WinRail Help

WinRail X3
Printable version of the WinRail Help file.
© Gunnar Blumert and Span Software Limited, 2014

© 2014 Gunnar Blumert & Span Software Limited
Table of Contents
Introduction 6
Performance and system requirements 8
The user interface 10
Where do I find my commands? 13
Initial program start 14
Your first layout 15
Tagging and manipulating elements 16
Using the keyboard 18
Benchworks / Modules 19
Fixed elements 21
The clipboard 22
Views 23
Stocks, lists of materials and prices 24
Descriptions 25
Flex track 26
The DLL-interface to create your own flex sections 27
Gradients and level grounds 28
Wires and Lines 29
Working with layers 30
Catenary 31
3D - An Overview 33
The alignment bar 34
New features in WinRail X3 35
New features in version 11 38
New features in Version 10 41
New features in Version 9 42
The File menu 43
New 44
Open 44
Save 44
Save as 44
Export tagged elements to file 44
Autosave 45
Print 45
Page setup 45
Set print region 45
Discard print region 46
Print region = surrounding rectangle 46
Quit 46
The Home tab 47
Clipboard 48
Paste 48
Paste special 49
Insert object 50
Insert graphics 51
Add layout 52
Copy 52
Cut 52
Delete 52
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Library 53
Load library 54
Configure library 60
Scale library 61
Run Parts-Compiler 62
Tools 63
View 63
Edit 64
Search 64
Replace 64
Select 64
Invert selection 64
Update 64
The Features tab 66
Rotate element 66
Flip track 66
Move 66
Bring to front/Put to back 67
Mirror 67
Separate layer 68
Sort by height 68
Reset gradients and heights 68
Group/Discard group 69
Adjust height of terrain 70
Move docked elements 71
Colour 72
Create benchwork 73
Benchwork-files 74
Edit benchwork 75
Create frames 76
Statistics 77
List of materials (complete) 77
List of materials (active layer) 77
List of materials (visible layers) 77
List of required materials 79
Stock 79
Edit stock 79
Activate prices 79
The Properties tab 80
Texts 81
Height 81
Price 81
Layer 81
Fixed 83
Lines 83
Text fields 84
Other lettering 84
Shapes 85
Assign layer to benchwork 86
Wires 87
Measurements 87
The Track tab 88
Edit track 89
Close gaps 90
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Roadbed 91
Parallel track 92
Ramp/Pillar 92
Crossover/Ladder 93
Change width of track 94
Control vertical distance of track 94
Cut at module border 94
Detect length of track 95
Length of tagged track 95
Detect height of track 95
Count insulated sections and insulations 95
The Flex track tab 96
Types of flex track 97
Shape flex track 98
Transition curve 99
Helix 100
The Catenary tab 101
Assign Article no. to running wire 102
Docking-Settings 103
The Other elements tab 104
The Display tab 105
Texts 106
Track 107
Roadbed lines 107
Clearance 107
Find short-circuits 108
Pages 109
The View tab 110
3D-viewer 112
System 114
Tolerances 116
Grid lines/Coordinates 116
The Tools 117
Arrow 119
Tag only 119
Move description 120
Place object 121
Place track and connect 122
Pick element from layout 123
Measurement 124
Insert ruler 125
Connect track 126
Disconnect track 127
Loosen track 127
Flip track joints 128
Insulation 129
3-rail track 130
Text field 131
Font 131
Flex track 132
Insert flex track 132
Shape flex track 133
Cut flex track 135
Move track 136
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Crossover 137
Convert to flex track 138
Height 139
Gradient 140
Clearance 141
Benchworks 143
Tools-Draw rectangular benchwork 143
Draw benchwork (Polygon) 144
Tools-Tag benchwork 145
Tag benchwork and contained elements 146
Tools-Align benchwork 147
Align benchwork and contained elements 148
Edit/create track position 149
Drawing tools 150
Wire/Line 150
Arc 151
Rectangle 152
Rectangle with rounded corners 153
Polygon 154
Ellipse/Circle 155
Toggle fixation 156
Remove element from group 156
Catenary 157
Dock to track 157
Loosen docked element 158
Add running wire 159
Delete running wire 160
Crossing 161
Assign article nos. 162
Edit connection of running wire at mast 163
Terrain 164
Insert and/or edit point 165
Insert point with last recent setting 166
Shift height or colour 166
Choose colour 167
Height lines 168
Load height profile 169
Set colour according to height 170
Delete point 171
Terrain-Fill edges 172
Answers to frequently asked questions 173
Troubleshooting 175
Registering WinRail 177
Transition curves in theory and practice 178
Standards for transition curves and clerances 183
nem102 184
nem103 187
nem104 191
nem112 194
nem113 198
nem301 204
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Introduction
- Performance and system requirements
- Initial program start
- Your first layout
- Using the keyboard
- Tagging and manipulating elements
- The clipboard
- Views
- Prices and lists of materials
- Descriptions
- Flex tracks
- Gradients and level grounds
- Wires and lines
- Working with layers
- Fixed elements
p6
- Catenary
- 3D-overview
- New features in this version
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p7
Performance and system requirements
WinRail – what is it?
WinRail is a program for planning model railroad layouts. With appropriate libraries, you can
design car racing tracks as well.
WinRail lets you
- perform the track layout in correct scale (including flex tracks)
- have a 3-dimensional visualization of track and terrain
- manage an area of 3,000 * 3,000 m
- add accessories (wires, houses, trees, catenary etc.) to your layout
- link parts of different layouts (e.g., combine several modules)
- compute and create helixes
- compute gradients
- generate parallel tracks, crossovers and ladders
- find short circuits
- calculate the shape of the frames
- compute lists of materials used for your layout
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- calculate the costs of all that fun
WinRail requires Windows XP or higher (Windows 8, Windows 7, Vista, XP). We recommend

at least a computer of the 1 GHz-class with 1 GB of RAM. The larger your layout, the more
RAM and performance is required.
The 3D-feature uses OpenGL, therefore a graphics adaptor with OpenGL acceleration is useful,
but not required.
WinRail is an inexpensive program designed both for the serious hobbyist and for the
beginner. Designing and constructing layout drawings is simple and foolproof, and elaborate
designs can be created in a very short tim e. Minimal PC or Windows knowledge is required.
As well as being useful for model railways or car racing, WinRail can be used to produce other
types of layout design such as dioramas or architectural models. With the optional Parts
Compiler (included in WinRail Deluxe), the user's own custom models or track modules can be
added to the design, and moved or modified at will.
Best of all, it is fun to use!
If you are using the demonstration or shareware version of WinRail, and you would
like to continue to use the full product, then p l e a s e be so kind as to read
thoroughly the passage referring to
Registering WinRail.
-o-
p9
The user interface

From WinRail X2 the main menu has been replaced by a tool bar named "Ribbon":
If you are used to the previous versions of WinRail you will sometimes have to flip through
the tab-pages to find the com mand you are looking for. However, after a short while you will
recognize the advantages of this new user-interface. The ribbon will save you many mouse-
clicks!
On the page Where do I find my commands we provide you with information where you
will find the commands known from previous versions.
A ribbon is like a dialogue box that always remains open; if you make any changes you get
immediate feedback in the layout, without having to open m enus and sub-menus and without
the need of clicking OK to close it.
The tab-pages are organized by groups that c omprise related commands.
For some groups you may open an additional dialogue window by clicking the small arrow at
the bottom right of the group.
The context menu offers commands to hide and rearrange groups.
If you'd rather use the keyboard, then press <F10> or <Alt> key to activate the key tips.
Below the ribbon you'll find the tool bar:
It contains 8 separate sections. You may move, configure or hide each of them individually.
To hide single commands click the small arrow at the very right of a section. To move a
section to another location drag the left of it.
On the tab "View" you may open a dialogue box to add additional commands to the sections
and configure hotkeys and icons or hide a section entirely.
Also you can "tear" the sections off the toolbar and make them windows floating above the
workspace:
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The other way around works as well, of course: Drag a floating tool window back to the tool
bar, and it will become a section again.
For the floating windows you may open the context menu to hide or show single commands.
Next is the selection bar:
On the left of it you can choose zoom and layer.
Additionally there a large "tool window" that doesn't display just the icons, but the
descriptions of the commands as well. This may be helpful as long as you are not used to the
commands. Later you'll probably prefer to use the tool bar instead.
The context menu of the tool window offers several ways to modify and configure it. On the
tab-page "View" you'll find a command that opens a dialogue box to add or remove
commands to and from the tool window.
Whenever you hover the mouse over an icon or a command, a tool tip with a brief explanation
will open:
p11
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p12
Where do I find my commands?
You access the File-menu by clicking this icon at the top left of the window.
The commands of the Edit-menu have moved to the groups Clipboard and Edit on the
"Home" tab.
The commands from the View-menu as well as the View-Properties dialogue have moved
to the tabs "Display" and "View".
Commands that affec t how elements are displayed in the layout can be found on the "Display"
tab, more general commands on the "View" tab.
The commands from the Element-menu related to libraries have move to the "Home" tab,
the remaining ones to the "Features" tab.
The dialogue window Element-Properties doesn't exist any more.

General settings valid for all kind of elements can be made on the "Properties" tab as well as
settings for text fields, shapes, wires and measurements, and the command to assign layers
to benchworks.
Properties that are special for track sections, flex track and catenary can be edited on the
equally named tab pages.
The "Catenary" tab is visible only if either the current layout or the active library contain
catenary elements like masts.
The commands from the Properties-menu also have moved to the tab pages just
mentioned.
The tools can be accessed via the tool bar or the tool window. The tool bar just displays
icons, the tool window can also display the description of the tools.
The Statistics-menu has moved to the "Features" tab.
The Special-menu:
Create/edit benchworks and Create frames can now be found on the "Features" tab.
Shape flex track, Transition curve and Helix have moved to the "Flex track" tab.
Parallel track, Crossover/Ladder and Ramp/Pillar now can be found on the "Track" tab as well
as Calculate length and Count insulations. The latter are located in the features group under
Information.
The command Insert ruler has moved into the tool bar/window.
Docking settings are now accessed via the "Catenary" tab, or you use the context menu of
the Dock to track tool.
The help can be opened by pressing <F1> or by clicking the symbol at the right of the title
bar.
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p13
Initial program start

Simply said: WinRail works like any other Windows Program. If WinRail is the first Windows
program you've used, it may be helpful to practise with a standard Windows program such as
the Paint program for exercise. Paint is the painting program that comes with Windows.
The answer to questions like ”What is the enter key” can be found in your Windows tutorial.
When you have installed the software, WinRail will probably display one of the included
demo-layouts. To design your own layout, please choose File-New. WinRail will then ask
you to define your Benchwork.
If the desired shape of your layout should not be supported (WinRail supports rectangular,
triangular, L- and U-shaped and "surround" layouts), you may click Draw other shape (which
will activate the tool for drawing benchworks) or load a benchwork-file.
If you close the dialog by clicking the cancel-button, you should specify the size of the
workspace on the "View" tab because this will make it easier to navigate the scroll bars.
The 3D-terrain is part of the benchwork. Therefore the 3D-viewer will not display a terrain if
your layout does not contain a benchwork. The elements then will hang in the air.
The limit is 3,000m x 3,000m (10,000ft x 10,000ft).
After that WinRail shows an empty work space containing only the benchwork. Above it,
there is the toolbar, and the large tool window floats above the workspace.
On the "View" tab you'll find commands to customize the user interface.
To change units between Metric and Im perial, use the System dialogue ("View"-Defaults).
To design a layout, you first have to load an element library (via Load library on the
"Home" tab).
The demo version only accepts the demo-library!
At the end of your session WinRail remembers which library had been loaded last and will
start with just this library the next time again.
Also, whenever loading or saving a file, WinRail will remember the directory next time you
load or save the same kind of file.
WinRail data files are stored in "C:\WinRail X2" by default.
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p14
Your first layout

In the selection bar above the working area, you pick the desired element. Of course, you
can have the selection window that displays more information and a larger image. It can stay
opened on the screen, or it can be closed if there's insufficient space.
Now choose Tool-Place object and click with the left mouse button at the position where
the element (track) shall be placed. When you have placed a piece of track, the active tool is
automatically switched to Tool-Place track and connect. You may now connect more
tracks to the first one by again pressing the left mouse button at the desired position. The
mouse cursor changes its shape depending on whether a connection is possible or not.
The accuracy with which the mouse cursor has to be positioned, can be adjusted in the
System dialogue ("View"-tab).
To begin a new section of track, choose Tool-Place object again.
If you add a switch or a curved track, the element may be facing the wrong direction. Via
Flip track you can connect any track edge of the new piece of track with the old ones. This
works for the latest added track only. For previously added elements, you have to choose
Tool-Flip track joints.
The scale can be changed using the Zoom edit below the tool bar on the left between 1:1 and
1:2,000.
The same scale is used to print the layout.
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p15
Tagging and manipulating elements

As usual in programs for Windows, you have to tag elements before manipulating them in any
way. So before you can copy, move, delete, etc, elements, choose Tools-Arrow.
If you just want to make changes to the properties of some elements without moving them by
mistake, you may use the tool Tag only.
There are special tools to tag benchworks to avoid you tagging them by mistake.
If you tag one piece of a track, all the other connected pieces are selected as well. Also, if
you grouped elements, tagging one element of the group will tag all other elements of the
group, too.
It is possible that some of these sections had been placed in different layers. Hidden layers
will be made visible in these cases. When using another tool or tagging other elements, these
layers will become invisible again.
To tag single sections in a line of track please press < Ctrl> while clicking at them. It will not
be possible to move them of course because they are connected to other sections.
To move them anyway please press <Ctrl> again when dragging them. The connections will
be loosened then.
If you keep the <Shift> key depressed while you are moving elements with the mouse button
pressed, then the elements will be moved only in a horizontal or vertical direction.
If you feel that moving elements is too slow, you may open the System dialogue ("View"-tab)
and set "When moving" to "Draw frame only".
To tag more than one element at a time, keep the <Shift> key depressed while clicking the
elements.
You tag track sections and lines by clicking the centre. For all other elements it is sufficient to
hit the surrounding rectangle.
If several elements overlap, the topmost element will be tagged. Clicking again at the same
position will tag the element below the topmost one, and so on. You can change the order
via Element-Bring to front/Put to back.
Running wires are tagged by tagging the masts the wires are connected to.
To tag more than one catenary mast at a time, press the <Shift>-key when clicking the
second mast to tag all masts and wires between the two masts you clicked, or press
<Control> to tag all connected masts and wires.
There are two ways to connect tracks both using Tools-Join tracks:
You can move both parts of track close together and click on the connection.
The allowed tolerances (distance, angle) are set via View-Properties: Tolerances. In case you
note that the track supplier is a ”bungler” and the pieces of track won't fit smoothly, you may
have to raise the tolerances slightly. WinRail computes connections very accurately, so
tolerances that you would not notice while building your layout show very clearly when you
design the layout with this program.
At the point where the circle shall be closed, all differences would then be added while ”in
practice” they would be distributed through all the connections.
The second and more simple way works only on tracks that are not connected. Thus, it does
p16
not work if you want to close a circle:
Click on the first connecting point, which will then be shown as a small black arrow.
Now click on the second piece of track, and both of them will be connected (the track you
clicked first moves to the second one).
If you click on a section of flex track with the <Shift> key pressed, the shape of the flex
track will be altered, not the position.
The second function of this tool is to close circles (and of course any other gap between two
straight tracks) with the most suitable pieces of track.
If the two connecting points you have clicked on are already connected indirectly, i.e. by
other pieces of track, then the program searches automatically for the best fitting pieces of
rail.
In any other cases you must keep the <Ctrl> key pressed while clicking on the second
connecting point. Only while doing this will the search for appropriate track sections be done.
This search can take some time; therefore you may influence the process via Special-Close
circles. And, of course: The element library should contain some curved tracks...
As it would be beyond the scope of this chapter, we will deal with flex tracks separately.
-o-
p17
Using the keyboard

