I am a "retread" to model railroading after a 30 year abs. I am looking for easy to use software to plan my next great adventure after such a long time. Suggestions?
http://atlasrr.com/RTS8/RTS.pdf
http://www.winrail.com/
Dave
Lackawanna Route of the Phoebe Snow
... just to show you, what can be done with RTS or WinRail (plus a little retouching in MSPaint...)
Takes a little exercise, though!
Personally, I prefer Anyrail, available for download from their website: http://www.anyrail.com/index_en.html, Best $60 you will ever spend. Sure, it's not as powerful as many of the CAD programs, but it has a lot of rail libraries and some drawing tools, and it has a remarkably shallow learning curve. You can download it and design a layout in an hour. Plus, you can export your designs to TrainPlayer, just to see how they work operationally.
Here's a layout I threw together in about 30 minutes for someone on this site who wanted some ideas.
Sure, there are prettier programs out there, but would you rather spend your time planning or building?
Connecticut Valley Railroad A Branch of the New York, New Haven, and Hartford
"If you think you can do a thing or think you can't do a thing, you're right." -- Henry Ford
I know there are quite a few Anyrail fan boys on this forum. For a different perspective -
I find that I don't use the software itself all that much in planning layouts. The first ideas are sketches with pencil - yes even on a napkin - or in my mind. The next step is the software, and I use RTS or XtrkCad, both of which are FREE downloads. RTS has a reduced learning curve but only uses Atlas track in its library. Often that is enough for my purposes, which is to conduct a trial fit of the sketched elements in the space I want to allow. The big drawback to the Atlas library/RTS is lack of curved turnouts.
If I need other track manufacturer libraries - particularly curved turnouts or any other scale/gauge besides HO and N, I fire up XtrkCad. With XtrkCad I have Atlas AND the other manufacturers track libraries available. And XtrkCad does a great job of laying out flex track, parallel tracks, and custom radii curves from scratch. But it takes a little longer to learn to use than RTS.
Once I have done a trial fit, the next step is analysis and review and modification. I do this on a printed copy or on screen. I'm checking things like train lengths, clearances, room for scenery, etc. Again, I find this part just as easy to do on paper as in the software. Once I have the modifications noted from my analysis and review, then I use the software to trial fit the revisions - if I think that step is needed.
The reality is that the software is really used just to ensure things fit in the allocated space, or to share the plan with others. So I have a hard time justifying the price of a locomotive or several cars or a craftsman structure kit when I can get functional software that meets my needs for free. The software won't do the creative work of coming up with the ideas in the 1st place, nor will it do a decent analysis or review. And it won't suggest any changes to make the plan better. Track planning software is simply a tool that is at times an improvement on graph paper and compass and pencil and ruler.
my thoughts, your choices
Fred W
+1 for Anyrail!
I also prefer AnyRail. You can mix different types of track together. RTS is pretty decent also but you are limited to Atlas track and it's free.
Jack
fwright I know there are quite a few Anyrail fan boys on this forum....
I know there are quite a few Anyrail fan boys on this forum....
Fred,
Speaking for myself -- and possibly several others, although I'll let them speak for themselves -- the term "fanboy" implies an avid fan of something who has an immature, childish tendency to over exaggerate and ignore counterpoints in any discussion. It's definately NOT a neutral term.
I think, if you read the posts, those of us advocating Anyrail are quite honest about the pros and cons of the software. The purpose is to make the OP aware of the options, and our personal preferences, not to sell software or belittle other options.
You and I define fanboy differently. To me, a fanboy is an enthusiastic supporter of a particular product or brand. Period. I use other derogatory terms for somebody who just says, "my XXXX is best, your model is the pits (or other more derogatory words)." And the implication is that you are stupid for not using XXXX, and you are stupid because you don't agree with me.
From your posts, I get the sense that you are an enthusiastic supporter of Anyrail. I'm fine with that. With all the positive posts Anyrail has gotten in the past year, I may have to try the demo to see if it is worth the extra $60 compared to the competition. One of the other pay-for packages used to get top billing in repsonses for this question, but Anyrail seems to have taken its place.
The biggest problem with any of the track planning software packages has been development and support over the years. Typically, after a few years the developer loses interest and moves on to other things. If the last version still works and has reasonable libraries, it will continue for a while.
RTS got a break by being picked up by Atlas, who has a vested interest in keeping the software current to sell their products. Similarly, the developer of XtrkCad agreed to give his code base to the Open Source Software movement to keep it going. Neither path is a guarantee, but it has proven to be longer-lasting than the normal cycle.
In any case, my apologies for appearing to condemn you and the other Anyrail advocates.
Edit: Re-reading the OP, he is looking for easy-to-use software. XtrkCad has a significant learning curve, and probably doesn't qualify. RTS and Anyrail (according to its advocates, I haven't used it) meet that criteria.
