Newbie Questions - simulator/layout software

[leegodwine]

Hi All,

I am new to this forum.  I just purchase my first set of N Scale yamanote traine and a set of Dr Yellow earlier last month when I was in Japan.  While I am still waiting for it to be shipped here (I am in Canada), I started doing some layout planning and was wondering if there is any software that I can use to help design a layout?

Thanks!

[David]

There is a topic with this question here
http://www.jnsforum.com/index.php/topic,1011.0.html

It will probably depend on what track you intend to use and if you want free or not. For sectional track I like AnyRail (includes Atlas, Kato and now Tomix libraries), which provides a demo version limited to 50 pieces of track per plan. XTrkCad seems to be a popular choice though there is a larger learning curve - AnyRail makes it a lot easier to just dump a bunch of sectional pieces on the screen and play around with configurations.

[Shashinka]

I second XTrkCAD. It's free, easy to use and is set up to already use KATO track.

[leegodwine]

Thanks guys, I will try this tonight.

My Dr Yellow arrived the otherday, still waiting for my tracks and the Yamanote train :(

[Lawrence]

As you are N American based and may be looking to use the track available there, Atlas also do a free layout design package  Do a search for RTS 8

I do prefer xtracd too, it's just whatever you find easier to work with