I’m returning to trains after my recent retirement and wondered what layout software options are out there. I don’t know if it matters, but I will be building a Civil War HO layout or maybe a V&T like layout. Any suggestions are welcome.
Are you talking about software to help design your layout, or software to run your layout?
I designed part of my layout with RTS from www.atlasrr.com and part with XtrakCad from http://www.xtrkcad.org/Wikka/HomePage. Both are free programs. XtrakCad is more capable and has more features, while RTS is simpler and has a much shorter learning curve.
I used RTS and built a small 3-D scale model of the layout before starting the “real thing”. Getting the model right (or close) was a big help. I found some design problems and was able to make corrections before starting on the HO layout.
As I noted in another thread Mr B, Atlas no longer offers/supports RTS. It has been removed from their website for many months. For some reason they still have the track library for Code 55 available for download.
To the OP, We are all assuming PC. So Mr. B. advice about XtrakCad is spot on
With the apparent elimination of RTS, that leaves a product called Anyrail holding the bag in the non-3d CAD market. This isn’t a bad thing. It’s a great program. Very easy to use, and with an enormous library of track in numerous scales and from a variety of manufacturers. Costs$60, but worth every penny. A word of caution: software will not design your layout. You brain has to do that. The software just keeps you honest (no fudging).
There is also SCARM, which is very easy to learn and use, and best of all, it is FREE. Just go here…
http://www.scarm.info/index_en.html
JW
Anyrail does a free trial, I believe it limits you to 60 pieces of track at one time. I use the free version for planing a section and has worked great from me.
My software of choice is CadRail. Very comprehensive; steep learning curve. Interface is very professional, like a full-up 3D CAD system.
Anyrail does offer a free demo, but the pie e limit (50, IIRC) is very limiting, and I don’t think it has all the track libraries available. Spring for the full version.
If you are using an Apple computer take a look at Railmodeler 4.1.6. This is shareware you can try out. I learned about it recently and after a few hours playing around bought the key for ful use. It cost $39.00
Another app for a Mac is Empire Express by Haddon Software. It is 2D, easy to learn and use. They have a free demo, and the purchase price is $34.95. No - I have no connection to the company but used the program successfully. I tried Railmodeler but did not like it; however, that was several years ago, and it might have improved.
Dante
I use the AnyRail software. I FInd it quite easy. I became quite familiar with it prior to purchasing it. The 50 piece limit in the trial version allowed me to build parts but not all. I think the limit may only be for track elements. My brother recently downloaded the trail version and he said it seemd that he could put in sceenery elements with no restriction.
As far as the track element limitations of the trial version I found by using sections of flex track could get much more designed.
Anyrail has a layering feature that allows one to add as many layers the the layout as needed. I use one layer for benchwork, one for track, one for building/structures and so on. By drawing boxes and circles you can also custom design structures. These can then be saved by adding them to the librairy. Cut, Copy, and Paste functions are available too.
XTrkCAD is the way to go. It is free, and very comprehensive. You can design your layout, and better yet, run trains on it which really helps to find bottlenecks and operating issues. Plus, it is just plain fun.
I also used free XTrackCAD and liked it. I’ll add a link below. If you try it, do go through the tutorial to see how it basically works. There were a couple of quirks that I had to overcome. One was being able to move a piece to align it with another (so they could be joined) but I had a setting wrong such that I could only move something in increments. Questions are easily overcome on a yahoo users site you can find with a search.
Dear Friends
I have and use RailModeller for the Mac. I’m disappointed by the omission of Atlas No. 8 turnouts, but the program works pretty well. I emailed the developer about his omission and he replied to say that Atlas had not provided him with the specs. I believe he could have looked at AnyRail’s specs for those turnouts and incorporated these into a RailModeller library.
Also, RailModeller doesn’t offer any Micro Engineering libraries.
There are three things RailModeller needs: the ability to have more than one file open a a time, a file browser (see thumbnails of RailModeller documents), and a freeform tool for manipulating flextrack.
I believe the pros (e.g., Byron Henderson and Lance Mindheim) are now recommending 3rd PlanIt, which is a US$124.95 program available for Windows only.
–Jaddie
I can’t recommend Anyrail highly enough. The easiest program out there, and well worth the $59 cost. The “learning curve” is next to nonexistent because if I can use it, believe me, ANYONE can. Support is awesome, any questions are promptly answered.
I will second or third the vote for Anyrail. I only use the free download version and found it had everything I needed (great track and structures library). I just used it for parts of my layout design so I didn’t go over the 50 or 60 component limit on the free version, but I can imagine the full version would be even better. As mentioned earlier, it is the easiest software I have ever had to learn.
-Bob
Are there only two choices for Mac: Railmodeler 4.1.6 or Empire Express? Are there any other options for Mac users?
Thank you
XtrkCad, the open source program, has been ported to later versions of the Mac OS. It’s also available for Windows and Linux. Track libraries are kept up to date by a corps of volunteers. Details and help can be found at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/XTrkCad/
my thoughts, your choices
Fred W