Although not recommended, you can operate WinRail by keyboard. You can move around on
the working area using the cursor keys. But: Functions that are called by a right-click cannot
be accessed by any key.
The <Enter> key equals the left mouse button. If you depress the <Ctrl> key and/or keep
the cursor keys pressed for some time, the mouse cursor will move faster.
The ribbon also can be operated using the keyboard. Please press <F10> or <Alt>, and key
tips will be displayed in the ribbon.
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p18
Benchworks / Modules
Benchworks are the base of your layout. Your layout may contain as many benchworks as
you like - even none. Benchworks may have any shape and can be moved on the workspace
and rotated.
Benchworks are containers for all elements placed on them; you can move or rotate a
benchwork with all elements like a single element. Therefore a benchwork can be treated as
a module.
By default a benchwork contains all elements that are placed on, above and below it.
if you have the intention to stack benchworks, you should assign one or more layer(s) to it.
Then the benchwork will contain only elements that are placed in its range and in one of the
assigned layers.
To assign layers to a benchwork, tag it using the tool Tag benchwork, open
Element-Properties and choose the layer(s) on the page Benchwork.
You must assign different layers to benchworks that do overlap!
If you didn't assign layers to overlapping benchworks (not recommended!), then a benchwork
will contain all elements placed on or above, but below the benchwork on top of it. Only the
bottom-most benchwork will also contain elements placed below it.
We recommend that you create every of the benchworks that later will overlap others in a
separate file. As a last step you may then use the Add layout command of the Edit-menu to
merge the benchworks - not only because WinRail can't create frames for overlapping
benchworks.
The benchwork also contains the 3D-terrain. In other words, if you want a 3D-terrain you
have to use a benchwork.
You can add a benchwork at any time via the Special-menu or by using the tool Draw
benchwork (Polygon).
Your benchwork may be of any shape, but it is recommended that you use two or more simple
shaped benchworks instead of only one with a complex shape.
Benchworks may be stored in "benchwork-files". These are stored in files with the extension
.rad so that it is easy to recognize them, although the file format is the same as the format of
the .ral-files used to store the layouts. The File-Save as command will offer this extension
automatically if the file contains only one or more benchworks, but no other elements.
Another kind of benchwork files are text files (like the library source files used by the parts
compiler). You will find an editor for these files (the BDM Editor) in the WinRail start-menu.
Position, size and shape of a benchwork can be changed at any time using the tool Tag
benchwork.
If you want to move or rotate the benchwork including all elements you have placed on it
please use the tool Tag benchwork and contained elements.
You can add tags for the position of track sections and catenary masts using the tool
Benchwork-Edit/create track position. Track sections and catenary masts placed on these
positions will be positioned exactly and aligned accordingly.
Use the import/export commands of the edit-menu to write tagged elements, including
benchworks with all elements they contain (= modules) to another file or to add another
module to your layout.
p19
Of course WinRail will assist you aligning the benchworks. Please choose on of the tools
Align benchwork or Align benchwork and contained elements, depending on if you want to
align only the benchworks or if you want to move the elements it contains as well.
First click the edge you want to align of the benchwork you want to move, then click the edge
of the other benchwork.
If the length of the edges is different, please place the second click close to the corner where
you want the benchworks to be aligned.
Fixed elements are fixed on the benchwork and therefore can be moved with it.
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p20
Fixed elements
Moveable elements (this is the default) can be manipulated in any way.
In contrast, fixed elements are good to ensure you cannot move them by mistake. To take
a pattern from the benchwork of previous versions of WinRail, you can draw visible borders
with lines and set them as fixed.
If you should wish to have a special construction as the unmoveable centre of your layout,
there are two ways to fix elements: Click at them with the Tool Toggle fixation or tag
it, open the "Properties" tab and set a marker at fixed.
Fixed elements cannot be
- moved – neither by Drag-and-Drop nor by menu command
- aligned
- rotated
- assigned gradients and heights to
Fixed elements are fixed on the benchwork and therefore can be moved with it.
If you wish to use Tools-Join track starting with a fixed element, you have to hold down
the <Ctrl> key while clicking the second piece of track. Connected elements are fixed then as
well.
You can toggle the display of fixations on the "Display" tab and choose a colour for them.
Instead of fixing the location of elements, you can group elements so that they can't be
moved independently.
Useful especially for catenary masts is the Tool Catenary-Dock to track.
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p21
The clipboard
You can work with the clipboard as usual within WIndows. Though WinRail is not an OLE
server, it copies data as bitmap and metafile to the clipboard so normally any Windows
program should be able to use them.
In the same easy way you can have data from other applications added to your layout. If the
clipboard contains text, WinRail automatically will insert a text field. Graphics will be inserted
in a container.
To copy elements from one layout into another, you have two options:
- you load the first layout, copy the needed part into the clipboard, then load the second
layout and choose Edit-Insert.
- simply start two copies of WinRail.
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p22
Views
Windows cannot always correctly display a wide radius when a large scale is given.
Depending on zoom, resolution and driver you will see simply nothing or a ”general protection
fault error” will be caused.
In case WinRail should cause a ”General Protection Failure” or equivalent Windows error,
please check the option Paint arcs by: Application in the System dialogue ("View" tab).
This, however, will slow down the output and the object will turn out to be rather angular, but
nevertheless something will be displayed.
Some recent video drivers will hang the computer when WinRail tries to draw a flex track.
Until you have managed to get an updated driver from the manufacturer of your video card
you might try to set Draw flex track to slow in the same window.
Some screen drivers offer settings for the hardware-acceleration (sometimes just called
"Performance-Settings). These settings may help also.
Unfortunately even the latest Windows versions come with some faulty drivers.
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p23
Stock, lists of materials and prices

WinRail contains a small database which lets you manage your stock. Besides the
well-known list of materials containing all elements you've used in your layout, there is a list
of required materials. Here you can find out what you still have to buy.
For flex sections, you can tell WinRail to take the offcuts into account as long as it is longer as
a minimum length you may set. If you have a flex section that is shorter than the m inimum
length you have entered here, a shorter offcut will be used for it, however.
This option will not be available if the list of materials if sorted by layer.
After having loaded the appropriate library, you can edit your stock to let WinRail know the
quantity of parts you already have – and the prices. You can check and edit them here. Also,
the tool-tip windows will display the count of elements you have left, if activated on the
"View" tab under Hints.
After that, your statistics are up-to-date and will display the current data.
Additionally you can fix the price of every element in your layout ("Properties" tab). However,
this price will be overwritten by the function Statistics-Activate prices.
Generally, you should be careful when editing prices via the "Properties"-tab. Suppose you
have changed the price for one element only, your list of materials could display something
like that:
5 straight tracks @ $0.80 = $3.80
At first sight, that is false. But if you have changed the price for one track to $.060, then it's
correct.
WinRail will always use the currency symbol set in the Windows Control Panel (Country or
Regional settings).
When your done with your layout and move on to the next one you may want to decrease
your stock by the elements you have already used. You'll find the appropriate command in
the Statistics group of the "Features"-tab.
WinRail stores the stock in a file named "stock.dbf" in the folder you have chosen during the
setup-procedure for editable files. Many popular database and spreadsheet applications are
able to read that file.
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p24
Descriptions
Every element is connected to its item number and its description by default. Most elements
also have a height, flex track and running wires have a length. This information may be
hidden or moved to another position with Tools-Move description. The context menu of
this tool offers a command to rotate the description. The description is always tied to the
element. If you move the element, the description is also moved. The position of a
description relative to the element it belongs to is set on the "Properties" tab in the Texts
group. The lettering can also be displayed at the track centre.
Finally you may enter your own free text with Tools-Textfield. Edit the text by tagging
the text field and then open the "Properties" tab.
If you don't want to insert text while placing the text field, simply keep the <Ctrl>-key
depressed.
Tag and move free text with the normal arrow. The context menu of this tool contains a
command to rotate the text.
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p25
Flex track
Flex tracks can change shape and length, and therefore they don't fit into any library. For
this reason you find two tools in the tools menu:
Tools-Insert flex track and Tools-Shape flex track.
As they are not part of any library, you can enter specific information on the "Flex track" tab.
Once you have entered the length per unit you purchase, the Statistics-functions will compute
the number of units you will need; of course you will have to add the length that you'll cut
away...
You'll find more functions dealing with flex sections on the "Flex track"-tab.
The DLL-interface for creating your own flex sections
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p26
The DLL-interface to create your own flex sections

If you don't like the transition curves or for other reasons want to create certain shapes,
and you are comfortable with Windows programming, then you can plug in your own DLL for
this purpose. All you need is a programming tool that can create DLL-files.
All information about the details c an be found in the demo-project FlexDLLDemo.dpr

(subfolder FlexDLL). This example has been created with Delphi, but you can use any other
programming language to create your DLL. It shouldn't be too difficult to translate the
function-headers to your preferred language, as this doesn't use anything that is special for
Delphi.
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p27
Gradients and level ground

There are different ways to add gradients to a track:
The most simple one is to use the Tool Gradient. Just click the start and end of the line you
want to apply the gradient to, and enter the desired values.
When you assign a height to an ending point, the program can find out the gradient, if it
is a section without junctions. The section may have switches and crossings; however, each
of them may only be connected to two more rails.
Don't forget to have the option Calculate gradient checked - otherwise only the tagged
element will be moved – and connected track as well, so there is no gradient but a vertical
movement.
If this option is disabled, there are still some sidings that you have to cut off first.
The height-tool can also be used to set the height of all other elements.
On the "Track" tab you can add gradients to tracks. This is valid only for straight tracks,
curves, even for flex tracks and for turnouts – but not for crossings.
If you don't want WinRail to apply gradients to turnouts, you can switch this off in the
System-dialogue.
The program assumes that the gradient is always placed rectangular to the direction of
motion. So, if you take a board, simply place it on an incline and then put a curve on it, you
will get incorrect results.
The input of the gradient is done in percent. A value of 100 thus corresponds to an angle of
45 degrees. The gradient is always effected from the first end to the second. The first one is
that which will appear at the cursor position when using Tools-Place object. To have a
slope, simply enter a negative value. The height will be automatically calculated.
However, it is not always possible to enter a gradient: in a closed circle, for example, you first
have to disconnect a joint. The track line must be a single line without crossings and sidings
(to be exact, there may be at most two track sections to a turnout or crossing).
You can't assign gradients to turnouts and crossing - the same is the case for the prototype.
Detecting the height of a track
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p28
Wires and Lines

With the Tool-Wire/Line you can draw lines or connect wires. Wires have soldering points
at their ends, lines don't. By setting the diameter of the soldering points to 0 on the
"Properties" tab you can draw lines.
Wires are listed in statistics, lines are not.
When using a colour the first time, WinRail will ask for a name. These names are used
instead of article-numbers so that the statistics-functions can give you an overview how much
wire of each colour you'll need.
This name will be used anytime you add another line of this colour; you can change this
assignment on the "Properties" tab.
You can assign the same name to different colours; all these different wires will be one item
in the list of required material.
Lines are very useful to define the height of the terrain.
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p29
Working with layers