I do like Fred, except I prefer 1/4" graph paper (instead of napkin). Think I went through a 1/2 pack. Use the software to figure out the approximate pieces (sectional Atlas). tend to make some minor changes along the way as track is laid. One of the nice advantages of sectional track is that changes are easily done.
The steps are something like. Got a room, fit benchwork to room, fit track age to benchwork,
Bill D
model in O. the Western NY and Ontario Railroad
Fremont TomI am looking for easy to use software to plan my next great adventure after such a long time. Suggestions?
I am looking for easy to use software to plan my next great adventure after such a long time. Suggestions?
There are 3 basic qualities for model railroad design software: easy, flexible, and free. Choose 2 of the above that are most important to you.
RTS is easy and free, but not flexible.
XtrkCAD is free and flexible, but it is a tough piece of software to learn, even with previous CAD experience.
WinRail and AnyRail are easy to use and fairly flexible (not quite as much as XtrakCAD, but much more than RTS), but they aren't free.
CTValleyRR the term "fanboy" implies an avid fan of something who has an immature, childish tendency to over exaggerate and ignore counterpoints in any discussion. It's definitely NOT a neutral term.
the term "fanboy" implies an avid fan of something who has an immature, childish tendency to over exaggerate and ignore counterpoints in any discussion. It's definitely NOT a neutral term.
I completely agree with CTValleyRR. Fanboy is a very derogatory term, and should be used very sparingly. I would go so far as to so a fanboy is anyone who blindly and emphatically supports something and believes its the best of its kind, ever, and nothing could ever conceivably be better. This term is usually applied to tweens and teens whose opinions of whats new and cool are tossed about like leaves in the wind.
Fremont Tom I am a "retread" to model railroading after a 30 year abs. I am looking for easy to use software to plan my next great adventure after such a long time. Suggestions?
For someone who is designing one small-to-medium-sized layout for themselves, the time invested in learning any CAD program may not be worth it. Paper, pencil, and accurate templates are very often a better choice in this situation.
If one is going to spend money (and time) on a CAD program, one would be wise to also consider the fully-featured model railroad CAD programs such as 3rd PlanIt and CADRail. But neither of these is easy-to-use by anyone's standards. You'll find the monetary cost difference between these and lower-priced alternatives is relatively small. I happen to use 3rd PlanIt, but the difference between the two is mostly personal preference.
But again, in my experience many people waste an inordinate amount of time on CAD while working on a track plan for themselves when lower-tech methods would serve just as well.
Best of luck.
ByronModel RR Blog
Layout Design GalleryLayout Design Special Interest Group
The learning curves are too steep for me. And it was very frustrating trying to make 3rd PlanIt software (supposedly one of the better ones) behave like I wanted or perform as described. I know, it is just me. But here I am, not wanting to waste more time. I prefer spending money on strong paper and erasers.
Mark
cuyamaBut again, in my experience many people waste an inordinate amount of time on CAD while working on a track plan for themselves when lower-tech methods would serve just as well. Best of luck. ByronModel RR Blog Layout Design Gallery
ByronModel RR Blog Layout Design Gallery
Byron is quite right in his statement - the time you spend fighting with the software to do what you want it to do can be nerve-wrecking and distracting. No software will prepare a "better" track plan for you, as there is no logic other than to connect given elements together and shape flex-track - that´s all. You don´t need all these 3-D features that some of the programmes offer.
Make a sketch of your trackplan using paper, pencil and eraser and than use a" freebee" software to see, whether it all fits, IMHO the best way!
Sir Madog cuyamaBut again, in my experience many people waste an inordinate amount of time on CAD while working on a track plan for themselves when lower-tech methods would serve just as well. Best of luck. ByronModel RR Blog Layout Design Gallery Byron is quite right in his statement - the time you spend fighting with the software to do what you want it to do can be nerve-wrecking and distracting. No software will prepare a "better" track plan for you, as there is no logic other than to connect given elements together and shape flex-track - that´s all. You don´t need all these 3-D features that some of the programmes offer. Make a sketch of your trackplan using paper, pencil and eraser and than use a" freebee" software to see, whether it all fits, IMHO the best way!
Right, but this is exactly my point in regards to Anyrail. The learning curve is so shallow that you can be up and running in an hour. 5 seconds and 4 clicks of the mouse and I can make a perfect 22" radius curve with an easement, something that takes me a minute or so with a ruler and compass.
I can slap a layout together in Anyrail about as fast as I can draw one, and I have the added assurance that things fit where I think they will.
Not to say that there is anything wrong with a hand-sketched layout. I do it all the time. And I firmly believe that you should spend your time building, not fighting with software.