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1. Express For Mac
2. Best Model Railroad Software For Mac
3. Model Railroad Programs For Mac Osx
4. Railmodeller Express
5. Model Railroad Software For Mac

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Design your model railroad layout with Empire Express

Stecotec Model Railroad Collector Pro - The Software for Model Railroaders Digitalise your entire model train collection with this sophisticated software. Keep an eye on costs and sales revenue, and create analyses, overviews as well as statistics. RailModeller Pro is a planning tool for designing model railroad and slot car layouts. More than 250 libraries for model railroad track systems included featuring more than 6000 track elements and accessories, TruScale libraries (signals, accessories) adapting automatically to all model scales; A clean and intuitive user interface. RailModeller - Model railroad track planning software compatible with Mac OS includes all scales from Z to G Railway Engineering - Produces turnouts and track products for HO, HOn3, S, Sn3, HOn30, O, On3 & On2 gauge Rally for Windows - 3D model railroad layout design and track planning software for Windows.

Empire Express harnesses the ease of use and power of the Mac so you can quickly, easily, and accurately design your model railroad empire.

Designing a layout is as simple as dragging track from the catalog palette to the plan window. Track pieces are automatically aligned to create accurate, kink-free track connections. Flex track can be easily bent to create smooth curves which meet your minimum radius standard.

Included in the Empire Express catalog are some of the most popular brands of track (see our catalog description for a complete list). The tool palette includes line, rectangle, circle, polygon, and text tools which you can use to draw the layout room, structures, and scenery.

Express For Mac

Easy to learn and easy to use

Empire Express uses the Mac conventions you are familiar with making it easy to learn. Empire Express has a simple and efficient set of tools and commands that makes it easy to design your layout.

Multiple undo and redo

If you change your mind or make a mistake, you can undo the changes you've made to your plan. You can undo your actions one at a time all the way back to the last time you opened the document. If you decide you don’t want to Undo your action after all, you can use Redo. You can choose Revert to quickly restore your plan to the last saved version.

Catalog palette for quick selection of track

You do not have to navigate through complicated dialogs to place track in your plan. Simply drag the desired type of track from the catalog palette to your plan.

Convenient measurement window

The Measure window is a compact window that shows the mouse position, the ruler tool measurements, and the car capacity of the currently selected track. The car capacity feature allows you to quickly calculate how many cars will fit in a siding or yard. Just select the tracks and read the car capacity.

Powerful Inspector window

You can use the Inspector window to examine and change information for the selected objects in a plan. And you can set information for more than one object at a time. For example, you could select multiple objects and set the color for all of them at once.

Smooth flex track

With Empire Express you’ll get smooth, constant-radius curves that meet your minimum radius setting. When you connect flex track between two other pieces of track, Empire Express creates a variable-radius curve to make a smooth transition between the two pieces.

Additional features

- Rotate, flip, group, and lock objects.

- Set the color and pattern for drawing and filling objects.

- Choose style, color, and alignment of text and more. Even spell-check.

- Parts list show shows all of the track in your plan.

- Zoom in and out to different plan scales.

- And more…

Designed for the Macintosh

Empire Express was designed specifically for the Mac — it is not a converted Windows program — and supports the standard Mac features such as copy and paste and drag and drop. It has the Mac look and feel that you prefer.

Runs on a wide range of Macintosh models

Even if you don’t have the latest Mac or a lot of memory or hard disk space, you can probably still run Empire Express. Version 2.3 will run on any Mac with Mac OS 10.9 or later.

Try the free demo now

If you’d like to try Empire Express before buying it and discover for yourself how easy it is to learn and use, download Empire Express Basic from the App Store. To buy the full-featured edition please see the App Store page for Empire Express Deluxe.

What is Train Brain?

This is a circuit board made by CTI Electronics that brings a whole new meaning to the words “layout control”!