Layers are planes you can draw and put elements on. As you develop your ideas, you can
realize them step-by-step (normal track, track in tunnels, track on bridges and mountains,
houses, roads etc.).
WinRail offers 256 different layers, independent from gradients or level grounds. Each layer
can be tied with a name and a colour and separately activated for display and printing.
On the tabs "Home", "Properties" and "View" you'll find this icon: Please click on the small
arrow to the right of it to choose visible layers.
The layers are applied to the elements under the "Properties"-tab.
The layer assigned to elements to be inserted is called the active layer. You set it by
checking "Set default" or using the drop-down list in the toolbar.
You can specify that only elements of the active layer can be tagged and edited. This means
that elements of other layers may be visible, but you can't tag and edit them.
You can't hide the active layer – to hide the layer that is currently active you first have to
activate another layer.
To change the layer of existing elements, choose the command Layer from the Properties
menu. Another way is Element-Properties-General – the layer is a property of the elements
just like colour, line width and so on.
Whenever you choose visible layers you have the chance to assign properties to layers, so
that the colours are set accordingly when you make it the active layer.
You also may right-click the layer-list of the tool bar and choose the Properties-c ommand.
Hint: It is not required to assign properties to the layers. When you activate a layer with no
properties assigned, the current settings just remain unchanged.
Also you can change the settings of any element individually, no matter if the related layer
has properties assigned to or not.
On the "View"-tab under Customize you'll find commands to customize the toolbars. There
you'll find commands to show/hide each of the 256 layers to be added to the toolbars.
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p30
Catenary
We recommend that you first draw your track layout, then place the catenary masts and
finally apply the running wires – like the real railways do. WinRail offers several features to
assist you as much as possible.
Once the final track layout is ready, please load one of the catenary libraries.
Eventually you will have to adjust the library to your needs using the compiler; to edit, add
and remove connections for running wires at masts and span-bridges you may use the tool
Edit position of running wire at a mast.
Also there is an almost infinite number of possibilities to combine the several elements the
more advanced systems.
Realistically the wires should be tensed straightly between the masts, but some model
systems require to bend the wires in curves. Therefore please first check the setting in the
System dialogue ("View" tab); otherwise WinRail will calculate wrong lengths for curved
wires.
If you system uses bent wires, you have to dock the masts to the track (see below), to
get correct results.
Hint: The running wires are always drawn as straight lines, only the length is calculated
differently.
The libraries contain catenary masts, eventually span bridges (that are handled like masts
internally) and running wires.
The wires are not available from the element-list; instead WinRail automatically tries to
choose a matching wire segment.
To see which wire segments are contained with the library, please open Statistics-Edit stock (
"Features" tab)
There are already masts included with the span-bridges, although only one article number will
be shown in the layout (but in the statistics).
Now you can start placing catenary masts along the track and tense running wires. This is
the hard way.
Better dock the masts to the track – if your system uses wires that are bent in curves this
is required to get correct results!
Now at least the mast is positioned right to the track, with the outrigger pointing to the right
direction. To dock more than one mast at a time, press the <Control>-key when you click. A
dialog box will open that allows even to create zigzag wires or to place the masts alternating
on the left and on the right side of the track. The running wires will be added automatically.
You can find more detailed explanations here: Tool-Catenary-Dock to track.
WinRail automatically searches the current library for matching wire segments, not only
when wires are added, but also when the length changes because one of the masts has been
moved. If no matching segment can be found, no article number will be assigned.
In the System dialogue box you determine how exactly the segments have to fit to be
accepted.
p31
On the "Catenary" tab you can choose different colours for wire segments with and without
article numbers assigned.
Wire segments that consist of m ore than one part will appear as a single element with a
single article number in your layout, but the Statistics will list every part separately.
For the systems that require you to cut the wires, all segments except for the shortest ones
have been declared variable in the libraries, unless stated otherwise in the manufacturer's
instructions.
WinRail first tries to find a matching segment of fixed length, and only if no such segment
can be found, the shortest matching variable segment will be chosen.
The wires are handled like rubber-threads: when you move a mast, the length of the wire will
change – and WinRail will try to find a matching segment in the current library.
To assign article numbers manually, you can either use the Tool or first tag the wires
and then call assign art.nos. to running wire on the "Catenary" tab.
The only way to tag running wires is to tag all masts they are connected to. This is because
most operations don't make sense on a single wire - without being connected to masts it will
just fall down on the track causing accidents...
The only disadvantage of this handling can be seen on the "Catenary" tab: some options of
the "Properties" tab are repeated there so that it is possible to make different settings for
masts and wires.
Instead of clicking every single catenary mast with the arrow-tool while keeping the
<Shift>-key depressed to tag multiple masts, you may either
- click the second mast while pressing <Shift> to tag all connected masts and wires between
them or
- click the first mast while pressing the <Control>-key to tag all connected masts and wires.
Please keep in mind that masts may have more than one catenary connection-point. WinRail
assumes that wires are connected only if they share the same connecting point!
Now you may move the masts along the line as required using the command
Element-Move docked elements .
Some catenary systems include certain elements for crossings. They can be added to your
layout using the special tool.
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p32
3D - An Overview
The purpose of WinRail is to make the process of planning a layout faster and more effective.
A 3-dimensional visualization of your layout is only a few mouse-clicks away. However, you
can spend as much time as you want to add details.
Follow these steps to create the terrain:
1. Place a benchwork on your layout if you have not done that already. The terrain is part of
the benchwork(s), therefore you will not get a terrain if there is no benchwork.
2. Set the size of the workspace to the size of your layout, if you didn't define a benchwork
nor limited the size of the workspace when you created the file.
3. In the input box 3D in the tool bar below the menu bar you specify the distance in which
points will be created that make up the terrain. Every point requires about 40 Bytes of
memory.
4. WinRail can use the height of the existing tracks to create the terrain. If there should be
other areas for which you like to specify the height, tag these areas with the Drawing tool
Rectangle and apply the desired height.
5. Tag all these figures and call the command Adjust height of terrain ("Features" tab).
6. Open the 3D-viewer (View-menu) to see what you have created.
7. Choose the Terrain-tool to add colour and additional details.
8. For ramps, railroad embankments or pillars for structures use Ramp/Pillar ("Track" tab)
Another simple way to get the terrain is to create frames. If the terrain hasn't been edited
before, WinRail will create a terrain that matches the frames.
Also you may load a text file containing the height profile of the terrain.
There are thousands of struc tures available in the WinRail libraries; it would take years to
create libraries with 3-dimensional versions of them. We are pretty sure you wouldn't want to
wait that long; instead a light version of the Parts-Compiler and an editor for creating 3D
structures is included with WinRail Standard (WinRail DeLuxe comes with the full c ompiler
version) so that you can create your own structure libraries.
We, and of course the other users, would appreciate it if you would make your creations
available for others. Please send your 3-dimensional structures to info@winrail.com; we will
make them available for automatic download from our web-site (http://www.winrail.com).
It is possible to scale the libraries, so any existing 3D-library can be used for any scale.
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p33
The alignment bar

Here you can see the appropriate clipping from the icon bar of WinRail. You can use it to call
alignment functions for tagged elements by clicking them with your mouse.
Fixed elements will be taken in account when the surrounding rectangle is calculated, but
they won't get moved, as they are fixed.
Connected elements are treated as one as they can't change their positions relative to each
other.
When you have aligned the elements, you might want to group them so that the relative
position of each element is fixed. However, this command will also work on grouped
elements.
To align benchworks please use the tools Align benchworks or Align benchworks and
contained elements.
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p34
New features in WinRail X3

We now have a new Tag-only arrow tool, that only tags elements, but doesn't move
them. It works exactly like the Arrow tool, but using the new tool you avoid moving
elements by mistake when you only want to edit their properties.
The context-menu (right mouse-button) of the Arrow- and Tag only tools contains a
command that makes the properties of the currently tagged element the default for
elements to be inserted if an element is tagged.
The zoom settings can be changed using the mouse-wheel while the <Ctrl>-key is pressed.
When tagging track sections that are connected to sections that are placed in a hidden layer,
these hidden layers became visible, so that you won't manipulate or delete them by mistake.
Now these layers will become invisible again once you choose another tool or tag another
element.
Different line-styles:
These line-styles are available for the outlines of elements, for slope- and clearance-Lines as
well as for running-wires.
A new feature cuts track sections at module borders.
It is possible now to assign a gradient to turnouts.

In the system-dialogue this feature may be switched off.
If you created your layout using libraries shipped with previous versions of WinRail, it may not
be possible to assign a gradient to some of the turnouts. In this case please replace the
turnouts in your layout by turnouts taken from the recent libraries that you received with
WinRail X3. You may use the Edit-Replace command on the Home-tab for this task.
All dialogue-boxes remember the last position on the screen when opened next time.
The list of required material can be sorted by layer now if you'd like to know how much
material you need for a certain layer.
The required amount of flex sections will now be calculated more exactly by the statistics-
features:
 The length of curved flex section will be the length of the outer (longer) rail.
 Offcuts will be taken into account. Offcuts shorter than a certain length you specified will
not be used except for gaps that are shorter than this minimum length.
The points where running-wires are connected to masts and span-bridges can be edited,
created and deleted within WinRail using a new tool. So you don't have to run the parts-
compiler for this task anymore.
New features in Version X2
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p35
New features in WinRail X2
64-bit versions of all the WinRail programs for 64-bit Windows

systems
Improved user interface
The main menu as well as the dialogue windows "View-Properties", "View-Options" and
"Element-Properties" are gone and have been replaced by a so-called Ribbon:
If you are used to the previous versions of WinRail you will sometimes have to flip through
the tab-pages to find the com mand you are looking for. However, after a short while you will
recognize the advantages of this new user-interface. The ribbon will save you many mouse-
clicks!
On the page Where do I find my commands we provide you with information where you
will find the commands known from previous versions.
A ribbon is like a dialogue box that always remains open; if you make any changes you get
immediate feedback in the layout, without having to open m enus and sub-menus and without
the need to click OK to close it.
Below the ribbon you will find the tool bar in a new design, followed by the selection bar as
known from previous versions.
Many dialogue windows now have an "Apply" button. This button works like the OK button,
but the window will remain open so that you can view the results of the changes you made in
the layout and make corrections (if required) without having to open the window again.
New tool 3-rail-track
The Arrow tool now can be used to tag single track sections even if they are connected to
other sections - please press the <Ctrl>-key when you click the section.
It is easier and more obvious now to handle different types of flex track.
The height specifications of elements may be rotated now.
p36
The Height tool is no longer the only way to assign a height to a track section. If no
gradient has been applied to the track section you may also use the height edit control in the
"Properties" tab.
You may use the tool Height of fixed track sections as well to get the gradient displayed.
Of course you won't be able to change the height then.
You can decrease and increase your stock by the elements that are in the current layout.
New features in version 11
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p37
New in Version 11
Now you can load more than one library at a time.
The drawing accuracy has been increased up to +/- 0.05 mm. This requires more calculations
and may slow down the performance. Therefore you may choose the drawing accuracy in the
System dialogue ("View" tab).
WinRail now knows the gauge of the track section. This increases the accuracy used to
calculate the length of the rails of flex sections (on the "Flex track" tab - Info). Also the
distance of the rails is shown correctly now when you activate the display of ties (sleepers).
Files that have been created using an older version of WinRail do not contain information
about the gauge. WinRail uses this information to calculate the length of the rails of flex
sections and to display the rails in the correct distance when the display of ties is switched on.
If you open such an older layout for the first time, this dialogue will appear automatically.
If your layout should contain track of different gauges (for instance H0 and H0e), then we
recommend that you enter the most common gauge first and later use this command to
change the gauge of the other sections.
New Gradient tool to enter gradients without having to cut the line off the layout.
The 3D-View now supplements the orthogonal view by a perspective view:
New Dialogue-window to edit existing benchworks.
In Module-Definition files you now may enter decimals to specify the position of track and
catenary masts.
p38
Layer-lists now remember the last position so that you don't have to scroll when you open
them again.
The colour of ties may be assigned to Layers now.
The layer-lists now offer some new controls:

- rename layer
- display all layers
- hide all layers
And you can hide/display all layers where the name contains a certain text. This search
optionally even supports regulare expressions.
More than one layer may be active at the same time now to make it possible to place
catenary in another layer as the track sections.
The frames now show openings for crossing track sections.
In The window to customize the tool bars ("View" tab) you will find a new page "Zoom-
Commands". There you may assign different Zoom-values to them. Then change to the page
"Commands", from where you can drag them into any of the toolbars, so that you can choose
these values with a single mouse click.
Also you'll find a new category "Display/hide layer" that offers a command for each layer.
Drag these commands into one of the toolbars if you want to be able to hide or display this
layer with a single mouse click.
It is possible to edit Helices that are created using flex track. Just tag the helix and click the
button on the "Flex track" tab.
The context menu of the tool Move description offers a command to rotate art.-nos. and
descriptions.
The context menu of the Arrow-tool offers a command to rotate text fields.
New command to count insulations and insulated sections in the Special-menu.
Insulations may be highlighted by a different colour.
In the System dialogue ("View" tab) you may activate additional symbols for the insulations
of three-rail track.
Prices you have entered for your stock are kept when the library gets updated.
The context menu of the tool Terrain offers a command to create height lines:
p39
The vertices of frames are now also written to a text file.
The tool Loosen track removes all connections of the line if you press the <Ctrl>-key.
The 3D-editor (to be found in WinRail's Start-menu) makes it very easy to create tunnel
portals individually. These portals are docked and aligned automatically when you place them
close to a track section.
Last but not least: WinRail now uses Unicode, as Windows does. However, you will notice this
change only if you should use exotic characters.
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p40

The 3D-view now simulates the sun, so that for example a sphere now doesn't look like a
simple circle any more.
Here the same scene is shown without and with light:
You now may stack benchworks.
A new command on the "Features" tab resets all gradients and heights to 0 in one go.
A new command in the Properties menu quickly moves elements to another layer.
You may insert a ruler onto your layout and place, move and rotate it like any other element.
The new command Separate layer of the Element menu loosens all connections between track
sections placed in different layers.
WinRail now uses a drop-down list to choose colours, so that you can select the most common
colours without opening another window.
The feature that fills gaps now produces better results, especially for straight connections.
The shape of the chosen element now appears at the mouse cursor even with the tool Place
track and connect.
New features in Version 9
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p41
New features in Version 9

If you insert elements, no matter if you are using the Tool-Place element, the clipboard or the
command Edit-Add layout, the shape of the elements to be added appears next to the mouse
cursor, so that you get a better idea of where a mouseclick will place the element(s).
You can freely choose the position of the frames (no fixed distance between the frames
required any more).
Flex sections can now be added without connecting them to existing track sections and can
then be shaped as required.
WinRail 9.0 comes with a new tool for creating 3D structures. You will find it in the WinRail
start-menu.
And last, but not least: the new benchwork concept with support for modules:
Benchworks now can be of any shape, and a single layout now may cantain as many
benchworks as you like. The benchworks can be moved and rotated on the workspace, and of
course it is possible to align the benchworks.
Benchworks act as containers for all elements placed on them; if you move the benchwork,
the elements it contains will move as well.
Several new tools exist for manipulating the benchworks; the arrow-tool will not work for
them. The 3D-terrain is also part of the benchwork and therefore can be moved and rotated
as well. You can add tags for the position of track sections and catenary masts using the tool
Benchwork-Edit/create track position. Track sections and catenary masts placed on these
positions will be positioned exactly and aligned accordingly.
If your layout contains at least one benchwork, frames will be created only for the
benchworks.
Tagged elements (including benchworks with all elements they contain) can be exported to a
new file and of course it is possible to import them again.
All in all the new benchwork concept offers all features needed to support module layouts.
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p42
The File-menu
You open the file menu by clicking this icon in the title bar of the application window:
File-New
File-Open
File-Save
File-Save as
File-Export tagged elements to file
File-Autosave
File-Print
File-Page setup
File-Set print region
File-Discard print region
File-Print region = surrounding rectangle
File-Quit
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p43
New
Opens a new, empty working sheet. If you're currently processing a layout, you will first be
asked if changes should be saved.
Then the window to specify the benchwork will open.
-o-
Open
Loads an existing layout for further editing. The file must be in WinRail format (.ral) or a
benchwork-file (.rad).
-o-
Save
Saves the ac tual file. If it is the first time you have saved this layout, you will be prompted
for a name.
-o-
Save as
Saves the actual layout with a different name, to a different location – or in a different
format. WinRail supports writing the following formats additionally to its own .ral-format:
- Bitmap (.bmp)
- Paintbrush (.pcx)
- JPEG (.jpg)
- Portable Network Graphics (.png)
- Windows-Metafile (.wmf)
- Enhanced Metafile (.emf)
- AutoCad (.dxf)
To insert graphics into you layout, please use the command Edit-Add Graphics ("Home" tab).
The extension .rad will be used for benchwork-files if the layout just contains benchworks, but
no elements like track sections or structures. These files may be used as a base for planning
modules.
-o-
Export tagged elements to file...
Will write the tagged Elements to a new file.
Choose Home-Clipboard-Paste-Paste file to add the contents of another file to your

current layout.
p44
Usually you will have tagged the elements using the arrow-tool, but for benchworks (=
modules) please use one of the tools Tag benchwork or Tag benchwork and contained
elements.
-o-
Autosave
Here you can adjust whether your layout should be saved automatically. If so, you can adjust
the intervals as well.
-o-
Print
The file will be printed exactly the way you can see it on your screen.
Attention! That means: Current settings for zoom and layer are valid for the printed sheet as
well!
You can print everything, tagged elements (Selection) or single pages. Also you can decide if
you want to print all of the layout or only the print region, if one has been defined. If so, you
can even print it scaled to fit on a single page.
In any case you can print a mirrored image by clicking the Print mirror image-checkbox.
You can choose and setup your printer here as well – or you do these changes in File-Page
setup.
-o-
Page setup
Here you can choose which printer shall be used and do the printer setup as well. Of course,
the printer must be already installed in your system configuration. Available options depend
on your printer driver.
Adjustments for edges and overlap can be made. Overlapping means that you have several
pages which you can assemble to a larger plan. This makes sense for large layouts in a
reasonable scale.
-o-
Set print region
Just drag the mouse while the left button is pressed until the frame includes the area you'd
like to print.
When you open a second frame, the first one will be discarded. It is not possible to make
changes to the existing print range.
To remove the print region, please call File-Discard print region.
It is possible to print the defined region scaled so that it fits on a single page.
p45
The command File-Print region=surrounding rectangle sets the print region so that it includes
all visible elements of your layout.
To start printing, please call File-Print.
-o-
Discard print region
Deletes the print region created by the commands File-Set print region or File-Print region =
surrounding rectangle.
-o-
Print region = surrounding rectangle
Sets the Print region so that it includes all visible elements of the current layout.
-o-
Quit
Shuts down WinRail. First, you will be asked whether to save changes to your layout.
-o-
p46
The Home tab

Clipboard
Library
Tools
View
Alignment
Edit
Update
-o-
p47
Clipboard
Offers commands to access the clipboard.

