Planning for my next railroad

[jguess733]

I have a multiple question post. I'm preparing to move in the fall, but before I do move, I'm going to be going to sea for several months. I was wondering if anyone knows of an inexpensive cad program I can purchase to work on planning my next railroad. I've tried the Atlas program and I wasn't very impressed with it. And Cadrail didn't seem to like my laptop too much.

Also on my new railroad I'm thinking of using DCC. Does anyone know anything about the Bachman E-Z Command system? How hard/expensive would it be for me to take apart my Roundhouse steam loco's and install DCC cards? I appreciate all the help.

[selector]

First, good for you for planning ahead and making the most of this wonderful opportunity to start anew.

Can't help with CAD, sorry, but I have some knowledge of the EZ-Command.

Rather a 'lightweight', but so is the price. It works very well for the newer decoders and engines, but doesn't have enough programming power output on the main line to convince the older Broadway locos to change their factory pre-sets. Also, it does not have the capablity to execute all of the functions that many decoders offer (and that you pay for). I understand that it will have some needed accessories in the near future. Finally, you can shop around and get bargains of boxed sets of the Command and a DCC locomotive, all in one.

If you'd care to, keep us posted of your progress asea (knowing that you might be constrained by law and security) and your successes with the design and software you eventually acquire.

Good luck!

[SpaceMouse]

XtraCAD is a full function program that has gone Open Source Code. What that means it that it is free. It has a steep learing curve, but it provides some really good turtorials to help. If you know CAD already, should not be a problem.

http://www.sillub.com/

[jguess733]

Thanks for the help. I'm really excited about the move. I had to break down and sell my motorcycle (actually I was going to anyway because it rains too much here in the seattle area, but don't tell my wife that) in order to secure right of way in the new basement. But she told me I could use as much of the basement as I wanted so long as I sold the bike, and I didn't come out of the basement during her tealight parties and keno nights. So now I've got 25x25 feet of grade A prime railroad realestate.

[chateauricher]

jguess733,

With keno and tealight 2x/week, now you just have to find something for her to do the 5 other nights, and you'll be all set !!! [;)][;)]

[Anonymous]

XTrakCad is a good program as Chip (SpaseMouse) has mantioned..... I would suggest this program... it takes a little while to get to learn it but in the end it is a pretty good rpogram.

[jguess733]

Well my weekends are really open. Saturdays my wife and her friends like to take the ferry accross the water to Seattle and go shopping and goof around leaving me with the baby. Fortunitly for me the kid loves to sleep so with the blessing of a baby monitor I can work in the basement and leave the kid in her room. And Sundays Jessica takes the baby to her mom's house so her, her sisters, and her mom can cross stitch, oogle over each others kids, and complain about their husbands, and my father-in-law comes over here, and helps me work on railroad kits. I'm excited about the move, and I can't wait for the baby to get older so she can "play with" daddy's trains.

[Anonymous]

I would also recommend XTrakCAD. I am using it to design my new layout. You can see an example at my Webshots site.

[Adelie]

I'm a CadRail user, myself. But regardless of how you go, it sure makes designing, redesigning and tweaking a breeze.

Just don't get so hung up on it that you never start building!