What track planning software do you find is the best. The premier track planning tool for all scales order 3rd planit. Java applications to control a model railroad layout. The track plan allows continuous running of both passenger and freight trains as well as shuntingswitching operations in the station, sidings and the fiddle yard on the lower level. If you have a large inventory of ho scale slot car track sections on hand you can physically lay out your proposed track design ideas on your table and try them out. No more templates to struggle with, no messy erasing and scribbling, no emergency table extensions propped on sawhorses, no last second hacking of the xmas tree, just pop up the menus off this fully graphical software in the gauge of your choice and plan away. This article lists best free track designer software for windows. A simple ho scale shelf layout with lots of operations. This is another type of model railroad software that you will almost certainly find useful for your train layout not so much for planning purposes, but more for creation of signs, decals, old classic advertisements for your buildings or billboards, simulation of brick or stone walls, stained glass, window treatments, wallpaper, etc. The new softtrak feature lets you design professionalstandard track using splinelike tools the produce track complete with tangents, curves and easements if you choose.
Discover the different train track layouts you can use in an ho scale that range from elaborate mountain passes to industrial scenes. Atlas model railroad company produces ho and n scale model trains, track, vehicles. 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. Standard layouts contents trainplayer software for model. Model railroad design application model railroad track drawing cadrail model railroad track design drawing cad software application scale layout plan cadrail.
Ho railroad from start to finish model railroad handbook, no 36by jim kellyeditor, michael emmericheditor paperback july 1993 48 top notch track plans. Design software allows you to try numerous configurations until you have a track you really like. The three track staging caddie and the single track caddie allow the layout to operate prophetically. We frequently get requests for unitrack track plans, so we have put together this section to feature some plans. The track plan also features crossovers to allow trains to change tracks, something that is very important for more interesting operation. The easiest way to design a track though is to use slot car track design software. Enjoy designing your layout anyrail ensures everything fits. Capable of exciting new 3d features that allow you incorporate track elevations and plan scenery. Im a lifelong model railroader, and i particularly enjoy track planning. Use this handy template to plan code 83 track projects planning your next track improvement or layout rebuilding project is easy with this template. I still use cadrail and have even used it to draw a backyard deck. Even though there are 101 track plans in the book i reference, any portion of each track plan can be an inspiration for any design. Scarm means simple computer aided railway modeller software for easy and precise design of model train layouts and railroad track plans. Lots of bugs have been fixed, libraries have been updated and the interface has been entirely redone.
Anyrail is probably the easiesttouse model railway design tool around. When i started in the hobby the only way to draw a track plan was to do it by hand with a pencil, eraser, ruler, and geometry. Dec 26, 2019 this is the most complete online database for free model train track plans and layouts of scarm projects and designs. Powerful model railroad track planning editor for easy and precise design of scaled train layouts. From model railroader magazine model railroad handbook, no 39by bob hayden paperback february 1994. Best track planning software model railroader magazine. Model train table plans assembly instructions materials and tools lists for building a simple 4 foot by 8 foot model train table with storage shelf mar 2 2012 didyouknow you can learn how to build a train table over on lionel s how to build ho ho scale model train layouts plans try awsomic nov 10 2011 model railroader is the world s largest magazine on model trains and this train table. Search it for railway layouts and railroad track plans by scale, size, tracks and other criteria. Unless the project is big, i would skip track planning software and use a track planning template and paper and pencil. Scarm is an acronym for simple computer aided railway modeller. Atlas track planning software is one of the easiest programs to use for your track planning for your model railroad. Scale model railroad museum model train layouts g z s scale. When you purchase a custom designed track plan from me, you can rest assured the design will fit the available space and will operate as drawn. Clientserver based software that talks to digitrax loconet.
Create a wishlist on our website to send to your local peco retailer. Anyrail makes model railroad design so easy, its fun. Scale train sets model train design software o n ho scale. This is the most complete online database for free model train track plans and layouts of scarm projects and designs. You also find the best and biggest international m rklin discussion forum community here with members from all over the world. Atlas track planning software is another useful track. Currently the software runs on microsoft windows xpvista7810. In the model train world, systems are classified as letters. Now, 3rd planit not only offers the desired planning tool, but the ability to lay out the production of the initial rightofway, track configuration and.
Lionel train layout software plans 3d model train interior. Model railroad track design drawing cad software application scale layout plan cadrail. Lionel train forum is the source for lionel train discussion, lionel trains information, products, events and more. Quick tutorial atlas track planning software youtube. Peco is a leading manufacturer of model railway accessories and publisher of the hobbys no.
He has a lot of ez track, so im looking for planning software to help him with that. Plans on this site have been designed using anyrail track planning software, available from the files used to make the plans can be found on the download page, meaning you can view the required parts and adjust them for your own requirements. Layout libraries will be available with future library updates. None of these designers had prior background in cad software. For years i used the all gauges track planning template in the back of kalmbachs book 101 track plans for model railroaders by veteran model railroader linn westcott. Show off your trains with an ho showcase track plan that uses two outer loops for running with a turntable and tracks to display the rest of the collection. Model railroad track hundreds of track, roadbed, and bridge products from popular brands such as lionel, bachmann, and atlas, covering all scales g through z. Many of these layouts are from our users who have shared the design work theyve put into building their own model railroads. Over the years ive become a fan of railroad prototype modeling that is, trying to replicate the appearance and operations of real railroads as faithfully as possible in miniature. By using the grid provided, you can create scale drawings for larger projects or track. Trains can enter the layout from staging and exist the layout to staging. Dec 16, 2016 here is a quick tutorial of atlas track planning software. Make your own scenery objects and share them with other model train fans. As it is essentially a cad program you are not limited to using it for model railroad planning.