Also you may add another layout to the current one.
-o-
Paste
Copies the contents of the clipboard into the layout. In addition to its own elements and
layouts, WinRail accepts graphics and text, which also can be generated with another
application.
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p48
Paste special
This embeds an object from the clipboard into the layout, e.g. .bmp graphics from Paint or a
description typed within Wordpad. It is displayed then as usual, but later on you can edit it
using the source application again. This is invoked by a double-click on the object, or you
can tag it and choose Edit-object: Edit. Available options depend on the type of the
object.
In some cases when the object is not displayed correctly, please open the "Other elements"
tab and in the OLE-Container group deactivate Scale and click Original size.
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p49
Insert object
A new object is created and embedded in your layout. You choose the appropriate source
application (e.g. Paint, CorelDraw! etc.) which then will be started. In contrast to Edit-Paste
special, you don't already have an existing object – you first have to create it in your source
application. A window is opened in your WinRail layout, and menu items switch over to
those of the source application.
When you're done, choose File-exit and back to... The object is now part of your layout.
In some cases when the object is not displayed correctly, please open the "Other elements"
tab and in the OLE-Container group deactivate Scale and click Original size.
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p50
Insert graphics
A dialog box is opened, and you can search your disks for graphic files which then can be
pasted into your layout.
WinRail accepts following formats:
- Windows-Bitmap (.bmp)
- Paintbrush (.pcx)
- Windows-Metafile (.wmf)
- Enhanced Metafile (.emf)
- JPEG (.jpg)
- Portable Networks Graphic (.png)
- GIF (.gif)
If you should encounter problems (especially using pcx format) and WinRail refuses to open
a file, please convert it to .bmp. This can be done by loading it into Paint (the accessories
program of Windows) and saving it as *.bmp.
[For techies: Some applications like PaintShop Pro write a pcx format including three colour
planes. The Windows interface used by WinRail when opening such files, in contrast expects
a one-colour-plane format.]
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p51
Add layout
The contents of another WinRail file will be pasted into your current layout. Once you have
chosen a filename, the shape of the elements contained in the file will be displayed next to
the mouse cursor so that you get an idea of where your next mouse click will place them.
Please keep in mind that WinRail does not allow overlapping benchworks.
-o-
Copy
Copies tagged elements to the clipboard – the selection will be kept in your layout.
-o-
Cut
Moves tagged elements to the clipboard – the selection is deleted from the layout.
-o-
Edit-Delete
Deletes tagged elements.
On the "View" tab click customize toolbars to set another shortcut for this command.
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p52
Library
WinRail is shipped with a large variety of libraries, offering different brands and gauges of
model railway material.
Here you load and configure these libraries.
Click the small arrow at the bottom right of this group to get more information about the
current library.
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p53
Load library
Loads a new library of parts.
WinRail will remember the folder being used the last time you loaded a library and open it
again. If you have loaded a library from a folder different to the default folders where the
libraries were stored by the setup program, WinRail will display an additional command in
the Element-menu named Open default folder that will lead you back to the default location.
To switch between the loaded libraries, click the name below the selection bar or at the
bottom of the selection window, respectively.
To remove one of the libraries, choose "Element-Remove library"
When saving layouts or libraries, options for currencies are taken from Windows‚ control
panel.
When loading, in case currency in the file and Windows' currency settings don't match, you
will be prompted for actual rate of exchange.
To update your layout with the changed prices, call Activate Prices from the statistics-group of
the "Features" tab.
WinRail will detect changes to the library (for example if you run the Parts-Compiler) and
reload it automatically if required.
This list of supported brands is constantly growing... If necessary, the libraries will be
updated, of course. This is performed automatically when you are online from data held at
http://www.winrail.com.
The Brio library (wooden track for small children) has some different rules. Especially, most
features dealing with flex track are disabled when using Brio track.
In case any innovation or your favourite component is missing, we would be glad if you sent
us appropriate information (e.g. dimensions), and we will update the libraries!
Here's a list of available libraries (Date: February 2013):

3D Arnold N
3D Backgrounds H0
3D Car and Bus models N
3D Faller H0 Bridges and Arcades
3D Faller N
3D Heljan H0
3D Kibri N
3D LGB Signals
3D Pola N
3D Trix H0
3D Vollmer N
3D H0 Signal Lamp
3D H0 Tunnel Portals
3D N Signal Lamp
3D N Tunnel Portals and Bumpers
3D SBB Altbau loks (Swiss locos in 3D)
Ade H0
Aquaplay canal system
Aristo-Craft G brass
Aristo-Craft G steel
Aristo-Craft I
Arnold N
Artitec H0 Structures
Artitec N Structures
Artitec Z Structures
p54
Atlas Code 83 H0
Atlas Code 100 H0
Atlas H0 True-Track
Atlas N
Atlas N Code 55 Track
Atlas N Code 65 True-Track
Atlas N Code 80 Track
Atlas N Structures
Atlas structures H0
Atlas 0 21st Century Track
Atlas 0 21st Century 2-rail Track
Atlas 0 3-rail Realistic Roadbed Track
Atlas 0 Solid Steel 21st Century Track
Atlas 0 Structures
Atlas 0 Track Accessories
Atlas Industrial Rail 0-27 Roadbed Track
Auhagen Feldbahn H0f
Auhagen H0 and TT
Auhagen H0
Auhagen N
Auhagen TT
Bachmann 00 Track
Bachmann H0 (Structures)
Bachmann EZ Track H0
Bemo H0
Bemo H0e
Bemo H0m
Bemo H0m Code 70
Berliner TT Modellgleis
Berliner TT-Bahnen
Brawa H0
Brawa N
Brio Wooden Railway system
British Outline Buildings G-scale and Gauge 1 Structures
BUB S-gauge
Builders in Scale H0 (US structures)
Busch Feldbahn H0f narrow gauge railway
Busch Structures Gauge 0
Busch Structures H0
Busch Structures N
Busch Structures TT
Busch Structures Z
California Model Co. H0 (US structures)
Campbell H0 (US structures)
Carrera 20xxx
Carrera 124
Carrera Exclusiv
Carrera Profi
Central Valley Model Works H0 (US structures)
Cibolo Crossing H0 (US structures)
City Classics H0 (US structures)
Classic Miniatures H0 (US structures)
Cornerstone H0 (US structures)
Cornerstone N (US structures)
Design Preservation Models 0 (US structures)
Design Preservation Models H0 (US structures)
Design Preservation Models N (US structures)
Dietz G
Dyna-Model Products Co. H0 (US structures)
Egger-Bahn H0e
Electronic Symbols
ESU ECoS components
ETS Gauge 0
ETS Tram Gauge 0
Faller AMS
Faller Car System H0
Faller Car System H0 Streets 80mm
Faller Car System N 53mm
p55
Faller Car System N Streets 40mm

Faller H0 (new Article Numbers)
Faller H0 (old Article Numbers and obsolete models)
Faller History H0
Faller Military H0
Faller N (new Article Numbers)
Faller N (old Article Numbers and obsolete models)
Faller PlayStreet H0
Faller Playtrain 0
Faller TT (new Article Numbers)
Faller TT (old Article Numbers)
Faller Z (new Article Numbers)
Faller Z (old Article Numbers and obsolete models)
Fides H0
Fides N
Fides Z, 0 and G
Fleischmann Car Racing
Fleischmann Model track H0
Fleischmann N without roadbed
Fleischmann Piccolo
Fleischmann Profi track H0
Frateschi H0
Funaro & Camerlengo H0 (US structures)
GarGraves Phantom 0
Gloor Craft Models H0 (US structures)
Guts, Gravel & Glory H0 (US structures)
Halwa Z
Hartel Tramway H0
HEGOB I
Heki switching table
Heljan H0
HMB 0
HMB G
HMB I
HObbex Catenary H0
HObbex Catenary Gauge I
HObbex Catenary IIm
HObbex Catenary N
HObbex Catenary TT
Hornby Dublo 3-rail 00
Hornby H0/00
Hornby International H0 Track
Hornby structures H0
Howard H0
Huebner I
Jatt TT
JATT-Expert TT
Jouef H0 structures
Jouef H0
Kato Basic N
Kato Unitrack H0
Kato Unitrack N
Kestrel N
Kibri H0
Kibri Cars H0
Kibri N
Kibri TT
Kibri Z
Kiss Special Line Catenary I
Kleinbahn H0
Krueger TT
Kuehn TT
Lebu IIm
Lego
Lego 9-Volt
Lehnhardt Blechbahn Gauge 0 tramway
Lenz Gauge 0
LGB
p56
LGB nickel-plated
Life Like H0 (US structures)
Life Like N (US structures)
Lima Code 120 H0
Lima Standard H0
Lionel 0
Lionel 0 (6-xxxx)
Lionel 0 FasTrack
Lionel 0 Scale structures
Lionel SuperStreets Roadway
Llagas Creek Gauge 1
Luna Tram Concrete H0
Luna Tram Concrete H0m
Luna Tram Pavement H0
Luna Tram Pavement H0m
Märklin 3600-series 3-rail H0
Märklin 3600-series 3-rail H0
Märklin Alpha H0
Märklin C track H0
Märklin Catenary H0
Märklin Catenary H0 new design
Märklin Catenary I
Märklin Catenary Z
Märklin 0 (from the 1930s)
Märklin I
Märklin K track H0
Märklin M track H0
Märklin Modellgleis H0
Märklin Signals, Components H0
Märklin Sprint car racing
Märklin Tin-Plate Structures H0
Märklin Z
Magnuson Models H0 (US structures)
Marcway 0-gauge Pointwork
Marcway 00-EM Pointwork
Masten Heinz G
Mehano H0
Metcalfe Models & Toys 00/H0 card models
Metcalfe Models & Toys N card models
Metcalfe Models & Toys 0 Gauge card models
Micro Engineering G
Micro Engineering H0 (US structures)
Micro Trains Z
Minitec switching table
Minitrix N
MKD H0 (French structures)
Model Power H0 (US structures)
Model Yard H0 card kits
Modellbau-Werkstatt Bertram Heyn Field and Forest Rail Track System 624
Modellschienenmanufaktur I
MSM I
MTH 0 RealTrax
MTH 0 ScaleTrax
Ninco Racecar
Noch Catenary
Noch Structures H0
Noch Structures N
Noch Structures TT
O-Scale Models Gauge 0
Peco 0 bh
Peco 0 fb
Peco 0
Peco 0e
Peco 83 Line H0
Peco G
Peco H0-00 (Setrack, Streamline Code 75 and Code 100)
Peco H0e
Peco H0m
p57
Peco H0 structures
Peco I Streamline Gauge I
Peco Im
Peco N Fine Standard Code 55
Peco N LineSide structures
Peco N Streamline Universal Code 80
Peco N SetTrack
Peco N structures
Peco SM-32 Streamline Narrow Gauge
Piko G
Piko G Track
Piko H0 55
Piko H0
Piko Hobby H0 Structures
Piko A-track H0
Pilz Elite H0
Pilz H0 Standard
Pilz H0
Pilz TT
Playmobil
Pola G (new Article Numbers)
Pola G (old Article Numbers and obsolete models)
Pola H0 (new Article Numbers)
Pola H0 (old Article Numbers and obsolete models)
Pola N (new Article Numbers)
Pola N (old Article Numbers and obsolete models)
Rachvoll H0 Perfect
Railino Nf
Railway Design Associates H0 (US structures)
Railway Design Associates N (US structures)
Ratio H0
Ratio N
Regner IIe
Repa 0
Revalda IIm
Rivarossi H0
Rivarossi N
Roco 0
Roco geoLINE H0
Roco Hobbyline 2.5mm brown H0
Roco H0 German silver
Roco H0e
Roco N
Roco switching table
Rocoline with roadbed H0
Rocoline without roadbed H0
Rokal H0 German silver
Rokal TT Roundhouse H0 (US structures)
Rokuhan Z
Ross Custom Switches 0
Scalextrix car racing
Scalextrix Sport
Scheba IIm
Schreiber H0
Schreiber N
Schreiber TT
Schreiber Z
Schuhmacher H0
SES switching table
Shinohara H0 Code 70
Shinohara H0 Code 100
Shinohara N
Smaltown H0 (US structures)
Sommerfeldt Catenary 0m
Sommerfeldt Catenary H0
Sommerfeldt Catenary N
Sommerfeldt Catenary TT
Spörle H0
p58
SuperQuick 00-H0 card structures

