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Track

> Creating a new track

> To create a new track, just drag & drop track items on the Layout window from the Track window.

> Track window

> You can select several cells by holding the Shift key down and dragging over the cells to be selected. You can also select the first cell and then select the last cell while holding the Shift key down. If you drop an item into the selected area from either the Track or the Structure window, the selected cells will be filled with this item.

> Moving track items

> Track pieces (or structure items) can be dragged to another cell in the layout.

> Duplicating track items

> There are two ways to duplicate a track cell. One is to select the cell by clicking on it, copying it (Command + C), and selecting another cell and pasting (Command + V). You can also copy the contents of one cell to another cell by dragging it while holding the Option key. If the target cell already contains an item, the dragged cell's content is added, if it makes sense.

> Flipping & Rotating track or structure items

> Any item can be rotated 90 degrees (Command + R) or flipped horizontally (Command + H) or vertically (menu item). You can also hold the Control key down and click in the cell. A contextual menu will appear. (This can by done without holding the control key, but will take a few seconds longer.)

> Elevated tracks

> Everything above ground level must be designed in the "Elevated Track" layer. For each cell, chose the height in its contextual menu (Control-click or click and hold for a few seconds). Also choose if the track should be part of a bridge or not. The track in the "Elevated Track" layer will automatically join to a track item on "Ground Track" if it is possible.

> Tracks with structures

> There are several kinds of railroad tracks with structure items attached to them. There are crossings (two tracks crossing each other, with a signal), switches (turnouts), bridges etc.

> Creating patterns of track pieces

> There are 6 basic patterns of track in the Track window.
> (Note) R20-90 means the radius is 20 pixels and angle is 90 deg.

> > (1) straight track
> > (2) curved track R20-90
> > (3) curved track R60-42.7
> > (4) curved track R60-6.73
> > (5) curved track R50-50
> > (6) diagonal straight track

> You can create an original pattern of tracks by merging some basic patterns of tracks. You can merge some basic tracks by dragging a track item while holding the option key down (See: Duplicating track items). A track merged with another one results in a junction. A switch will be created automatically, and if there a crossing is created, then a signal will be created automatically too.

> > Examples of merging tracks.

> > Examples of useful patterns.

> A diagonal straight track can be connected with itself, R60-42.7 and R50-50.

> > Connecting patterns of diagonal straight track.

> Other types of a track

> There are other types of tracks besides tracks for a train. There are tracks for a monorail and roads for an automobile. You can create an original pattern of them by merging as tracks for a railroad are created. An automobile decides its line at a road junction by itself, so a switche won't be created on a road.

> > (1) Tracks for a train.
> > (2) Tracks for a monorail which is suspended.
> > (3) Tracks for a monorail which straddles.
> > (4) Road for an automobile