Model railroad computer control used to be very complicated. I remember reading articles about it many years ago and thinking, “You need to be a computer programmer to do this!” Fortunately, things have changed thanks to companies like CTI. The wiring and interfacing with your computer couldn’t be easier. Following the instructions to set up the software is not difficult though it will take some time to do it right.

My good friend Bob Fahrney (a retired WWII Navy fighter pilot with a fascinating history), who lives close by, recently introduced me to model railroad computer control, which he has already accomplished very nicely on his HO layout. He showed me his computerized railroad and signal system both of which operate flawlessly. His system is integrated with Digitrax DCC control, but the Train Brain also works well with analog control.

Basically the Train Brain connects directly to your computer either through a com port or through the parallel port (where you usually attach a printer) using a cable interface connector. If you don’t have a free com or parallel port to use but you do have a free USB port, you can buy the USB adapter specially designed to be used with the CTI system.

You don’t have to modify your trains at all - no special decoders. And you don’t have to change or modify your computer hardware either – no computer cards to install.

You will have to install some software on your computer, however, and it works with Windows 98 or higher, but not with Macs yet, unless you have an Intel-based Mac that can use either Boot Camp or Parallels to load Windows (purchased separately).

The starter kit, which I would recommend if you’re just beginning your adventure into model railroad computer control, comes with a Train Brain module, the CTI software, interface cables, power supply and 2 sensors.

Various CTI Modules

The original Train Brain module that comes with the starter kit allows you to control your trains from the computer. That will get you started with the control and sensing features of the system. It can control 4 different AC or DC devices and can monitor 4 sensors, including IR, photocell, magnetic and current-detection sensors. Once you’ve got that running well, you can add more Train Brain modules to control more devices and/or you may want to invest in additional modules that complement the Train Brain…

Best Model Railroad Software For Mac

• Dash-8 – This module can control 8 AC or DC devices. It can be added to the original for additional device control. Controls high current applications (10 Amps).

• Switchman, a general-purpose module, can control 16 devices. It can manage up to 28 volts DC at 2 amps (4 amps pulsed). Good for dual coil switch machines, lighting, solenoids, small motors, relays, etc.

• Smart Cab gives you the option of controlling your trains either manually or automatically, such that your trains can now change speed, start and stop smoothly – all controlled by your computer.

• Signalman module is used to set up computerized signal operation and allows you to automatically operate all your signals, grade crossings, traffic lights, beacons, etc.

• Yardmaster is the module that can control turnout switch machines, including Tortoise and solenoid switches, all from your computer screen. You can control these with your mouse on a regular computer screen, but a touch screen computer would come in handy here.

• Watchman can monitor 8 different sensors, including IR, photo sensors, magnetic sensors and current detection.

• Sentry can monitor 16 sensors.

The following is a picture of Bob's control panel showing, from left to right - the Digitrax DCS100, DB150, 2 Yardmaster modules side by side, the Train Brain and the computer interface panel. On the bottom are 3 sensing modules. The wiring between each module and back to the computer is all color coordinated and very easy following the instructions in the manual.

Model Railroad Programs For Mac Osx

Incidentally, other signal systems do work well with the CTI System. Bob preferred to use the Atlas signal system on his layout and had no problems with it.

Another good point is that you can still use your walkaround Digitrax throttle whenever you wish to walk away from the computer screen and follow your trains.
The instructions that come with the starter set are very complete. It may be helpful to print them out and create a notebook to refer to as you are setting up the software. As mentioned, the wiring itself is very easy, but setting up the software and configuring a map of your layout on the computer screen will take some time. The effort is definitely worth it, however. You will be awestruck at how much control and automation of your layout that this system gives you.

Reference - The CTI Electronics website.
(BTW – If you wish to ask a question of someone at CTI, send an email. If you decide to place an order, do it online. Online service is excellent, and delivery is quick; but phone service is slow.)

Railmodeller Express

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Model Railroad Software For Mac

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