Track Planning Software

[Mononflyer]

Hey All,

 

My winter project is going to be a garage layout and I have been looking at software options.  I have heard good things about RR Tracker, but how about the others?

Can anyone rank the following choices?

I have been looking at RR Tracker, AnyRail, SCARM, CAD Rail, and XTrk CAD.

I plan on having a layout with both Flyer and Lionel/Marx.

 

Thanks,

 

[gunrunnerjohn]

I use AnyRail, and it was good enough for me to spend the money for the full version.  I didn't like the user interface for SCARM or XtrkCAD, haven't tried RR Tracker or CAD Rail.

[Mononflyer]

I have been trying AnyRail and like it.  The only problem that I can see is that there are few libraries available for Lionel or Flyer buildings.  I am planning a layout with both Lionel and Flyer, and after seeing the cost of the RR Track software for all the libraries, it gets pricey - but RR Track has the building libraries.

Decided against SCARM because it has no S scale track libraries or any buildings.

Kind of stuck at the moment.

[Anonymous]

I use RRTrack and love it.

http://www.rrtrack.com/

Play around with it, the grade creater can take a bit of getting used to, but for track and building libraries I don't think there is another product on the market that can beat it.

[Crabby44]

I also used RRTrack and love it. It has Lionel modern and post war libraries for buildings and accessories. It also has the ability to create buildings of any size by simply entering some dimensions. It has libraries for Lionel, Atlas, MTH and Gargraves track as well as MTH accessories. I really like the 3D feature. You can tilt the rotate the layout to any angle.

The first time I planned a layout I used AutoCad. I created my own library of track sections and switches and it worked well. AutoCad can be pricey but you can also use TurboCad which is a lot cheaper. You can find TurboCad at Staples for around $40.00.

[Mononflyer]

Thanks for the replies.  I plan to get RR Track with the Lionel and Flyer libraries.

I have one more question:

Will RR TRACK allow me to put O and S gauge on the same layout?  Some of the track planning software I tried would only let me put one size of track.  I plan to use both sizes on my layout and also use my Postwar Flyer, Lionel, and Marx accessories.

[Crabby44]

I don't think that you can have different gauges in the same layout. When you start a new project you have to choose the gauge that you want. Once you choose that gauge, it will give you all of the choices for track. For instance, if you choose O gauge, it will give you Lionel, Atlas, MTH, Gargraves.

[gunrunnerjohn]

AnyTrack will allow you to use anything in the libraries.  Here's Fastrack, HO, and N.

 

[Mononflyer]

I sent a message to the RR Track guys and they said that you can mix scales on the layout.  I tried Anyrail and liked it, but I also need the accessory libraries that RR Track has.  I'll probably go with RR Track, but I can say that if someone didn't need the accessory libraries, then AnyRail would be the one I'd use.