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There are several, and I suspect there may be other posts here that will give some opinions of some of the individual programs. 3rdPlanIt! and Abracadata's 3D track layout program have been around for a while and can give you a pretty good feel of what works and what doesn't. Trainz by Aurans, an Australian company, has recently come out with its own 3D layout program that has plenty of bells and whistles and can display a very rich and detailed scene. All of them let you run virtual trains so you can test operations before laying any actual track. These programs are advertised frequently in Model Railroader. But if you just finished your 12'x16' room, you don't want to let it sit empty for a long time while you master a computer program. Maybe someone else can tell you which is the quickest to learn, but I think I'd lean to 3rdPlanIt! or Abracadata's program. And don't let your virtual program be your last word. Virtual reality isn't reality. Put down masking tape on the floor for the outline of your benchwork to double check your human clearances (and keep in mind the girths of your potential operators). As you're laying track, don't neglect your sense of what feels right for you. A plan is a roadmap, not a hard and fast contract you must rigidly follow. But the computer programs will keep you honest in terms of minimum radii, clearances, turnout angles and alike. Good luck. Tom Chmielewski Editor, Trains.com
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