A great reference on creating model railroad track plans can be found in john armstrongs book, track planning for realistic operation. Winrail model railroad track planning and layout design software for windows woodland scenics produces a wide range of model railroad scenery products including foam layout and trackbed systems, terrain, landscape, trees, water, vehicles, structure kits, prebuilt structures, decals, and more. Software is available from various companies if you wish to design your unitrack layout on a computer. It might help you organize your own givens n druthers. Planning on doing that just wanna know if there are any better alternatives on the market.
The quantities shown on the following plans reflect piece, not package, quantities. Its also entirely independent, so you can build with almost any track. Ho scale model railroad trains layout bachmann ez track silver super. Libraries for many brands, scales and gauges of track and turnoutspoints and model structures are included. I would highly recommend it if you are planning anything more than a very simple layout. Planning your next track improvement or layout rebuilding project is easy with this template. Bobs curve and grade calculator is an excel spreadsheet with multiple tabs.
Model railroad software building your model railroad. Most individuals are easily intimated by cad drawing software. This software allows you to create and customize your very own layout, view it as a 3d model and then generate a shopping list to make your dream layout a reality. Select pieces from atlas 9 track lines and build your dream layout with ease. Train plans layouts change directions free model railway track layout. Hence, these software will be beneficial for civil engineers.
See more marklin ho ctrack plan 195x110 8402 views since 10 nov 2017. Easily draw figures to create train stations, houses, industries, roads and. Today, ho remains the most popular scale worldwide, with a large and varied selection of realistic models from countries across the globe. Anyrail the easiest model railroad design software. Scarm the leading design software for model railroad layouts. Using these software, you can design different types of tracks, like race tracks, railway tracks, roads, etc. All necessary tracks parts are available for designing such as straight track. Just download the setup package, install it and start editing your first track plan. In these software, you will find different categories of tracks. Lest you think these tools are somehow less effective than software, i used a template to create a very complex triple deck layout design. You can insert elevations and grades, which will allow you. Accurate turnout templates are key to achieving optimal geometry and knowing you can build exactly what you design. Please note that kato usa cannot provide individual support for these plans and they are supplied as examples only.
Xtrackcad is another free track designer software to design railway tracks. You can link them together on screen to create your entire layout trackplan. Bobs track planning questionnaire is the document i use to gather basic information for designing a plan. Ultimate racer is a race management system and slot car track design program combined. Something intuitive and easy to use, but fairly full featured. Designing a track plan incorporating the seven design elements, it becomes almost mandatory to use some type of cad track planning software. Atlas track planning software atlas model railroad. Xtrackcad is a cad program for designing model railroad layouts.
The first track planning software i used was design your own railroad on the train pak cd by abracadata. Version 10 offers you unparalleled design capabilities for your railroad layout. Some predesigned track models are available in its library. It is the first complete new track system lionel has introduced since 1957, and has rapidly gained popularity due to its ease of assembly, good looks, and large variety of available pieces. I have the free version of anyrail but obviously its limited unless you buy it.
Hobbylinc carries over 700 ho scale nickel silver model train track at discounts up to 89%. Learn model train track planning software free jacques lillie. Test your design by running trains, including picking them up and moving them with the mouse. This is considered by many as the bible for model railroad track planning. Download the files and see them in 2d editor and 3d viewer of scarm track planner. View and print a list of the atlas track pieces you need to begin building your layout. Adding new components is easy with the builtin editor. Compact ho scale layout design featuring single line which passes via small station with sidings and small town with factory and dairy plant. A big track plan in ho scale, designed with marklin ctype tracks in scarm, featuring dense railroad network around several living and industrial areas. The trax editor has matured and offers tons of new features, like landscaping, dragging new track directly from the list onto the canvas and creating modules. Nov 18, 2017 even though there are 101 track plans in the book i reference, any portion of each track plan can be an inspiration for any design. Model railroad layout design track drawing software cadrail. Im going to help my teenage son get his layout going. It is designed for any scale, style or brand of slot track and can support single or multiple lanes.
The most popular ho scale nickel silver model train track brands include atlas, bachmann, peco, kato usa inc, and marklin, inc. Mar 28, 2015 model railroad software, model railroad track planning software easier model railroad software programs to master that doesnt cost much its free, is the right track software simple computer aided railway modeller scarm software, model railway track planning and a free software for simplified design of scaled railway layouts and. In a bid to offer a small model railroad scale suitable for use in homes of all sizes, german manufacturer bing released the tabletop railway in 1922. Included with both the trainplayer and tracklayer packages are a large and diverse group of over 1,000 plans collected in what we call standard layouts. Background buildings were used along the main wall. Anyrail model railroad track planning and layout design software for the pc with sectional track and flex track of many manufacturers.
However, for the cost free, i dont think you can get a more powerful track planning tool. With instant 3d viewer, model trains simulator and rich set of. With scarm you can easily create the layout of your dreams. Trax supports over a hundred track programs from various manufacturers, including. Model railroader is the worlds largest magazine on model trains and model railroad layouts.
Train depot track designer is another free track planning software for windows. With xtrackcad, you can design your own geometry for turnouts and other special track. When you learn how to design model train layouts, you may decide to do the same, so its important to first map out your layout and then transfer it to the fullscale version. To help you figure out how to design model train layouts, david walks you through a stepbystep demonstration for creating a scale drawing of a sample layout that. When i started in the hobby the only way to draw a track plan was to do it by hand with a pencil, eraser, ruler, and geometry set. The track plans from bachmanns ez track layout book from 1998. One of the easier model railroad software programs to master that doesnt cost much its free, is the track planning software available for download from the website as freeware and works fairly well for simple layout designs. Download free printable track planning templates for all popular ho scale switches.