TDV G
Technomodell H0e
Tekuna Gauge 0
Thiel G
Tillig H0 Standard
Tillig H0-Elite Code 83
Tillig H0-Elite Code 83 with roadbed (dark)
Tillig H0-Elite Code 83 with roadbed (light)
Tillig Model Track H0
Tillig H0e
Tillig H0m
Tillig TT
Tillig TT integrated roadbed
Tillig TT with roadbed (dark)
Tillig TT with roadbed (light)
Tomix N
Tomy AFX H0 car racing
Townstreet H0
Train Line 45
Train Line 45 Nickel
Tram-Line by Modellbahntechnik Hof
Trix C track H0
Trix Express H0
Trix H0 Structures
Trix N Structures
Trix switching table
TTfiligran TT
Viessmann Catenary H0
Viessmann Catenary N
Viessmann Catenary TT
Viessmann GBS Switching Table
Viessmann Structures H0
Vollmer Catenary H0
Vollmer Catenary N
Vollmer G
Vollmer H0
Vollmer N
Vollmer TT
Vollmer Z
Walker Models H0 (Roadway System)
Walthers N (US structures
Weinert Mein Gleis H0)
Weller H0
Wenz Modellbau 0
Wenz Modellbau 0e
Wenz Modellbau 0m
Wenz Modellbau 0n3
Wenz Modellbau 0n30
Whiteground H0 (US structures)
Wiad H0
Zank IIm
-o-
p59
Configure library
Most libraries contain elements that are rarely used, making it difficult to access the elements
you'd like to place in your layout.
Here you can hide elements you actually don't want to make use of. The elements will not be
deleted from the library!
The information about which elements are to be displayed is stored in the library file;
therefore, if you change the library using the Parts-compiler, this information will be lost.
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p60
Scale library
Here you can change the scale of the currently loaded library. The intention was to make the
available 3D-libraries usable for different scales.
We do not recommend to scale track libraries, because the dimensions of your layout will of
course be incorrect then.
After scaling the library WinRail asks for a new filename. Please take care not to overwrite
an existing library.
A library that once has been scaled can't be scaled again. Please load the original version and
scale it again.
If you cancel the "Save as" dialog, the changes will be lost once you load another library
or close WinRail.
Sometimes people ask if it is possible to scale a layout to another scale.
In general it would be possible of course, but it doesn't make any sense. Every track system
is unique, so if you scale an N layout to H0 you wouldn't get turnouts with the scaled
geometry of the N turnouts. Therefore you'd have to replace the turnouts and crossings,
adjust the tracks and so on. It's easier to draw a new layout...
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p61
Run Parts-Compiler
The Parts-Compiler is a utility that allows you to create or change elements-libraries. It is a

separate application with its own help-file.
This command runs the compiler and loads the source code of the current library. This
requires the files Partcomp.exe, PartComp3D.exe and PCLib.dll to be located in the same
folder as WinRail.exe, and of course the library source code (.bdf or .b3d) must be located
where the library file (.blb) is.
Whenever you change the current library, WinRail will reload it, even if you didn't run the
c ompiler from within WinRail.
The WinRail Demo-Version comes with a compiler that will not compile libraries containing
more than one element. In other words, you can't re-compile the demo-libraries.
WinRail Standard ships with a compiler-version that only compiles structures so that you can
create your own 3-dimensional buildings.
WinRail DeLuxe comes with the full compiler-version and all the library source files.
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p62
Tools
Here you find the most popular tools for a first start.
Toolbar and tool window contain all available tools.
-o-
View
Here you globally (de-) activate the display of article-numbers, descriptions, heights and ties.
Also you can choose the visible layers and (de-) activate the detection of short circuits.
Other global settings may be edited on the "Display"-tab.
To edit the settings of single elements please look at the tabs "Properties", "Track" and "Flex
track".
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p63
Edit
Search
Replace
Select
Invert selection
-o-
Search
From a list of all elements used in the current layout, you can choose one to search for. You
can have tagged one or all elements that were found. Now, you can manipulate them.
Related topic: Replace.
-o-
Replace
Replaces any element from the layout by one out of the current library.
But: If you replace straight track by curves, the old connections can't be recovered, of course.
-o-
Select
This function can simply tag every track, every building, every line, every wire [...] or really
everything without clicking around too much.
If you chose "Tag all elements in layer ..." a window will pop up where you can choose one or
more of the layers that actually are visible. If currently only one layer is visible, the window
will not appear and all visible elements will get tagged.
-o-
Invert selection
Selected elements become unselected and vice versa.
For tagging everything not being a track, you first tag all tracks and then invert the selection.
That's easy, isn't it?
-o-
Update
Information about the version of WinRail you are currently using.
p64
Search the internet for updates.
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p65
The Features tab

Placement
Group/Discard group
Move docked elements
Adjust height of terrain
Colour
Benchworks
Statistics
-o-
Rotate element
Tagged element(s) will be rotated around the (common) centre.
-o-
Flip track
This tool is effective only on tracks that are connected on one end only. You use this option
for curves pointing in the wrong direction or if you want to connect a switch. In contrast to
Tools-Flip track joints only the latest added track will be affected.
Following are two examples for this function:
This command also can rotate that object that has just been docked to a track section by
90°. WinRail will use the last setting for further elements to be docked.
If you press <Ctrl>, the docked element will be moved to the opposite side of the track
section.
-o-
Move
A window is opened which will prompt you for relative coordinates (X and Y) to move the
tagged element(s).
p66
-o-
Bring to front/Put to back
Generally, the order of elements is of no matter, but if objects are overlapping, the one in the
foreground makes the other ones partially invisible – it will be selected first, too, when trying
to tag any object behind it.
If such problems should occur, use this function to change the order of objects.
Another option to change the order of the elements can be found under Sort by height. It
ensures that the topmost elements are drawn last, so that they are not covered by other
elements.
-o-
Mirror
Mirrors the tagged elements along the right edge of the surrounding rectangle. If you need
the elements to be mirrored along the bottom of the surrounding rectangle, just rotate the
mirrored elements by 180°.
If you just need a mirror image for some templates, you may choose File-Print and
activate the Print mirror image option.
The result of mirroring a left turnout, for example, is a right turnout, in other words, the
result is a different turnout with a different article-number.
WinRail needs a template that matches the required dimensions of the new element and will
first search the layout and then the current library for a matching template. If there are
two or more different elements in the layout or in the library, respectively, that match the
requirements, WinRail will ask which one to use.
If no matching element can be found, you'll get an error message, and the element will be
omitted.
Here is an example:
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p67
Separate layer
When you tag track sections using the Arrow-tool or the tool Tag benchwork and contained
elements all sections will get tagged that are connected to the section you have clicked at.
In most cases this will match your intention, but if you want to export a single benchwork to a
file, then this command allows you to cut all connections to other layers at once.
This command is available only if you have tagged track sections that are connected to
sections in other layers.
-o-
Sort by height
Makes sure that the topmost elements will be drawn last and therefore on top of all other
elements.
-o-
Reset gradients and heights
One of the most frequently asked questions about WinRail was "How can I reset all gradients
and heights to 0?".
The answer is this command. All tagged elements will be moved to the height 0, also all
existing gradients will be reset to 0. However, the latter requires in some cases to loosen
connections: for example in a closed circle it is not possible to change the gradient of a single
section, because this will change its length when viewed from top.
-o-
p68
Group/Discard group
You can create groups of elements that are treated like one single element when you tag and
move them.
This is useful in all cases when you spent a lot of work to align several elements and want to
lock them afterwards.
However, the Join track-tool will still work, as will the alignment-commands, no matter if
called from the menu or from the alignment bar.
You can fix the position of elements on the "Properties"-tab.
Another option is to dock (non-track) elements to track sections, useful especially for
catenary masts.
Use the tool Remove element from group to remove a single element from a group.
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p69
Adjust height of terrain
A simple way to set the height of the terrain is to place lines (preferably in a separate
layer), apply a height to them, tag them and call this function. Of course this function
will work for any other kind of shape or object as well.
Usually only the area under the line will have set the height accordingly, but if you draw a
closed figure, i.e. the line ends where it starts, the area under the surrounding rectangle will
be set to the height of the line.
For a better visualization, WinRail will set the colour of each vertex according to the height.
To add details or colours, use the terrain-tool.
To view the result, open the 3D-viewer.
You should not try to create ramps and roads with this feature; call Ramp/Pillar instead.
Introduction to 3D-features
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p70
This command moves docked elements you have tagged before along the track line.
You can move the elements until they reach a turnout, a crossing or the end of the track. The
layout is always updated while you move the elements.
This feature is very useful for moving catenary masts.
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p71
Colour
Depending on altitude or layer, you can assign different colours to your track.
If you choose According to height, you must define a range within the colour is valid.
According to layer means, this colour is assigned to the complete layer.
This affects existing elements only. For added elements subsequently, the defaults set on
the "Properties" tab are valid.
-o-
p72
Create benchwork
Here you can specify shape and dimensions of your benchwork.
If the shape you need should not be supported, you may click Draw other shape to activate
the tool Draw benchwork (Polygon) to draw your benchwork or load a benchwork-file.
Your layout may contain as many benchworks as you need, but WinRail does not allow
benchworks to overlap.
Click OK, then click the position on your workspace where you want to place the new
benchwork. If you intend to create frames later, we recommend that you place the
benchwork at the top left corner of your workspace.
If you decide to cancel the dialog, you should at least set the size of the workspace. This will
define the range you can reach with the scroll bars.
If you intend to stack benchworks, we recommend that you assign layers to it ("Properties"
tab, group Shapes).
The command Load benchwork for old WinRail 3 benchwork files has been removed. If you
still want to use such a file, please use the command File-Open in the File-Menu. In this
case the file has to have the extension .gpl.
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p73
Special-Create benchwork
Benchwork-files
There are several ways to create a benchwork (benchworks are the base of modular-layouts):
For simple shapes you may use the dialog Create benchwork. For complex shapes use the
tool Draw benchwork (Polygon).
Use the tool Edit/Create track position to tag the position of track sections and catenary
masts on your benchwork to ensure the correct connection to the next module.
WinRail stores layouts that contain only one or more benchwork(s), but no other elements,
in files with the extension .rad for better distinction. You may load such benchwork files via
Add layout or by clicking the Load benchwork-button of the Create benchwork-dialog.
Another kind of benchwork-files are text-files similar to the library source files use by the
Parts-compiler. Such text files also are loaded by clicking the Load benchwork-button of the
Create benchwork-dialog.
The syntax of these text-files is as follows:
Benchwork "Name" "Description"

Border blue ; Dimensions of the benchwork - colour is optional
0 0 ; <X> <Y>
1000 0
1000 500
0 500
EndBorder
Positions
Track 20 50 0 180 ; <X> <Y> <Height> <Direction>
Mast 20 20 0 ; <X> <Y> <Height> (optional)
EndPositions
Terrain ; Terrain-points
200 100 10 Green ; <X> <Y> <Height> <Colour> (optional)
100 100 10 Green ;
EndTerrain
Circle 500 250 100 ; As many additional drawing commands as required
(optional)
EndBenchwork
The file has to contain the following lines, even if you do not want to enter positions of terrain
points:
Positions
EndPositions
Terrain
EndTerrain
You will find a simple editor for these files in the WinRail-Start-menu.
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p74
Edit benchwork
Here you can edit existing benchworks, once you have tagged them using the tool Tag
benchwork.
It is possible to change the coordinates of the vertices as well as to add and delete vertices.
Of course a benchwork always must have at least three vertices.
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p75
Special-Create frames
This command creates the required frames of the substructure. The position of the tracks is
taken into consideration as well as the terrain, if the terrain has been edited already.
If your layout contains one or more benchworks, frames will be created only for the
benchworks. Otherwise frames will be created for the current workspace.
WinRail can't create frames for overlapping benchworks. You should export these to a
separate file by tagging them with the tool Tag benchwork and contained elements and then
calling Edit-Export tagged elements to file. Once you have created the frames you may
import them back using Add layout.
If the terrain has not been edited, it will be created accordingly.
You can then view the result in the 3D-view.
The value in the input box 3D in the tool bar below the menu bar defines the resolution used
to measure the terrain (if the terrain has been edited already) or to create points in the
terrain, respectively.
You can position frames wherever you like, but usually you will use a fixed distance between
them: just enter the value and click Insert. By clicking New you can add frames wherever
you like. The calculation of the position of the frames always starts at the upper left corner of
your workspace.
You can specify if the lowest or the highest one of crossing tracks is taken into account. In
any case the position of all tracks will be tagged at the frames.
The thickness of the material is used only to get the width of the slots.
The frames are numbered from left to right starting with V001 (V for vertically) and from from
top to bottom starting with H001 (H for horizontally). They are stored in a separate file that
can be opened like a regular layout file so that you can print the frames in any scale up to
1:1. The name you chose for the file will appear at the top of the list of the most recent files
in the file-menu.
Any previously created frames will be deleted automatically.
And this is what a frame could look like:
Additionally the vertices of the frames are stored in a text file. This file stored with the
extension .txt in the same folder as the file with the frames.
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p76
Statistics
Any statistical list can be printed or copied to the clipboard for processing with other
applications.
For flex sections, you can tell WinRail to take the offcuts into account as long as it is longer as
a minimum length you may set. If you have a flex section that is shorter than the m inimum
length you have entered here, a shorter offcut will be used for it, however.
This option will not be available if the list of materials if sorted by layer.
WinRail will use the currency you set in the Windows Control Panel (Regional or country
settings).
List of materials (complete)
List of materials (active layer)
List of materials (visible layers)
List of required materials
List of stock
Edit stock
Activate prices
-o-
List of materials (complete)
Shows a list of all elements used in your layout. Based on the prices you entered, the total
costs will be calculated.
If elements are tagged, only the tagged elements are listed.
-o-
Shows a list of all elements in the active layer. Based on the prices you entered, the costs
will be calculated.
If elements are tagged, only the tagged elements in the active layer are listed.
-o-
List of materials (visible layers)
Shows a list of all elements in the currently visible layer[s]. Based on the prices you entered,
the costs will be calculated.
If elements are tagged, only the tagged elements in the visible layer[s] are listed.
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p77
p78
List of required materials
This list displays only the elements which you still should buy.
-o-
Stock
Shows a list of elements you already have.
To edit your stock please call Edit stock.
-o-
Edit stock
Here you enter the quantity of elements (track, buildings etc.) already available as well as the
according prices. Now, WinRail can determine what still is required – and the costs of all
that fun.
This menu item refers to the currently loaded library. You cannot add elements to your stock
if they are not part of any library.
On the "View" tab in the Hints group you can activate the display of remaining elements in
the tool-tip windows that appear when you move the mouse over an element.
When you are finished planning your layout you may want to reduce your stock by the
elements you have used in this layout: This will give you the correct amount of available in
the next layout you might want to start with.
To achieve this call the command Decrease by elements in layout that you reach by clicking
the small arrow on the right of this button.
The other way around Add elements in layout will add the elements in the current layout to
your stock - for example in case you decide to pull your layout down.
-o-
Activate prices
If you have entered prices via Edit stock, they surely should be valid for your layout. Instead
of editing prices on the "Properties" tab for each single piece, this menu item will do that all
at once.
-o-
p79
The Properties tab

Here you can edit many settings for single elements. On the "Display" tab you can edit the
same settings globally.
This may seem confusing in the beginning, but it really makes sense:
For example, while editing your layout you may want to hide all descriptions. In that case
you'll switch them off globally on the "Display" tab. Later you may want to print the layout,
but display descriptions only for some of the elements, not for all. To achieve that, you'll
activate the descriptions on the "Display" tab and deactivate them here for some elements.
If you want to make the settings of the currently tagged element the default for elements to
be inserted, you will find the command in the context menu of the Arrow tool (right mouse
button).
Texts
Height
Price
Layer
Fixed
Lines
Text fields
Shapes
Assign layer to benchwork
Wires
Measurements
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p80
Texts
Here you choose if and how the lettering of the tagged elements (except for running wires)
will be displayed.
In order actually to display the lettering you'll have to activate them on the "Display" tab as
well.
If no elements are tagged you set the default for elements to be inserted instead.
Position will open an dialogue window where you can set the position of the lettering relative
to the element. Negative values will move the lettering to the opposite direction.
If you activate For tracks: in the track then all other options will be ignored. You should
choose a font size that matches the width of the track (Display-Texts).
For running wires you can edit these settings on the "Catenary" tab.
-o-
Height
Here you edit the height of the tagged elements.
When you use the tool Place track and connect, then the height of the sections you insert
will be determined by the height of the sections you connect them to of course.
Another way to set the height is the tool Height. Using that tool you also can edit the
gradient of track sections.
-o-
Price
Here you edit the price of the tagged elements.
This means that this control is active only as long as elements are tagged that accept a price.
WinRail calculates the price of flex sections by the price per unit and the actual length. You
enter these values on the "Flex track" tab. This control then just displays the calculated price
that can't be changed.
-o-
Layer
Moves the tagged elements into another layer.
If you have linked properties to this layer, then these will be used for the elements to be
inserted.
If you activate Edit "active" layer only, then you can edit only elements in this layer. Other
p81
elements may still be visible, but you can't tag or edit them.
Usually one active layer is enough.

