RailModeller Express is the free edition of our app portfolio for planning model railroad and slot car layouts on macOS.The app is available exclusively on the Mac App Store.
The Express Edition offers many of the features of RailModeller Pro with some limits regarding the size of layouts you can design. This enables you to try out our model train track planning app for macOS right away for free.
Model Railroad Track Planning Software Mac
XtrkCad is open source, and is free. It is a very good track planning program with extensive, maintained libraries for nearly every scale, gauge and track manufacturer. The learning curve is not trivial (as is true for most of the better packages).
Start planning right away using the numerous supplied libraries featuring more than 6500 elements including the track systems for many popular model railroad brands and model scales, from T (1:450) and Z (1:220) up to IIm/G (1:22,5).
RailModeller Pro allows you to create complex model railroad layouts in three dimensions. Create grades up to a specified target point or simply by setting the start and end height for a specific track section, shift track sections up or down and use the layer defaults feature for automatically assigning default track heights to new tracks in a layer.
Which type of model railroad software you choose may depend on how much you like to spend time on your computer and what your ultimate goals are. There is a certain fascination in developing your plans on the computer and being very organized in your track planning even to the point of knowing exactly what materials you will need and how much they will cost. Many of these model railroad software programs will allow you to run virtual trains on your computerized layout so you can get an idea of how your railroad will operate when you actually build it.
Some of the model railroad software is relatively simple and fairly easy to use after a few hours. Other programs are very powerful, but complicated, with high learning curves; but once you master them, you could have a fantastic virtual railroad on your computer that has very detailed graphics and may be a lot of fun to build and operate without ever having to lay your hands on a section of model track.if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined')ez_ad_units.push([[336,280],'building_your_model_railroad_com-banner-1','ezslot_2',119,'0','0']);__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-building_your_model_railroad_com-banner-1-0');
One of the easier model railroad software programs to master is the Track Planning Software available for download to your Windows PC (No Mac version) from the atlasrr.com website and works fairly well for simple layout designs.
Railmodeller ( ) is an excellent program for the Mac that I found relatively easy to use within just a few hours. The track plans drawn on the track planning page of this web site were all created using this software.
Other notable model train software programs include 3rD Plan-It by Eldorado ( ), and 3D Railroad: Concept and Design by Abracadata (currently unavailable). Another one worth mentioning is called Train Player ( ) within which you can obtain over 100 predesigned track plans that you could use or modify for your own railroad.
Wintrack is another great program for PCs developed in Europe. One of the best things about this software is the remarkable 3D image that you can generate after you have completed your track-plan.
For those who wish to build their own tracks and turnouts, Templot is the way to go. This computer program can generate infinite types of templates to use for constructing tracks, turnouts, crossovers, slips or just sections of track to fit in between others, etc. in any gauge, for any period or prototype, for any radius. You can link them together on screen to create your entire layout track-plan; and use them on your workbench to create the tracks you need to complete your layout. This one is for PC users - No Mac version available.if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined')ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'building_your_model_railroad_com-large-leaderboard-2','ezslot_9',120,'0','0']);__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-building_your_model_railroad_com-large-leaderboard-2-0');
Tough question. Some of the programs have steep learning curves, so you end up spending all your railroad-building time on learning the software. Some are free which is good for simple layouts. The more expensive ones do a better job with elevations, 3D views and more choices from their libraries of tracks and structures. Your choice may depend on what operating system you have in your computer - Windows, Mac, Linux, etc. Overall, you have to decide on which features are most important to you. Here is a link to Model Railroader's forum with several opinions on the subject...
TrainTraxx.com - The Operations simulation software that can be used in conjunction with the Traxx ID hardware to create a complete inventory system so that you always know where your railcars are on the layout due to tags placed on the bottom of each car and detector devices placed under tracks in the classification yards. It can also integrate with JMRI so you know where your trains are and you can operate them with the software. Watch the videos on the their website so you can see how it works.if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined')ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'building_your_model_railroad_com-leader-1','ezslot_18',121,'0','0']);__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-building_your_model_railroad_com-leader-1-0');
RailPro by Ring Engineering is one of the easier systems out there to help with model railroad operations. This uses color touchscreens and Direct Radio Technology and essentially replaces DCC systems. It is supposedly much easier to set up and manage than DCC, although it hasn't really caught on in popularity. Here is a video review...
CTI-Electronics (Train Brain) - the first fully integrated computerized model railroad control system. For PC only. See the other page on this site showing how this CTI Train Brain worked on Bob Fahrney's computerized layout.
Keep in mind that many of the above-mentioned programs that are for "PC only" can be installed and used on a Mac computer if you use Winebottler, Crossover, Bootcamp or Parallels to run Windows within the Mac. Similarly, they can often be run on Linux if you have Wine or Crossover installed. Check the specific requirements for each program before you buy it.if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined')ez_ad_units.push([[336,280],'building_your_model_railroad_com-leader-3','ezslot_24',123,'0','0']);__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-building_your_model_railroad_com-leader-3-0');
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. Most of these are produced by Evans Designs.
If you are looking for a prototypical railroad upon which to base your layout design, you may want to consider using a combination of two resources. The first is to locate the railroad network in which you are interested at openrailwaymap.org. There you can see the entire network of your railroad. After that you can choose particular points along that network and then find them on Google Earth, so you can zoom in on specific hubs, yards and surrounding buildings.if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined')ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'building_your_model_railroad_com-leader-4','ezslot_25',127,'0','0']);__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-building_your_model_railroad_com-leader-4-0');
For functionality and capability, I found it easily the most complete all-round package. The developer, Milen Peev, has done a wonderful job in creating great track planning application with all the features anyone creating a track plan and layout could want.
I've done all my planning with RailModeller. Found it easy to use. Have drawn plans in N scale with the PECO set, flex tracks as well as Kato. Also used it to plan benchwork and work out some signal and building placement.
The current version of SCARM software supports more than 230 track and object libraries.* var width = window.innerWidth document.documentElement.clientWidth; if (width > 600) show_ad('SMS_Main_Large', 300, 600);
Designing with AnyRail is like having the run of the ultimate model railway shop. We've included every train set component we can find, so you can draw on all the major manufacturers to create the perfect railroad layout. When it's time to build, you can trust AnyRail's plans and shopping lists to produce a layout that works the first time.
I believe that you are interested in the model trains hobby (just like me), which is great! May be you are new in the hobby or you are already experienced model railroader. Or you are just returning to the model trains after many years of oblivion and want to start over.
In any case, I suppose that you wish to enjoy the model railroading in all aspects. And that's why, I want to show you one really good piece of software that can help you in the track planning and design of your new (or next) layout.
SCARM (which actually means Simple Computer Aided Railway Modeller) is PC-based software for easy and precise drawing of track plans and creating of model railroad layout projects in all possible details. With SCARM you will be able to make your track plan and to convert it into the layout of your dreams. SCARM has built-in over 190 track libraries from all major manufacturers, so you can just download the setup package and start planning right now!
which is intended to unlock the full potential of the software for advanced track planning of your model train layout with unlimited number of tracks, objects and layers and with several additional special features. 2ff7e9595c
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