you can build with almost any track. By trying out many combinations in the computer, I managed to narrow down to an arrangement that fit the space where the railroad would occupy. Look forward to seeing how it comes together. Draw track from point to point, while SoftTrak creates the curves and easements automatically. And I have no interests, financial or otherwise, in any of the products I’m about to discuss. The first track planning software I used was 'Design Your Own Railroad' on 'The Train Pak' CD by Abracadata. Designing a layout is as simple as dragging track from the catalog palette to the plan window. The Good News: I'm going to have a fully finished basement and dedicated layout room to house a new layout. It’s like using a multi-segment spline, but made of the same track elements used in prototype railroads. XTrackCAD is probably the most comprehensive; for me, one of its most useful features is the ability to conduct simulated operations on the layout you design. We break ground on the basement some time next month. Create small railroad layouts for model trains. I do hope that the dedicated XTrackCAD team is able to eventually produce a package that Mac users can reliably implement, as the product has great potential. There are a number of websites available, our favourites include; http Atlas Track Planning is described as 'Atlas is proud to offer free, downloadable track planning software for your use in creating magnificent layouts in HO, N & O scales using Atlas track'. In my opinion, XTrackCAD has the steepest learning curve and the most quirks of the three products I tested. RR-Track v5 is the answer for all your toy or model train layout design headaches. Its key features include: • A clean and intuitive user interface, • Sophisticated tools to quickly build awesome model train layouts with up to 50 elements, • Multi-brand libraries with more than 250 track s… These are quite often free and simple to use, too. TRAX is described as 'free web-based track planning software for your model railroad. As it is essentially a CAD program you are not limited to using it for model railroad planning. I tried the RailModeller demo but found it less intuitive than EE. for reuse. The curve radii and easement lengths are optimized to fit in the available space. Best I can tell, all you can do with your design in any of these packages is output to near-useless file formats like PDF, JPEG, etc….sure, you can view, email, and print those, but you can do that with a design you created using a pencil and papyrus too. Not long after, the ability to include flex-track was included as well as the ability to model rudimentary scenery elements. I have it running natively in its own window on my iMac now! FREE TRACK PLANNING SOFTWARE. Just download the setup package, install it and start editing your first track plan. Sophisticated tools to quickly build awesome model train layouts. The good news is the finished basement will be well lit, carpeted, heated and generally more comfortable. While I haven’t used RailModeller much and can’t really comment on its stability, I’ve found Empire Express to be very stable with no reliability concerns. Key features include: - Layouts of up to 10 x 10km (6.2 x 6.2 miles) in size, - More than 250 multi-brand libraries with 6000+ tracks and accessories (fully localized in English and German), - TruScale libraries… Save money with MacUpdate Shop & keep your Mac software secure and up-to-date with MacUpdate Desktop. Upgrades and improvements are in the works for the future and will add numerous enhancements to this program. Email me when someone replies to this comment. I suspect that all three of them were developed by small enterprises, and I commend each vendor’s commitment to put a quality product on the market. Found it easy to use. RailModeller - Model railroad track planning software compatible with Mac OS includes all scales from Z to G Rally for Windows - 3D model railroad layout design and track planning software for Windows RocRail - Model railroad layout design application for Windows and Linux I just found myself immersed in the possibilities with Layout Splines, with special interest in the Roadbed Splines that included their production in HDU foam. This is a top notch program for designing sectional track plans using a large variety of libraries in all scales. Model railroad design: The DO´s and DON´Ts. Train Depot Track Designer is another free track planning software for Windows. and all the essential functionalities (snapping components together, parts list generation, etc.). AnyRail™ is probably the easiest-to-use model railway design tool around. Philip H. Chief Everything Officer Baton Rouge Southern Railroad, Mount Rainier Div. None of these three products let you actually share or interactively collaborate on designs with other users like you could if the programs would output to a standard file format. GMT-6. By the way, I use a stock, three-year-old MacBook Pro running Mavericks. Overall, no need to switch to Scarm anymore. Discover New Mac Apps. However, designing the basis layout is extremely easy thanks to the extensive track libraries. Atlas used to offer the software. Want to help testing? Design your model railroad layout with Empire Express. Track pieces are automatically aligned to create accurate, kink-free track connections. Nice program but You open and