However, if for example you want to place the running wire into a separate layer, it is not
possible to dock the masts on to the track sections because the layer of the track sections is
not active. In this case you should use more than one active layer.
The layer chosen in the drop-down list below the tool bar always is the layer used for
elements to be inserted.
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p82
Fixed
Here you choose if you want the tagged elements to be fixed or net. You can't move fixed
elements.
Another way to fix elements is to click the tool toggle fixation.
The colour can be set only globally for all fixations in your layout.
In order actually to display the fixations you'll have to activate them on the "Display" tab as
well.
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Lines
Here you choose the width and the colour of the lines of the tagged elements.
Lines with the width set to "0" are always drawn one pixel wide, no matter which zoom value
you actually have set.
All other values are scaled acc ording to the current zoom value. For a small line width and a
large zoom value this can cause the width of the line being smaller than one pixel, so that the
line will not be drawn at all.
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p83
Text fields
Here you can enter text and change the appearance and font. To rotate a text field, click
the Font button, then Rotate.
Macros are also available:
You can paste date (long or short), num ber and name of day, number and name of month,
number of year and time – even separately hour, minute and second. Further, you can have
displayed the total costs of your track, supposed you have defined prices before. You can
have the name and path of your layout file pasted, too – this makes it easier to find it later
on.
The height fields created using the Detect height of track-tool also are just specialized
text fields, and you can edit the properties here.
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Other lettering
The Parts-compiler allows additional text fields to be included with any element; also the
frames stored in a separate file contain such additional text fields. For these additional text
fields within an element you can specify font and c olour individually depending on your needs.
However, we recommend the use of the defaults you can set on the Display" tab whenever
possible to save memory.
Actually none of the libraries that come with WinRail contains elements that make use of
these additional text fields. Therefore you won't see this page unless you have changed a
library yourself or view the frames.
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p84
Shapes
Choose if you want to get the tagged shapes (rectangle, polygon, ...) or benchwork filled with
colour. Of course you can choose the colour as well.
Edit arc opens a dialogue window where you can edit an existing arc you created using the
tool arc.
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p85
Here you can assign layers to your benchwork.
If you have no intention to stack benchworks, you don't need to assign layers, because by
default a benchwork contains all elements placed on, above and below it.
If you assigned layers, the benchwork will contain only elements that are placed in its range
and in one of the assigned layers.
bottom most benchwork will also contain elements placed below it.
We recommend that you create every one of the benchworks that later will overlap others in a
separate file. As a last step you may then use the Add layout command (
Home-Clipboard-Paste) to merge the benchworks - not only because WinRail can't create
frames for overlapping benchworks.
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p86
Wires
The difference between a line and a wire is simply the presence of a soldering point. If the
diameter is set to 0, a wire becomes a line.
When using a colour the first time for a wire or a line, WinRail will ask for a description.
These names are used instead of article-numbers so that the statistics-functions can give you
an overview how much wire of each colour you'll need.
This name will be used anytime you add another line of this colour; you can change the
assignments by pressing the Names-button.
The "Mouse capture" value is also used by the Measurement-tool.

This value determines how the coordinates of a mouse click will get rounded off.
The line point will always be set to the next value that can be divided by the value you have
set here.
At a mouse capture value of 10 a click at position 104 will be rounded off to 100, a click at
position 105 will be rounded off to 110.
You can use lines to define the height of the terrain: just draw lines to tag areas with the
same height, apply the desired height to lines (by entering the height on the "Properties" tab,
or by using the tool Height), tag the lines, and call Adjust height of terrain.
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Measurements
You can set the font and rotate the font by 180°. The angle of the text will be adjusted
acc ording to the direction of the measurement, but please keep in mind that only
TrueType-fonts can be rotated.
Also you can hide the unit and the line, and set the number of decimals displayed.
If no measurements are tagged you set the default for measurements to be inserted instead.
Clicking Information will display the coordinates of start and end.
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p87
The Track tab

Here you find all settings related to sectional track. There is another tab for flex sections.
You can edit several settings for single elements here. On the "Display" tab you can edit the
same settings globally.
This may seem confusing in the beginning, but it really makes sense:
If you want to make the settings of the currently tagged element the default for elements to
be inserted, you will find the command in the context menu of the Arrow tool (right mouse
button).
Drawing ties (sleepers) for example can reduce the drawing performance significantly.
Therefore it may be useful to switch the ties off while planning your layout on the "Display"
tab. When done you may switch them on again, but perhaps you don't want to see ties for
certain sections, for instance for tramway track. For these sections you can disable the ties
here.
Edit track
Roadbed
Use of frames should be deactivated if the sections are on a bridge, for example.
Draw clearance activates the clearance lines. You have to use the Clearance tool to
calculate the clearance lines first.
Gradient applies a gradient to the track section. To flip the direction please change the
sign. Easier to use are the tool Height and the tool Gradient.
These settings apply to the sections that are currently tagged. If no sections are tagged you
set the default for elements to be inserted.
Features
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p88
Edit track
All settings apply to the track sections that are currently tagged. If no track sections are
tagged you set the default for elements to be inserted instead.
Fill tells WinRail to draw the sections as filled outline. The colour can be chosen from the
drop down list right to this button.
Ties activates the drawing of ties in the track sections. The colour can be chosen from the
drop down list right to this button.
Both settings are effective only if they are activated globally on the "Display" tab as well!
Track joints will open a window where you can set the appearance of track joints.
Close gaps will open a window where you can specify settings that apply when you close
gaps automatically using the tool Connect track.
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p89
Close gaps
The Connect tracks tool is able to close gaps with fitting pieces of track.
You can make some decisions before – if WinRail searched all possibilities, it would take
enormous amounts of time so you could say: ”It would have been better if I'd done it
manually...”
If it should become too hard, just click Cancel and make some restrictions.
If you decrease the list of radii to be taken, this function will work much faster. If in an arc all
curves should be of the same radius, another acceleration will occur. WinRail will remember
these settings for each library.
Half-finished ovals can be closed automatically as well. WinRail first searches for fitting
curves and then inserts straight tracks. Sometimes, the results of this process could be a
little bit ”funny” - so you can switch off this option.
Finally, you can make things easier for WinRail by defining whether to use large or small
radius first, and in which direction the arc shall be pointing.
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p90
Roadbed
Here you set the width and the height of the roadbed and if you want a roadbed at all.
The roadbed will be drawn only if it activated globally on the "Display" tab.
The height of the roadbed only affects the 3D-view of course.
All settings apply to track sections that are currently tagged. If no sections are tagged you
set the default for elements to be inserted instead.
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p91
Parallel track
This function generates a new track exactly parallel to an existing one, which must not have
any branches and has to be tagged first.
This also works for helices.
When you create parallels of a "normal" flex section, then these parallels will be connected
to its parents. When you change the parent's shape, the shape of the parallels will change as
well.
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Ramp/Pillar
Suppose you have two different ground levels and some track that runs from one level to the
other. Now you might want to have some kind of ramp.
Just tag the appropriate track section and c all this menu item. A dialog box will pop up
and you can specify the properties of the ramp.
The additional extent on top is added on both sides to the width of the track (without roadbed
), or on all sides of the surrounding rectangle of a structure, respectively.
Height of base is the position of the bottom of the ramp. The base must be below the lowest
element.
The angle of the slope can range from 5° to 90°.
If you set different colours for Side top and Side bottom, the colour will fade to give a better
visualization of the height.
The ramp (or a pillar) created is a separate element, not bound to elements you used to
create it, treated like a structure you added from a library. Thus, you can just delete the
track and will get a road then.
To view the result, open the 3D-viewer.
Introduction to 3D-features
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p92
Crossover/Ladder
This command has two functions:
1.) You can have two parallel tracks connected using switches.
2.) Ladders can be generated with up to 100 equidistant parallel tracks. Any ladder will be
terminated by an appropriate curve, so that the outlet is parallel to the other tracks as well.
You can define the distance between the tracks – of course not less than allowed by the
geometry of switches. Obviously, tracks cannot be put closer together than directly
connected! The distance a is measured between the centre lines of tracks.
The length of the inserted track (according to calculation) can be found directly in the dialog:
Length of adjustment track. Later on, you can have displayed its length by tagging it
and then choosing Information on the "Flex track" tab. Look for the line Current length.
Example:
The red coloured tracks were calculated and inserted by WinRail.
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p93
Change width of track
Changes the width of the tagged track sections.
Files that have been created using an older version of WinRail do not contain information
about the gauge. WinRail uses this information to calculate the length of the rails of flex
sections and to display the rails in the correct distance when the display of ties (sleepers) is
switched on.
If you open such an older layout for the first time, this dialogue will appear automatically.
If your layout should contain track of different gauges (for instance H0 and H0e), then we
recommend that you enter the most common gauge first and later use this command to
change the gauge of the other sections.
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Control vertical distance of track
(De-) activates the control of the vertical distance of crossing track sections.
Controlling the vertical distance of crossing track sections requires much performance, so you
can switch it off here. Humans need just one view to see where tracks are crossing, the
computer, however, has to compare the position of every track with the position of every
other track. If tracks overlap (they don't necessarily have to cross each other), the point of
the crossing and the vertical distance at this point have to be calculated.
Helices made up of flex sections are excluded from this check; also invisible tracks located in
hidden layers. In complex turnout streets often track sections get closer than usual.
Therefore sections connected directly or by just one additional section are excluded also.
The "smallest horizontal distance" specifies how close the track sections are allowed to be.
Therefore you can also use this feature to control the distance of parallel lines. However, to
reduce performance consumption, the value is taken into account only if the surrounding
rectangles overlap. The surrounding rectangles are the rectangles you see when you tag the
elements.
If necessary you can increase the size of the surrounding rectangle by increasing the width of
the divider lines of the track joints in the Edit track group of this tab, by displaying the
roadbed or increasing the width of the roadbed, or by increasing the width of the tracks.
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Cut at module border
This command will cut all tagged sections at the module borders as if you had used the
tool Cut flex track . As this is possible only for flex sections, sectional track will be
converted to flex track first.
Turnouts and crossings can't be cut, so they will not be touched by this feature.
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p94
Detect length of track
This tool calculates the distance of the shortest way from one point of your layout to another
point.
Just click the two points somewhere on your track sections. If you click two different
sections, they must be connected somehow, of course.
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Length of tagged tracks
The total length of all tagged tracks will be calculated. For crossing switches, length of
both curves and straights, will be taken into consideration.
Use the tool Calculate distance to find out the distance between two points somewhere on
your layout.
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Detect height of track
Click anywhere on a track to find out the height at that place.
To find out where the track meets a certain height press <Ctrl> and click the track section. A
dialog box will open where you can enter the height you are looking for.
The height will then be displayed in a special kind of text field. You edit the properties like
those of any other text field on the Properties tab-Text fields. The default font, however, will
always be the font for heights you have set on the Display tab-Texts.
The height fields will only display when this is activated on the Display tab-Texts. No setting
on the "Properties" tab is required.
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Count insulated sections and insulations
Counts insulated sections and insulations. Optionally you may remove certain types of
insulations then.
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p95
The Flex track tab

Types of flex track
Shape flex track
Transition curve
Helix
Length determines if and how the length of the tagged flex sections are printed. If no flex
sections are tagged you set the default for flex sections to be inserted instead.
To get the lengths actually printed you have to activate them globally on the "Display"-tab in
the Texts group.
Distance basepoints determines the curvature of flex sections to be inserted. This setting
doesn't affect sections that already exist in your layout.
The basepoints are located on a straight that has the direction of the track at the end of the
section. The tool Shape flex track moves these points along the straight.
Sometimes, new sections of flex track can appear to be tied in a knot – this is a function of
the distance between the end points. This behaviour can be adjusted by use of this setting.
Information displays information about the currently tagged flex section. Which
information will be displayed depends on the kind of the flex section. Among other
information the length of the both rails will be calculated.
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p96
Types of flex track
All settings apply to the tagged flex sections. If no flex sections are tagged you set the
default for flex sections to be inserted.
Please enter article-number and description, also the length per unit and the price per unit
available at your dealer. The statistics then will calculate the required pieces and the price.
Waste of track caused by cutting is not taken into consideration – you'd better buy a bit more.
Then the cost of the currently tagged flex section will be displayed as price on the "Properties"
tab.
On the "Display" tab you can activate the display of the units of flex sections in the layout.
If you are using different types of flex sections in your layout you may want to save your
settings by clicking Store type. This will add an entry to the drop down list labelled Art.-no. If
you choose a number from that list all settings will be restored. To get rid of a type please
click Delete type.
The different types are identified by the article numbers. Therefore article numbers have to be
unique.
If you should load a layout that contains flex sections with an article number you have
already stored, but with different properties, then the type found in the layout will be used as
long as the layout is loaded. If you load another layout, the previous values will be restored.
By clicking Store type you can replace the old values by the values found in the layout.
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p97
Shape flex track
Before you add the first flex section to your layout we recommend that you check the settings
in the Type group on this tab (without an element in the layout being tagged), although
changes can be made at any time.
A straight or curved flex track will be generated – according to your settings (length, radius
and angle). After having confirmed, the track can by added to your layout by clicking the
desired position.
You can cut any flex section anywhere.
For straight flex sections (that also may be created with the Tool Insert flex track) a
couple of features are available that make life easier:
Insert turnouts etc., move and rotate them, create crossovers or move a
turnout accordingly.
Related topics: Tools-Insert flex track
Tools-Shape flex track
DLL-Interface to create your own flex sections
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p98
Transition curve
in the Type group on this tab (without an element in the layout being tagged), although
changes can be made at any time.
A transition curve flex track will be generated – according to your settings. After having
confirmed, the track can by added to your layout by clicking the desired position.
Further information on transition curves can be found in the chapter Transition curves in
theory and practice. The original text was generously supplied by Thomas Rödel. The
related NEM standard can be found here.
Unfortunately things aren't as easy as it seems when reading this text. A big thank you for
his assistance with this difficult topic goes to Mr. Lieber in Austria.
In fact the transition curves of the previous versions had been more or less wrong, unless
very small angles had been used. For larger angles the resulting radius could become too
small, or a large portion of the transition took place in the last millimetre of the curve.
The formula for the calculation of the curve is y = m*x(Curve/10). The value m depends on
radius and angle.
It turned out that for any given radius and angle only one value for curve is valid. The Curve
value therefore now exists only to please some customers of the older versions who are used
to it. Now WinRail will calculate the correct curve value for you.
It now is possible to create a complete curve consisting of a combination transition curve –

curve – transition curve. Just check Create complete curve and enter the angle of the
complete curve to be created. An example:
DLL-Interface to create your own flex sections
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p99
Helix
A helix (or spiral) consists of ascending, concentric circles – just like a coil. Helixes are useful
to surmount a great difference in altitude while keeping gradient and required area quite low.
This function generates helices according to your adjustments. You can define the radius
(fixed values for normal curves, or you can use flex track), the angle between inlet and outlet,
total difference in altitude, difference per turn and left or right turn.
Calculated values can be printed to (have) cut appropriate boards.
You may change the properties of a helix made up of flex-sections later by tagging it and
calling this command again.
You may have to cut the helix off the layout to be able to edit all of the properties.
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p100
The Catenary tab

