Simple track layout tool

[cluening]

I've been a looooong time lurker here on Eurobricks, but I finally have something to post.  I don't have a permanent Lego train layout; instead, I pull track out when I'm inspired, leave a layout up for a few days, and then put it all away and put the trains back on display until next time.  I've been using Matthew Bates' Track Designer since the mid 2000s to design my layouts, but it hasn't been updated since the late 1990s and is slowly getting harder to run on modern computers.  There are obviously newer and more feature-packed tools available today, but I've always loved the simple aesthetic of Track Designer and its graphics, and I really don't need anything more complex than a simple layout tool.  Plus, all of the modern tools that I've tried are a pain to use on my Mac and Linux systems.

I've had some free time lately and I know enough Javascript to be dangerous, so I decided it was time to create something that replicates the base functionality of Track Designer and runs in a web browser.  I present the result of that work: Tracks!  It's super-simple, both in code and functionality, but it fits my needs for something I can quickly pull up and try out some ideas with.  I wouldn't recommend designing your next LUG layout with it, but I figured others might get the same simple enjoyment of of it that I have.

The whole thing is client-side javascript, and the source is available on Github: https://github.com/cluening/tracks.  This project has been heavily inspired by Matthew Bates' original Track Designer and makes use of his Train Depot Track Kit bitmaps, which are used in accordance with their terms and conditions.  Thanks for that work, Matthew!

[M_slug357]

Cool Project!

but...

Somehow you missed BlueBrick...?

https://bluebrick.lswproject.com/

[cluening]

I did get BlueBrick running on an Intel Mac once using some combination of .Net frameworks, but it really wasn't pleasant to do and didn't run very well.  I've never tried on my current system that has an Arm processor because that just seemed like an exercise in frustration.

But, as I noted, this was more about building something simple and cross-platform that I could pull out at a moment's notice and play with than trying to replace something like BlueBrick. If you want to do something complex, I'm sure BlueBrick is still the way to go.

[cptkent]

I would be a Bluebrick user except... well... Mac

So I've found another solution (AutoCAD) that serves me well. As I have access to it, and have been using it for years, it's my go-to for track planning.

But I love that you've started on something. A more modern solution / replacement for Bluebrick is long overdue, and I wish you luck if you continue to develop it, and I'll be following along.

David

[Dav1d]

I'm still using Track Designer - it does everything I need. It would be nice to have plastic as well as 9V track. Matt Bates did a great job and over 20 years later it is still being used.

I gave you tool a try, it looks, as you say, like a very simple version of Track Designer.

If you were to add more functionality (couldn't deleted a track element) it could be very useful.

Well done, I hope you continue with the development.

David 

[cluening]

5 hours ago, Dav1d said:

I'm still using Track Designer - it does everything I need. It would be nice to have plastic as well as 9V track. Matt Bates did a great job and over 20 years later it is still being used.

I gave you tool a try, it looks, as you say, like a very simple version of Track Designer.

If you were to add more functionality (couldn't deleted a track element) it could be very useful.

Well done, I hope you continue with the development.

David 

Ha!  I've always used the Track Designer keyboard shortcuts, so I just used backspace/delete to delete elements.  I suppose I should add an actual button to the toolbar too.

I'm not planning to replicate all of the Track Designer functionality -- for example, I don't really care about elevation changes in something simple like this -- but expanding the part library is something that I plan on doing over time. 

[supertruper1988]

11 hours ago, cptkent said:

I would be a Bluebrick user except... well... Mac

So I've found another solution (AutoCAD) that serves me well. As I have access to it, and have been using it for years, it's my go-to for track planning.

But I love that you've started on something. A more modern solution / replacement for Bluebrick is long overdue, and I wish you luck if you continue to develop it, and I'll be following along.

David

*Air Five* I do all my track planning in AutoCAD too. I also have a couple windows computers so if I need something pretty to share I will make a bluebrick but for my personal planning, AutoCAD all the way. 

I do like this simple tool but expanded library or even direct compatibility with bluebrick parts would be amazing. 

[Dav1d]

18 hours ago, cluening said:

Ha!  I've always used the Track Designer keyboard shortcuts, so I just used backspace/delete to delete elements.  I suppose I should add an actual button to the toolbar too.

I'm not planning to replicate all of the Track Designer functionality -- for example, I don't really care about elevation changes in something simple like this -- but expanding the part library is something that I plan on doing over time. 

I now see how Backspace works - when you are adding track - pressing Backspace doesn't work, you have to click on the track join, then press Backspace. Also I couldn't get Delete to work. It would be good if you could select a track element then press Delete.

I agree that elevation changers are not necessary or polarity checks, but other parts are important and maybe an easy way to design your own parts.    

[cluening]

14 hours ago, Dav1d said:

I now see how Backspace works - when you are adding track - pressing Backspace doesn't work, you have to click on the track join, then press Backspace. Also I couldn't get Delete to work. It would be good if you could select a track element then press Delete.

I agree that elevation changers are not necessary or polarity checks, but other parts are important and maybe an easy way to design your own parts.    

Good news!  I just added a button to delete parts to the toolbar, and I fixed the keyboard input not working until you click on the layout.  Those should both work a lot better now.  Thanks for the feedback!

I had started to add some logic for selecting pieces early on with the intention of being able to drag them around, but I haven't finished that yet and it's currently disabled.  Once it's in there for real, I'll also make it so that you can delete a piece that way.

[Space78]

On 4/15/2025 at 11:16 AM, cluening said:

I've been a looooong time lurker here on Eurobricks, but I finally have something to post.  I don't have a permanent Lego train layout; instead, I pull track out when I'm inspired, leave a layout up for a few days, and then put it all away and put the trains back on display until next time.  I've been using Matthew Bates' Track Designer since the mid 2000s to design my layouts, but it hasn't been updated since the late 1990s and is slowly getting harder to run on modern computers.  There are obviously newer and more feature-packed tools available today, but I've always loved the simple aesthetic of Track Designer and its graphics, and I really don't need anything more complex than a simple layout tool.  Plus, all of the modern tools that I've tried are a pain to use on my Mac and Linux systems.

I've had some free time lately and I know enough Javascript to be dangerous, so I decided it was time to create something that replicates the base functionality of Track Designer and runs in a web browser.  I present the result of that work: Tracks!  It's super-simple, both in code and functionality, but it fits my needs for something I can quickly pull up and try out some ideas with.  I wouldn't recommend designing your next LUG layout with it, but I figured others might get the same simple enjoyment of of it that I have.

The whole thing is client-side javascript, and the source is available on Github: https://github.com/cluening/tracks.  This project has been heavily inspired by Matthew Bates' original Track Designer and makes use of his Train Depot Track Kit bitmaps, which are used in accordance with their terms and conditions.  Thanks for that work, Matthew!

Very nice and helpful, thanks for doing the work and sharing the link!  As a fellow Mac user, this is a great option for basic layout design.  I guess the "next level" would be some facility to put dimensions on the layout so one could set the size/dimensions the layout needs to stay within (like just drawing a box for table size), and then you can "play" with layout ideas within that.