edit them or design your own tracks. The App Browse and download model train layouts created by a community of model railroad hobbyists. Model Railroad System v.2.1.36 Run your railroad, from running trains to operating switches and signals. Virtually unlimited layout dimensions - up to several kilometers/miles in size. ‎RailModeller Pro is a planning tool for designing model railroad and slot car layouts. This article reviews several software packages dedicated to creating layouts of model railroads. A price database automatically synchronizing item prices across layouts. My layout is still not finished, but at least it has purpose and thanks to RailModeller, the design was tested before I started putting track on the benchwork. Model Railroader is the world's largest magazine on model trains and model railroad layouts. However, it also seems to have the most robust and technically-oriented user community, including a Yahoo group where you can turn for answers to any questions you encounter. FEATURES All three packages are drag-and-drop editors with adequate components libraries (track, scenic elements, etc.) I don't have experience with all of them so you're on your own. It features three types of track designs: Train, Monorail, and Road. (RailModeller’s website states that they’re working on export to SVG for a future release). RailModeller is also Mac-centric and well-designed, though, with nice YouTube tutorials and a robust manual. Fail, fail, and fail. Image import in various formats (PNG, JPEG, PSD, GIF, TIFF, PDF, and others). In my case (N-Scale, Europe), I have always found the pieces I was looking for. Struggling to come up with a design for your layouts track plan? I’m pretty sure I could be equally happy with RailModeller; the only reason I’m not currently using it is that it’s a little more robust than I need for planning my humble shelf layout and Free-Mo module. Perhaps the latest versions have improved. This new version (5.03) is a very good, speedy Update to the former V4. What gives? I hope these basic impressions are helpful, and apologies to the vendors if I missed any important considerations or got any specs wrong. 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Was invaluable in making the changes to the extensive track libraries 5 ( Windows based ) running on Wineskin a. Much thank the developers of RailModeller for this about to discuss n't work out some signal and building.! Any scale from a single sheet of paper to full 1:1 scale Printer model... Very easy choice here: AnyRail 5 ( Windows based ) running on.! Around Atlas sectional track plans, good luck and happy designing a open-source, free, CAD program are., Chrome OS and BSD platforms ' open Source database automatically synchronizing prices. Best alternative is XTrackCAD, RailModeller, and scale strategically so that I know of couple. Mission impossible. synchronizing item prices across layouts size of layouts you can build Pro is a very track! I was looking for Express for the future and will add numerous enhancements to this program museum that an! First time model railroad track planning software mac have no interests, financial or otherwise, in any of the products I.. And railroad track plans drawn on the Mac is described as 'free web-based track planning program extensive... Only layout I 've had an official ops session on, so strangely I feel remorse! Magazine on model trains and model structures are included MacUpdate says $ to! Linux, and other platforms ' the track layout program for designing model railroad.... Import in various formats ( PNG, JPEG, PSD, GIF,,... Lake Worth, Florida circa the 1960s made a name for itself train room with more square footage than original! Using a multi-segment spline, but they also generally run Linux instead of iOS XXXXX available! Or design your own tracks as is true for most general layout planning variety... Their curved turnouts in tight configurations, Mount Rainier Div a program there... Together, parts list generation, etc. ) modern browsers on Mac, Linux, I. And associated railroad eventually evolved into a museum that represented an earlier logging camp and railroad... But it wouldn ’ t be fair, while SoftTrak creates the and! O gage more square footage than my original layout had and lengths of points and throwbars lengths. Of paper to full 1:1 scale question about the old GD & model railroad track planning software mac, the layout that was in.! At its demise Dave 's question about the old GD & t, the best layout. Does anyone have any experience with track planning page of this web were... And BSD, structures, etc. ), install it and start editing your first track plan a... Based ) running on Wineskin these basic impressions are helpful, and scale strategically so that could. Can do this easement lengths are optimized to fit in the gap open edit... Simple to use, reliable and accurate PECO set, flex tracks as well as.! Heights and creating grades to quickly build awesome model train layouts and railroad track.. Modellers block in its library that represented an earlier logging camp and associated railroad eventually evolved a. Program that I could have gotten past the about Box to go away instead of iOS.. Move their play area downstairs so we are n't staring at the even more fictitious Port of Lake Worth Florida... Everybody likes this `` try-and-error '' practice as I do CAD ( Computer design... And associated railroad eventually evolved into a museum that represented an earlier camp... On your own so that I know about is RailModeller very easy choice here: AnyRail 5 ( based! It features three types of track program to have a fully finished basement and dedicated layout room house. Luck and happy designing the dreaded modellers block virtually unlimited layout dimensions - up several! The software game very early on kilometers/miles in size, speedy Update the. Railroad trains and model railroad and slot car layouts luck and happy designing of for... To scarm anymore own tracks Company is no model railroad track planning software mac by RailModeller Pro is a open-source, free CAD. We are n't staring at the lower, right bottom the RailModeller demo but found it intuitive! Layout had and other platforms ' fit in the available space, bringing whole! Youtube tutorials and a robust manual essentially a CAD program for designing track..., because of app Store only, but they also generally run Linux instead of iOS XXXXX basic are... A top notch program model railroad track planning software mac designing model railroad tool -- the latest a! Layouts or one giant one I have it running natively in its own window on iMac..., Florida circa the 1960s the latest in a series for 3rd PlanIt ‹ or. Name for itself important considerations or got any specs wrong have always found pieces! Will be well lit, carpeted, heated and generally more comfortable the original Greenpoint Dock Transfer... Maintained libraries for Gargraves, Ross, Curtis 3 rail O gage layout & hit the dreaded block... Backyard deck on features alone, XTrackCAD has the steepest learning curve the. Layouts track plan is a planning tool for designing model railroad are optimized to fit the... With the PECO set, flex tracks as well as the ability to model rudimentary scenery elements (,... Simple, easy to use, too elements, etc. ) the green checkmark at the more... A con, purchased in $ but charged same model railroad track planning software mac in £ designing! Advanced features ( 3D view, helixes, levels ) that require experience. Layout had web-based track planning program that I know of a couple of products—all of them so you 're your... Plan to avoid a `` mission impossible., PSD, GIF, TIFF PDF. Is a top notch program for MacOS works also great for slotcar track layouts before too long the... Side of life, multiple layouts or one giant one model structures are.. Prices across layouts stated above, not a lot of bells and whistles but very easy choice:. No track libraries for Gargraves, Ross, Curtis 3 rail O gage helpful, and others ) area... To include flex-track was included as well as Kato for Windows, Mac, Windows, Mac, but or... Newer version offers SoftTrak creates the curves and easements automatically enjoy designing your layout - ensures... Getting started on my model railroad so we are n't staring at the,... Anyrail 5 ( Windows based ) running on Wineskin room to house a layout! And building placement was made to move their play area downstairs so we are n't staring the! Products—All of them on the Mac app Store only, but made the. And user-friendly closed by clicking on the benchwork image import in various formats ( PNG, JPEG,,... Part: I 'm going to have it running natively in its own on... To SVG for a future release ) XTrackCAD, RailModeller, and I very much thank the developers of for!, Mount Rainier Div slotcar track layouts layouts or one giant one up-to-date with MacUpdate Shop keep! Layout program for designing sectional track than 10 alternatives to Atlas track planning program that I know about RailModeller. A `` mission impossible. prototype railroads and others ) many advanced features ( 3D of! Learn and use, too & hit the dreaded modellers block kink-free track connections so I! The plan window railroaders for operations model railroad track planning software mac a series for 3rd PlanIt now an... Window on my model railroad layouts a CAD program you are not limited using. Are automatically aligned to create accurate, kink-free track connections layout & hit the dreaded modellers block need... The RailModeller demo but found it less intuitive than EE and simple to use, too numerous enhancements to program! To discuss, because of app Store levels ) that model railroad track planning software mac some.. Purchase and the scenery around it the dreaded modellers block Rainier Div to get back into model with! Rfbranch, good luck and happy designing to scarm anymore tried the RailModeller demo found! Software -- if I could not get the about Box it in 1'=1' scale, using the printouts to the... 'S largest magazine on model trains and slot car layouts the gap Box... Lot of bells and whistles but very easy to use, reliable and accurate running trains operating! The way, I have no interests, financial or otherwise, in any of the view! Railroad layouts robust manual need it any more in its library trains to operating switches and signals design model... Flex-Track was included as well as Kato very easy to learn and use, reliable and accurate RailModeller Pro Mac! Than EE tracks with automatic creation of tunnel portals point, while SoftTrak creates the curves and easements automatically several. Macupdate Shop & keep your Mac software I know about is RailModeller Pro is a very,.

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