laying track straight issues, w/screenshot

[jfriedrich]

hi all,

i am slowly getting the hang of working in trainz. and loving it more and more. i have one issue though as of late. I can for the life of my lay track straight whether it be over a short distance or long. More so the problem seems to be with longer distances. Attached is a screen shot of the humble beginnings of my route, the yard. Any tips to lay the track straight would be greatly appreciated.

Regards
Jordan

 

[Blackout16]

in the track tab there is a button on the bottom of the tab that has a red curved line and a strainght line clicking on that will automatically straighten out your track

 

[Dermmy]

Blackout has the gist of it, but there is a bit more to it:

Always use the 'straighten' tool on the last segment of track leading into a curve.

Always use the 'straighten' tool on the section of track before the diverging vertex in a junction.

When laying long straight sections of track drag out one long segment, straighten it, then start inserting vertexes where required always making sure the two end bits stay straightened.

Be aware you can't 'straighten' two adjacent track segments, so a long straight needs to be either one continuous length or vertexes inserted to make it three or more track segments. You can't have a straight section two segments long.

 

[cascaderailroad]

http://i525.photobucket.com/albums/cc339/cascaderailroad/SignsInTheGauge.jpg
http://i525.photobucket.com/albums/cc339/cascaderailroad/Screen_003-14.jpg
http://i525.photobucket.com/albums/cc339/cascaderailroad/AltoInterlocking1.jpg
http://i525.photobucket.com/albums/cc339/cascaderailroad/AltoInterlocking.jpg
http://i525.photobucket.com/albums/cc339/cascaderailroad/Screen_116.jpg

MB Finescale Quad makes for a great track spacing tool, and straight edge:
http://i525.photobucket.com/albums/cc339/cascaderailroad/Screen_001-19.jpg

You can use a straightened section of track as a straight edge:
http://i525.photobucket.com/albums/cc339/cascaderailroad/Screen_001-43.jpg

You can also use FT Tracks as a stright edge, and FT Track as a curve guide:
http://i525.photobucket.com/albums/cc339/cascaderailroad/Screen_004-23.jpg

http://i525.photobucket.com/albums/cc339/cascaderailroad/Screen_005-16.jpg

The ruler makes a good straight edge:
http://i525.photobucket.com/albums/cc339/cascaderailroad/Screen_006-11.jpg
http://i525.photobucket.com/albums/cc339/cascaderailroad/Screen_007-12.jpg
http://i525.photobucket.com/albums/cc339/cascaderailroad/Screen_008-7.jpg

An example of slightly overlapping "Figure 8" track double splines, (which teeny segments in between, are straightened), and placed right before the switch:
http://i525.photobucket.com/albums/cc339/cascaderailroad/Screen_003-15.jpg

 

[jfriedrich]

Thanks guys for the tips. Once I get some more time to work on my route I will use these tips and hopefully I can report back with a screenshot showing some straighter track.

regards,
jordan