This page will be shown only if catenary elements like masts are present either in the current
layout or in the active library.
Texts
Running wires are tagged by tagging the masts they are connected to. Therefore you can't
tag them without tagging these masts.
Therefore you can edit the settings you found on the "Properties" tab here for running wires.
Line
Here you set the colour and width of the lines used to draw the running wires.
Colour 1 will be used for running wires that already have an article number applied to,
Colour 2 will be used for running wires without an article number.
Connections determine the appearance of the points where running wires connect.
Features:
Layer moves the tagged running wires into another layer.
All these settings apply to the tagged running wires. If no running wires are tagged you set
the default for running wires to be inserted instead.
Assign article-no. to running wire
Docking-Settings
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p101
Assign article-no. to running wire
WinRail tries to assign a matching number from the library whenever you insert a running
wire or change its length.
Details
However, there are some reasons to initiate the assignment of article-numbers manually:
You may have moved a mast while a track library containing no wire segments was loaded.
In that case WinRail was not able to find a matching wire segment.
You changed the catenary library
Before you call this function you have to tag the wires.
The Tool Catenary – Assign article-nos. works on single wire segments. If the library
contains more than one wire section that might fit, this tool allows you to choose between
them.
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p102
Docking-Settings
Here you enter the distance to the track center for elements you dock to track sections.
You can choose the width of the track, the width of the roadbed lines (if defined) or the
clearance lines (if defined).
Optionally a fixed value can be added. This may be a negative value if you want to place
elements inside the track section.
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p103
The Other elements tab

This page will be shown only if images or documents that have been created with other
applications and linked to or embedded in your layout are tagged.
The options you have depend on the kind of object you have tagged.
You will get move information when you hover the mouse over the commands.
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p104
The Display tab

Here you find settings that affect the display of the layout and will be stored along with it.
Texts
Track
Roadbed lines
Clearance
Find short-circuits
Pages
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p105
Texts
In this group you can set the options to display part numbers, manufacturer code, height and
length. A font for each of them may be selected.
This option is like a general switch - to see any description, you must enable it on the
"Properties" tab as well for the elements in question.
For lengths you'll find these settings on the tab "Flex track" or "Catenary", respectively.
By default every track section can display its height at the ends of the section. Only these
items are disabled when you switch off the height under Element-Properties.
The tool Detect height of track just creates a special kind of text field. These height
fields are always displayed as long as the height is enabled here, no setting in the
element-properties is necessary. The font for these fields is set under Element-Properties as
for any other text field. New height fields will always appear with the font you have set here
for the heights, however.
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p106
Track
Choose the appearance of the track sections: single line, outline or filled outline.
On the "Track"-tab you can deactivate the filling for single sections and choose the colour.
The same applies to ties (sleepers).
For flex sections you may activate the display of the length per unit at which they are
available at your dealer. You set the length per unit on the "Flex track" tab.
Also you can (de) activate the display of running wires.
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Roadbed lines
Here you decide if and how roadbed lines will be drawn.
For individual sections you can (de-) activate the display of roadbed lines and set the width of
them on the "Track" tab.
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Clearance
Here you can globally (de-) activate the display of roadbed lines and set their colour and
width.
For individual track sections you can deactivate the display of clearance lines on the "Track"
tab.
You create the clearance lines using the tool Clearance.
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p107
Find short-circuits
With DC track-systems certain layouts will cause a short-circuit, as demonstrated by the

example above. Unfortunately it is not always that easy to detect these cases.
This feature will assist you. As long as it is activated, the left and right lines of the rails will
be drawn using different colours. Also the connections causing a short-circuit will be tagged
by a red arrow.
Which one will be chosen depends. Even in the very small example above you can choose
one out of four connections to insulate or cut to solve the problem.
For simple crossings (not for double slips, of course) WinRail assumes that the crossing
tracks are insulated.
If the display of roadbed is activated, the coloured lines of the short circuit detection may be
covered by the slope lines, depending on the width of the roadbed.
Using the tool Change polarity you can flip the colour of the two rails.
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p108
Pages
Page nos. enables you to decide if, where and how you want to get page numbers printed.
You may (de-) activate the display of page frames.
Page preview will give you a preview of how elements are spread on multiple pages when
printing.
If a print region exists, it is used, otherwise you will see how the entire layout would get
printed.
If this menu item is active, the current zoom level has no effect on your printing – it only
moves the edges of the page.
This option is recommended for having a better survey only. You should then switch it off
again. Of course you can continue working as usual, but there will be no updating of edges
when inserting or deleting elements.
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p109
The View tab

Window-Overview opens a window that displays the entire layout. A rectangle shows you
the portion of the layout that is currently visible in the main window.
You may click somewhere to scroll another portion into view or move the mouse while the left
button is pressed.
Window-3D-Viewer
Window-Selection window shows or hides the element-selection window.
You may hide (or show) the status bar and the rulers. The context menu of the rulers
(right-click the rulers) enables you to set their width.
The visible and active layers can be chosen.
Customize toolbar, tool window and context menu. Please follow the instructions shown in
the dialogue windows.
The Customize tool bar dialogue also enables you to assign shortcuts (hotkeys) to the
commands and choose another icon.
You can globally (de-) activate the display of fixations and choose their colour. For single
elements you can deactivate the display of fixations on the "Properties" tab.
You may assign sounds to some actions - the sounds will be played every time the action is
performed.
Attention:
For unknown reasons on some machines it doesn't work to play sounds.
It may even happen that the machine hangs somewhat later. Therefore you should check if
your computer plays sounds before you activate this feature, especially before you assign
sounds to Start application and Select tool!
You may hide the selection bar or change its size.
Workspace
Limiting the size of the workspace not only makes it easier to position the scroll bars.
The maximum you can set is 3000 * 3000 m² (about 10,000 * 10,000 ft²).
Depending on the size of your layout, the values of the vertical ruler may become unreadable.
Click the ruler with the right mouse button to open a context menu.
Hint: It is always possible to place elements outside the specified workspace.
It is also possible (but doesn't make any sense) to set the workspace to values that are
different to the size of the benchwork(s). If you move a benchwork, WinRail will
automatically adjust the size of your workspace accordingly.
The System dialogue offers a couple of settings you will probably change only once, if ever.
Finally you can make the settings of this tab and the "Display" tab the default for new files or
restore these defaults.
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p110
p111
3D-viewer
This window allows you to view and print your layout in 3D. You can rotate and scale it as
you need to.
In orthogonal view all sizes are displayed correctly: edges of the same length are displayed in
the same size, no matter if they are in the foreground or in the background.
In perspective view elements in the background will appear smaller. Therefore in perspective
view the zoom-value is not more than just a hint.
Here is a description of the various icons:
Toggle display of terrain. To edit the terrain, use the function Adjust height of terrain (
"Features" tab) and the terrain-tool.
A Toggle display of article-numbers
D Toggle display of descriptions
H Toggle display of height
Toggle display of ties (sleepers)
Toggle display of the coordinate-crosshairs
Toggle display of page frames. The page frames show you how your layout will be spread
over the pages when printed with ”display of entire layout” off.
Enables the clipping planes. If the layout disappears as you enable the clipping planes,
you should set the left, back and bottom-sliders to the leftmost value and the right, front and
top-sliders to the rightmost value. To create frames you can call the command of the
Special-menu.
Here you can set how to draw the terrain and the coordinate-crosshairs.
Opens a window where you can change the light.

