Computer Aided Drawing

    The first step with CAD is the track plan. This is where the concept of the railroad comes together by drawing the yards, mainlines, sidings, placing structure outlines, and the like, in the chosen outline. After we are done placing everything we will operate some virtual trains around the layout to make sure the track plan is conceptually acceptable. When we are satisfied we will send, via e-mail or hard copy, pictures of the track plan to you for your approval. When satisfied we will add the terrain.

If we are constructing your layout, the CAD drawings are a part of construction. If you are constructing your layout we can help you with the wiring as well as design the benchwork to your wood working abilities.

How it works for those constructing their own layout. Your accepted design, designed by us or one that you provide, is placed into a CAD data file and emailed to you. By placing this data file into a demo version of 3^rd PlanIt, downloaded off the Internet, you will be able to pull up circle centers of track curves, measure distance of any 2 points on the drawing,view inventory of track and turnouts used, radius of curves, etc.