CAD's

Model Railroader Layouts and layout building
1

Anybody have any sites where I can buy a CAD for my new train layout?

Thanks

2

Atlas has a free one (RTS) that is fairly easy to learn. You can download it from their site.

There is also another free one out there, but I don’t remember what it is, but someone will probably list it soon.

3

Another free one is XtrkCad. http://www.xtrkcad.org

It’s a little bit harder to learn. Do the demo/tutorial, or you’ll be lost. I found it usful to do teh tutorial, work with the program for a few hours, and then do teh tutorial again. It’s really a useful program.

4

My 6X20 is going atop a storage “box” and a lower level display. Before the display of my wife’s Dept 56 stuff is worked on, the “table” is getting covered with large paper(newsprint type endroll)and the layout worked on with real track, traced onto the paper, then said plan cut into appropriate pieces for the cookie cutter roadbed. No computer needed. On the other hand, I’ll probably do the Xtrak thingie just to get it posted here.

5

http://www.anyrail.com/index_en.html

This is the easiest to use that I’ve found yet.