Track design software

[Mattyn1]

Hi All

Hopefully the right thread to create a response...MODS please move if not!

Would someone be so kind to advise on the best Track Layout App for a Mac? I am using a M4 Mac mini and cannot seem to get Mono/BlueBrick to work.

Very many thanks in advance

Matt

[zephyr1934]

On 5/26/2025 at 10:28 AM, Mattyn1 said:

Hi All

Hopefully the right thread to create a response...MODS please move if not!

Would someone be so kind to advise on the best Track Layout App for a Mac? I am using a M4 Mac mini and cannot seem to get Mono/BlueBrick to work.

Very many thanks in advance

Matt

Hum... this thread is on the new train sets in 2025, so it is not the right spot to ask about track layout software, but train tech is definitely the right forum. You could either start a new topic or post your question to the long running help thread:

Please re-ask your question in one of those two spots (but since I'm already wandering off topic, I'll give you my personal answer here- I don't know of any good track layout for the Mac, but bluebrick says it is compatible with Macs)

Meanwhile, welcome to train tech @Mattyn1

[Desvejk]

On 5/27/2025 at 12:28 AM, Mattyn1 said:

Hi All

Hopefully the right thread to create a response...MODS please move if not!

Would someone be so kind to advise on the best Track Layout App for a Mac? I am using a M4 Mac mini and cannot seem to get Mono/BlueBrick to work.

Very many thanks in advance

Matt

Hi Matt,

Excellent question. I've never found any application that worked to my satisfaction.

More importantly I could never get the results to be customisable to my room layout and tables.

So in the end I used the drawing tools in Apple Pages and Keynote.

My solution also will work for Windows users using standard applications.

I developed standard track layout elements - track, switches, trains, baseplates, lego pieces and IKEA tables that in my room

I standardised the scale and use the layout tools to position the elements, combiing as nesessary.

Keynote is best because you can create backgrounds for the layouts and use the slides to build each part of the design.

You do need to be familiar with the drawing tools but they are easy to learn.

The image below of my layout is quite accurate to the actual layout and I used baseplates in the background. I've included some elements that I combine, rotate, group and resize as necessary.

I found it helped when I included the trains and other buildings.

Cheers

Des

 

Edited May 27 by Desvejk

[JopieK]

Yup better put it in a separate discussion thread.

[Mattyn1]

Thanks MODs for sorting this into the right thread!

 

9 hours ago, zephyr1934 said:

I don't know of any good track layout for the Mac, but bluebrick says it is compatible with Macs)

Meanwhile, welcome to train tech @Mattyn1

Thanks Zephyr - I have a feeling my 2025 Mac is not compatible with the Mono/BlueBrick combo - going to try it on my slightly older MacBook - just a hunch!

And thanks for the welcome! Glad to be here.

9 hours ago, Desvejk said:

Hi Matt,

Excellent question. I've never found any application that worked to my satisfaction.

More importantly I could never get the results to be customisable to my room layout and tables.

So in the end I used the drawing tools in Apple Pages and Keynote.

My solution also will work for Windows users using standard applications.

I developed standard track layout elements - track, switches, trains, baseplates, lego pieces and IKEA tables that in my room

I standardised the scale and use the layout tools to position the elements, combiing as nesessary.

Keynote is best because you can create backgrounds for the layouts and use the slides to build each part of the design.

You do need to be familiar with the drawing tools but they are easy to learn.

The image below of my layout is quite accurate to the actual layout and I used baseplates in the background. I've included some elements that I combine, rotate, group and resize as necessary.

I found it helped when I included the trains and other buildings.

Cheers

Des

 

Thanks Desvejk... I did wonder about Keynote but got no further than that. I am reasonably proficient in that as I use it for some graphics for my YT videos of my road trip last year.

Will try some more practising at the weekend.

[idlemarvel]

I use Xtrkcad on my Windows PC but it also works natively on Macs, or so it says. It has a library of every model railway scale and track pieces you have ever heard of, including Lego.

https://sourceforge.net/p/xtrkcad-fork/wiki/Home/

[Berthil]

I did smaller layouts for GBC with standard tracks in Studio but haven't tried bigger layouts. The big plus is that it's possible to combine with all LEGO elements including bricks under the tracks for elevation and baseplates, or even with the MILS standard. Possibly there are part packs for Studio of 3rd party tracks.

Edited Wednesday at 08:06 AM by Berthil
typos

[Desvejk]

15 hours ago, idlemarvel said:

I use Xtrkcad on my Windows PC but it also works natively on Macs, or so it says. It has a library of every model railway scale and track pieces you have ever heard of, including Lego.

https://sourceforge.net/p/xtrkcad-fork/wiki/Home/

Hi idlemarvel,

Thanks for the suggestion. Unfortunately Xtrkcad will not run on the latest Mac OS. I have found this to be common with shareware or free software.

For the Mac users I'd encourage you to have a good look at what is already available with your Mac, The applications are free and very powerful software.

A useful purchase is Acorn 8, which can help with any design. https://flyingmeat.com/acorn/

Cheers

Des