Free Track Planning Software for Mac's

TruckLover

Mack CH613 & 53' Trailer
Hi guys, came across this when looking for more programs. I played with it and read a bit about it and it seems like a cool program. If your running Mac OS, this software supports it....

its called RailModeller

and here is the download for it

http://www.railmodeller.com/Downloads.html

browse the site and read the stuff it can do, its pretty cool and good for a free program i think :mrgreen:
 

Squidbait

Recovering ALCO-holic
Judging from the example layouts, it looks pretty good. At first I thought it was going to be much like RTS, with a library of fixed track pieces, but looking at the layouts, it looks like you can free-form with flex track as well.

Not sure the 3D is all that and a bag of chips, but their 3D example was a flat layout, so... :confused:
 

nolatron

Member
I've used Rail Modeller in the past, but have since switched to Empire Express. I like the better control you have on the flex track models. I found the latest RM releases to be a little more clunkier too than the first version. They changed the layout some,

RM is nice because it uses a full size piece of track as the model, where EE uses just a thin centerline also, but this does provide a nicer "magazine" looking plan.

My plans here were made with Empire Express:

http://gallery.upmodelrailroad.com/trackplans/
 

nolatron

Member
Not sure the 3D is all that and a bag of chips, but their 3D example was a flat layout, so... :confused:

The 3D view isn't really "3D" for the track work and scenery itself (like some PC software can do). It simply shows a 3D view of the 'benchwork' really. Here's a 3D view of a R/C track design I made using the slot car track models in RailModeller:



I can open up one of my old RM track plans and screenshot the 3D view tonight to show what it looks like. But yeah, it's pretty useless for actual planning purposes.
 

TruckLover

Mack CH613 & 53' Trailer
Judging from the example layouts, it looks pretty good. At first I thought it was going to be much like RTS, with a library of fixed track pieces, but looking at the layouts, it looks like you can free-form with flex track as well.

Not sure the 3D is all that and a bag of chips, but their 3D example was a flat layout, so... :confused:

Yeah im not sure on the 3D part, but the rest of the program looks pretty cool and fairly easy to use :mrgreen:
 

TruckLover

Mack CH613 & 53' Trailer
I've used Rail Modeller in the past, but have since switched to Empire Express. I like the better control you have on the flex track models. I found the latest RM releases to be a little more clunkier too than the first version. They changed the layout some,

RM is nice because it uses a full size piece of track as the model, where EE uses just a thin centerline also, but this does provide a nicer "magazine" looking plan.

My plans here were made with Empire Express:

http://gallery.upmodelrailroad.com/trackplans/

Thanks Shaun, ill have to check out EE as well

One thing i noticed this morning when i closed RM to install some updates on my computer is that when i closed the program, it said "thankyou for downloading RM, this version is the same as the non-trial version, only the save and printing options have been disabled for the download, to get the full version, visit..... to purchase...." or something along those lines.....

Could you save and print in your download of RM Shaun?
 

nolatron

Member
Thanks Shaun, ill have to check out EE as well

One thing i noticed this morning when i closed RM to install some updates on my computer is that when i closed the program, it said "thankyou for downloading RM, this version is the same as the non-trial version, only the save and printing options have been disabled for the download, to get the full version, visit..... to purchase...." or something along those lines.....

Could you save and print in your download of RM Shaun?

Yes. I purchased a license for both applications to make all options available (like saving).
 
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