Any tools to aid in making a Track Map (plan, diagram, schematic, whateveritscalled)?

[frogpipe]

Once upon a time, we had "Trainzmap" or something similar in name, that could extract the routing of tracks in a route and present you with a map outside of the game. We no longer have this, and as I recall it looked like the map view we have in game now so it's not actually what I want anyway.

What I want, and can't seem to figure out the correct term for, is something like this:

What IS the proper name for such a graphical representation? Map, Diagram, Schematic all seem to get me model RR plans on Google.

Anyway, Before I break out a drawing program and start rolling my own, I wanted to check if there was some obscure CAD like program out there that would aid in drafting such, er, dia-sche-maps?

 

[frogpipe]

My old brain finally found the folder

Its called a "subway map" these days.

 

[pware]

I started with very basic "track plans" from a series of magazine articles and used GIMP to create the various PNG files showing track names, signals, switches, active industries and track marks. Each of those features I placed in separate layers so they could be shown or hidden as required.

 

[frogpipe]

I figure that is what I'm going to have to do. Tho I may try using openoffice draw rather than a "free hand" drawing program. I just wondered if there was a bespoke program in some corner of the model railroad world I didn't know about.

 

[Tracksupervisor]

frogpipe

railway.exe by Albert Ball
http://www.railwayoperationsimulator.com/
Could try there, if it interests you.
I use for schematic creation

tracksupervisor

 

[frogpipe]

I'll have a look. Thanks.

 

[hert]

The term your looking for is a dispatcher board.

 

[frogpipe]

Wouldn't that be the thing in the photo? Not the map it's self?

 

[frogpipe]

Here's what I came up with. Good suggestion, thank you! (Modified 'Richmond Yard' in the JR route Coal Country for anyone wondering)

 

[HiBaller]

Railway Operation Simulator is a wonderful piece of software, isn't it? I've been using it for quite some time now. Before it became part of ROS itself, I wrote a utility to merge two routes into one.

You can make the schematic any size you want.

Bill

 

[hert]

Wouldn't that be the thing in the photo? Not the map it's self?

Thought you were asking what was in the photo. The "map" part on the board is just called a Track Schematic. But it looks like you got it, the map you created looks really cool.

 

[frogpipe]

Thanks.

Dispatcher board lead me thru Google to some really amazing model railroad builds tho. Long way from the little button boxes of my youth.