Ambient light has no direction - this is the "overall brightness" of the scene.
Sunlight in contrast has a direction. However, instead of a simulation of how the sun moves,
depending on time of year and latitude, WinRail offers to set the height (above the horizon)
and the position (quarter). When the height is 90°, then the position doesn't matter, of
course.
You may set colour and brightness to simulate sunrise, dawn, cloudy weather or even
moonlight.
WinRail doesn't provide shadows, however, because a layout contains very many details -
today's PCs still are not powerful enough.
Opens a window where you can choose the layers to be displayed.
Toggle display of entire layout. The slider ”Zoom” can only be used when display of entire
layout is off.
Starts printing. The layout will always be printed using the current zoom setting. If
display of entire layout is on, the whole layout will be printed centred on a single page.
Printer resolution may require an enormous amount of memory. In case you get an "Out of
memory" error message, please reduce the colour depth of the screen. You can access this
setting via the Windows Control Panel or by right-clicking an empty area of the desktop, then
choose "Properties", page "Settings". Another way to copy the 3D-view to the clipboard is to
press <ALT>+<Prt Sc>. However, this way you get the image in screen resolution which is
much lower than the resolution of a printer.
p112
Here you can set the page frames, also, as known from the 2D-printing, you can define an
overlap, so that it's easier to assemble the several pages of a large layout.
Copies the layout to the clipboard, using printer resolution, as if it had been printed with
display entire layout on. This enables you to use and print the drawing in other applications
without loss of quality.
Editing the terrain
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p113
System
Before you add Catenary to your layout, you should decide here if your system requires the
running wires to bent in curves or (realistically) not. This enables WinRail to calculate the
correct length.
Attention: The setting Wire is bent in curves only takes effect when the masts are docked
to the track!
In any case WinRail will draw straight lines – this setting only determines how the length has
to be calculated by the software!
You may additional symbols for the insulations of 3-rail track.
Also here you can choose the desired drawing accuracy. The higher accuracy requires more
calculations and may reduce the drawing speed.
The values you set are valid for the Zoom-value 1:1 and will be scaled according to the zoom
value. In other words, if you set the zoom to 1:10 and the accuracy to +/-0.5 mm, the
effective drawing accuracy is +/- 0.05 mm.
Thus WinRail switches to the lower accuracy automatically for Zoom-values greater than 10,
because the effective accuracy is then limited by the resolution of screen or printer.
You can decide here how you want the Tool Clone (Pick object from layout) to work.
If you check Clone all properties, all settings of the original element will be copied.
Otherwise, the settings made on the tab pages "Properties" "Track" and "Flex track" will be
applied.
Further, you can decide whether arcs shall be painted by Windows or by application in case
the radii are too large to be displayed correctly by Windows (please refer to Views for further
information).
Another driver-problem is addressed by the Draw flex track setting. If your computer hangs
whenever WinRail tries to draw a flex track, choose slow (and safe) until you get an updated
video driver.
The display of tagged elements and areas can be affected here as well: You can choose filled
or outlined.
If you have a slow machine, you may want WinRail to display only the surrounding
rectangles (frames only) then you drag elements.
Hint: As usual, displaying complex graphical elements requires huge amounts of processor
capacity. If you are using a high-performance system: Congratulations – keep on working.
You can choose your favourite measuring unit – Inches or Centimetres.
WinRail creates backup copies every time you open a file. These files are named "Copy of
<Filename>". WinRail can load these files like any other layout file.
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Here you can switch off the creation of these backup-copies or tell WinRail to copy the
backup copy into the bucket bin.
The number of steps for Undo is set here, too. If you should get "Out of memory" error
messages you should reduce this number.
If you don't want WinRail to assign elevations to turnouts, you can switch that feature off
here.
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Tolerances
Here you can adjust the required precision to place the cursor when using tools. Additionally,
adjustments are made how exact track ends must meet to be connected.
You can set here how much the length of running-wire segments may be off to be accepted by
the routines that assign article numbers to the wire segments in your layout.
And you can set the distance used for creating terrain points by the 3D-features.
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Grid lines
You may enable a grid on your working area and define how this grid will be shown, to have a
better orientation.
Also you may set the origin of the coordinate system as well as the orientation of the axis.
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The tools
Tools-Arrow
Tools-Move description
Tools-Place object
Tools-Place track and connect
Tools-Text field
Tools-Font
Tools-Join track
Tools-Disconnect track
Tools-Loosen track
Tools-Flip track joints
Tools-Insulation
Tools-Height
Tools-Detect height of track
Tools-Calculate distance
Tools-Clearance
Tools-Flex track-Insert flex track
Tools-Flex track-Shape flex track
Tools-Flex track-Cut
Tools-Flex track-Move track
Tools-Flex track-Crossover
Tools-Flex track-Convert to flex track
Tools-Draw-Wire/Line
Tools-Draw-Arc
Tools-Draw-Rectangle
Tools-Draw-Rectangle with round edges
Tools-Draw-Polygon
Tools-Draw-Ellipse
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Tools-Catenary-Dock to track
Tools-Catenary-Loosen docked element
Tools-Catenary-Add running wire
Tools-Catenary-Delete running wire
Tools-Catenary-Crossing
Tools-Catenary-Assign article nos.
Tools-Terrain
Tools-Pick element from layout
Tools-Measurement
Tools-Toggle fixation
Tools-Remove element from group
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Tool-Arrow
This tool is used to tag elements which will be manipulated afterwards. If you tag one
element, all connected track is selected, too. To have only one element tagged, you first
have to use Tools-Disconnect track or Tools-Loosen track - or press the <Ctrl> while
clicking.
To avoid moving elements by mistake when you click them because you only want to edit
their properties, you may want to use the tool Tag only instead.
Overlapping objects can be tagged successively by simply clicking – each click selects the
following element. To change the order of the elements please use the commands Bring to
front and Put to back on the "Features" tab.
To tag a number of objects, hold down the <Shift> key while clicking each object. For a
special area, you can use rectangular selection:
Move the cursor to one corner of the desired area, press (and hold down!) the left mouse
button and drag the mouse to the opposite corner. Release the button. That's it!
To move objects, click and drag them to the new position.
If you drag a track section or a catenary mast, and you drag the element over a position tag
of a benchwork, the mouse cursor will change to a target butt, and if you release the mouse
button the element will be placed and aligned accordingly. This will work even if you had
tagged several connected track sections. However, in that case the element you had clicked
at must be the one you want to be placed on the position tag. If you do not want the element
to be placed on the tag, please press < Control> and <Shift>.
To tag running wires you have to tag the masts they are connected to.
To tag more than one catenary mast at a time, press the <Shift>-key when clicking the
second mast to tag all masts and wires between the two masts you clicked, or press
<Control> to tag all connected masts and wires.
The context menu of this tool contains a command to rotate text fields.
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Tool-Tag only
This tool works like the Arrow tool, but keeps you from moving elements by mistake if you
just want to the heir properties.
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Tool-Move description
Clicking a description or part number and dragging the mouse with left button held down will
cause the description to move. The position of descriptions is tied to the object – if you now
move the object itself, the description will be moved as well.
Text fields cannot be moved using this tool. You move them as track or other parts.
The height fields created using the tool Detect height of track are just special text fields
and can not be moved using this tool.
The context menu of this tool contains a command to rotate text fields.
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Tool-Place object
This tool adds the currently selected element to your layout. If you press <Ctrl> while
clicking, a dialog box will pop up. You can enter absolute coordinates.
If you move the mouse cursor close to a position tag of a benchwork, the cursor will become a
target butt, and after you click the m ouse button the element will be positioned and aligned
accordingly - of course only if the element is a track section or a catenary mast. If you do not
want the element to be aligned please press the <Shift>-key.
If you placed a track section, possibly not the end you desired has been placed on the tag. In
this case please choose the arrow-tool and move the desired end over the tag.
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Tool-Place track and connect
This tool lets you add new elements, which will immediately be connected to the rest of the
track.
The cursor changes its shape depending on whether track can be connected at the current
position or not.
In the system dialogue (reachable via the "View" tab) you can adjust the precision for
positioning the cursor in order to get parts connected.
It is also possible to insert sections into an existing line of track. However, it makes sense
only sometimes to insert a turnout, because you can't control which of the existing sections
will be moved.
Therefore you should especially avoid inserting curved sections.
You even can insert straight sections, turnouts and crossings into straight flex sections. An
example:
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Tool-Pick element from layout
Clicking an object within the layout using this tool will choose just this as actual element for
Tools-Place element and Tools-Place track and connect. So, you don't have to go to
the selection bar or the selection window.
In the System dialogue ("View" tab) you determine if you want all properties of the element
to be copied, or if you want to use the defaults set on the tabs "Properties" and "Track".
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Tool-Measurement
Inserts a measurement. Just click the two points you'd like to measure the distance of. The
mouse capture set for lines will be used.
When you move the mouse close to a connection point of a track section you will notice a
change of the shape of the mouse cursor. The measurement then will be placed exactly at
the location of the connecting point. Keep the <Ctrl>-key depressed to place a measurement
close to, but not on the connecting point.
To measure the distance between track sections, press the <Shift>-key while you click the
first track section. Then the shortest distance between the point you clicked first and the
second track section will be measured.
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Tool-Insert ruler
Opens a window where you can specify the length and a few other settings of the ruler.
After you have clicked OK you can place the ruler with one mouse click in your layout and
then tag, move and rotate it like any other element.
The ruler will not appear in the 3D-view!
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Tool-Connect track
Two pieces of track will be connected. A connection is shown by a small circle.
If ends are meeting at the correct angle, you will need only one simple click. In case there's a
gap between them, you click one element first. With a click on the second element they will
be connected in that way, that the first-clicked element moves towards the second. Of
course, this will only work if these pieces of track are not connected yet (indirectly).
Flex tracks are treated the same way. If you keep <Shift> depressed while clicking a flex
track, no elements will be moved, but the flex track will change its shape accordingly.
So you can use this tool to fill gaps automatically with fitting pieces.
If the clicked ends are already connected indirectly, WinRail will search for fitting pieces to
fill that gap. In this way, you can close circles and ellipses. Settings for this function can be
made via Close gaps ("Track" tab). No special forms of track are added when closing circles if
you also use the libraries that came with this version of WinRail.
If you want to fill gaps between two independent tracks, just hold down <Ctrl> when clicking
the second end.
Last, but not least, this tool can create a crossover and move the turnout you clicked first
acc ordingly, if it is surrounded by straight flex sections. Keep <Shift>+<Ctrl> depressed
when you click the second turnout to activate this feature. Here is an example:
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Tool-Disconnect track
Different to Tool-Loosen track, one single connection is removed.
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Tool-Loosen track
Different to Tool-Disconnect track, all connections of the selected track are removed at
once.
To remove all connections of the line you click at, keep the <Ctrl>-key depressed while you
click.
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Tool-Flip track joints
Can be used for elements connected at one end only. So you eventually have to use
Tools-Disconnect track. If you want to process the latest added track, use Flip track on
the "Features" tab.
Example:
This also works for turnouts etc. that are only connected with a straight section, even with
asymmetric crossings when connected to straight flex sections. See Tool-Place track and
connect for an example.
This command also can rotate that object that has just been docked to a track section by
90°. WinRail will use the last setting for further elements to be docked.
If you press <Ctrl>, the docked element will be moved to the opposite side of the track
section.
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Tool-Insulation
Tags a track joint as insulated.
Instead of the usual circle, a cross (both rails insulated) or an arrow (only one rail insulated)
will show up. The symbol will change every time you click. To turn a cross into a circle, three
clicks are needed.
Examples:
The feature that checks for short circuits will take only track joints tagged with a circle as
connected, all others will be taken as completely insulated.
In the System dialogue ("View" tab) you can activate additional symbols for the insulation of
three-rail track. Then eight different symbols are available, thus you may have to click up to
seven times to get the desired symbol.
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Tool-3-rail track
Using this tool you can add a second connecting point to the end of a 3-rail track section, so
that a narrow gauge sections fits when connected to the 3-rail track.
Just click the end of a track section to open a dialogue window where you can enter the
required values. If the track already contained an additional connecting point then you can
edit it.
If the narrow gauge section should connect to the wrong (centred) connecting point, please
click the 3-rail section with the tool Flip track joints.
If a track on both ends has an additional connecting point then WinRail will draw a third rail.
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Tool-Text field
Adds a text field to your layout. The size depends on the amount of text and the chosen font.
If you hold down <Ctrl> when adding a text field, you will not be prompted for input. In that
case you can enter your text later on the "Properties" tab. There you can also rotate your
text. It is not possible to do that using Tools-Rotate element!
Any other manipulation is done the same way as for track. The font can be changed using
the Tool-Font or on the "Properties" tab.
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Tools-Font
This is a way to change the font of text fields, article numbers, descriptions, heights and
so on quickly without using the several tab pages.
Please note that all article numbers and descriptions always use the same font!
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Flex track
Tool-Insert flex track
in the Type group on the "Flex track" tab (without an element in the layout being tagged),
although changes can be made at any time.
To insert a flex section two mouse-clicks are always required. Between the two points you
clicked at the section will be inserted. It is most comfortable to click the ends of two sections
that already exist - in this case WinRail will connect the new flex section to the sections you
clicked at, and of course the ends of the flex section will point to the correct direction. You
also may click just somewhere on your workspace. Then, however, it is likely that you will
have to adjust the direction of the flex section. This can be done on the page Position of the
dialog Shape flex track that will pop up.
If you want to connect to existing sections with a flex section that has a fixed radius,
eventually combined with a straight section, please press the <Shift> key when you click the
second time:
It's possible to have a straight flex track between two other tracks if they are in a straight
line. If the second track should not be aligned properly, press <Shift><Ctrl> when clicking
it. It will now be positioned correctly, and the flex track will be inserted.
To change the shape of the flex section, click it with the tool Shape flex track.
The DLL-interface for the creation of your own flex sections.
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Tool-Shape Flex track
Internally, Flex tracks created with the tool Insert flex track are treated as Beziér graphs
with two anchor points and two base points each. The anchor points are at the same time the
connection to the next piece of track. The base points are responsible for the curve-gradient
of the track. They are positioned on a line, which represents the straight direction of the flex
track from the anchor-point. These base points can be moved to adjust the curve gradient of
the flex track by moving the track bars in the dialog box that opens when you click a flex
track.
Just try and play a bit with this function.
Here is an example of how it works:
Right-click one of the sliders if you need to extend the range of them.
Click Optimize to make sure that the smallest radius is as large as possible.
Unfortunately there is no way to get a definite solution of this problem, instead WinRail just
tries several values. Therefore it is possible that a second click gives different results, they
may be even worse then the previous try. In that case, just click Optimize again, or cancel
the dialog and try again.
The red dot in the track section shows you where the smallest radius appears.
Also the length of the both rails is displayed. This may be helpful to cut the section properly,
but it is strongly recommended that you test-fit the section before you cut!
If at least one end of the flex section is not connected to another section, the dialog box will
display the additional page Position where you can adjust position and direction. The sliders
allow you to move the position by 1 metre in any direction. If you need to move the position
by more than one metre, please enter a value - then the sliders again will allow to move the
position by 1 metre around the new value you have entered.
The DLL-interface for the creation of your own flex sections.
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Tool–Cut flex track
This tool cuts any flex section, no matter how it had been created, wherever you want.
However, the shape of the resulting parts can't be changed any more afterwards.
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Tool–Move track
This tool moves track sections connected to straight flex sections in a straight line. The
length of the straight flex sections will be adjusted accordingly. An example:
This will only work with straight flex sections created via Shape flex track on the "Flex
track" tab!
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Tool-Crossover
This tool creates a crossover between two parallel straight flex sections. There must be a
turnout in one of the parallels already. Then you just have to click the turnout once. An
example:
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Tool-Convert to flex track
This tool converts sectionalized track to straight and curved flex track.
The whole line will to the next turnout/crossing or to the end of the line will be converted.
Therefore you perhaps will have to cut, the desired section off the rest of your layout.
However, if you click a curved section while pressing the <Ctrl>-key, this section will be
converted into a formable flex section.
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Tool-Height
With this tool you can apply a height to any kind of element.
If you click a track's end with this tool, a dialog box will pop up where you can enter an
altitude which will be valid for connected track as well if the check box Apply this setting to
connected tracks is activated. Then the resulting gradient will be displayed.
Instead of this, you can choose Calculate gradient. It's possible to have Flex track within a
line; switches and crossings as well – but they must not be connected to more than two ends!
An easier way to assign gradients, however, is the Tool Gradient.
Crossings can be assigned an altitude, but no gradient. They always have to be in a

horizontal position. If you also want switches always to be in a horizontal position, you can
tell WinRail on the System dialogue not to apply gradients to them.
An example for a track with switches and crossings:
Now, altitudes were assigned – please realize all ends of switches and crossings are on the
same level as the feature of assigning gradients to switches had been disabled!
Use the tool Detect height of track to find out the height at a certain point or where the
track has a certain height.
More information can be found in the Gradients and level grounds chapter of the introduction.
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Tool-Gradient
Using this tool you can enter gradients without having to cut the track sections off the layout
as it is required using the tool Height.
Just click at the start and at the end of the line you want to apply a gradient to. After the
second click a dialogue box will open where you can enter the height of the two points of the
gradient.
Whenever you change a value, the resulting gradient or height, respectively, will be
calculated and shown.
More information can be found in the Gradients and level grounds chapter of the introduction.
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Tool-Clearance
For straight sections you just have to measure the width of your cars to find out the required
clearance. For curved sections, however, things get difficult, as this drawing shows:
The ends of the car move outwards, whereas the middle part moves to the inner side of the
curve.
The Clearance tool will run a virtual car on your layout that will draw the clearance lines.
The calculations are very performance consuming, so you should be the owner of a fast
computer (800 MHz or more) or be very patient if you use this feature.
Fortunately in most cases the simple roadbed lines are sufficient; this tool makes sense only
for platforms and other things that have to be placed as close as possible to the track.
You can watch the car while it runs over your layout, but this costs an additional amount of
time, so you can switch it off. On the other hand – it is fun to watch the car, and it will
probably be necessary in the future to have a possibility to slow it down when the computers
get faster.
The dialog box that pops up when you click a track section asks you for several settings.
Very important are the dimensions of the largest car. Please enter them in the window that
opens when you click Define car.
The defaults for the maximum width W are taken from NEM 301. You may enter other
values, however.
Then you need the overall length L and the length L1 between the axles or pins.
When the car has finished its trip over your layout, there are three lines on each side of the
track. It is not easy to build a smooth line with the largest distance to the track centre from
this, especially because for a computer a line is just a set of single points. That's the reason
for the smoothening-settings.
The larger the max. distance for line points after smoothening, the smoother the line, but the
more details get lost.
When a point is found where the two neighbours have a larger distance to the track centre,
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the point will be removed, if the distance is within Max dist for smoothening.
Again, smoothening means losing details, that's why there are no default values that are
perfect for any purpose and any scale. If you don't like the resulting lines, just change the
values and click Smoothen.
Delete removes existing clearance lines from the part of the layout you clicked at.
Start will run your virtual car over all track sections connected to the sections you clicked at.
You choose the colours and if you want to get the lines displayed in your layout on the
"Display" tab. For single sections you can deactivate the display of the lines on the "Track"
tab.
More clearance standards
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Benchworks
Tool-Draw rectangular benchwork
Another way to create a rectangular benchwork is the Create benchwork-command of the

Special-menu.
Drag the mouse with the left button depressed to the desired size. Keep the <Shift>-key
depressed to create a square.
You can change the size of the benchwork at any time using the tool Tag benchwork.
Use the tool Edit/create track position to add a tag for the position of track sections and
catenary masts. If you place elements on these tags, they will be placed and aligned
acc ordingly.
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Tool-Draw benchwork (Polygon)
This tool enables you to draw benchworks of any shape. Standard-shapes (rectangular,
triangular, U-, L- und surround) are created more easily using the Create benchwork
command of the Special-menu.
Click the corners of the polygon with the left mouse button, but the last corner has to be
clicked with the right mouse button. The line from last point to first point will be added
automatically.
Press the <Shift>-key to create vertical or horizontal lines.
The position of the vertices can be changed at any time using the tool Tag benchwork.
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Tool-Tag benchwork
This tool works like the arrow-tool, but only for benchworks. All commands available for
tagged elements will work as usual. Particularly you may want to export the tagged
benchwork(s) to a new benchwork-file (.rad).
To tag a number of benchworks, hold down the <Shift> key while clicking each object. For a
button and drag the mouse to the opposite corner. Release the button.
After you have moved a benchwork, WinRail will adjust the workspace accordingly.
To change the size of a benchwork, you may place the mouse on one of its vertices and drag
it. However, an easier and more accurate way to achieve this is the command Edit benchwork
on the "Features" tab.
If you want to manipulate the benchwork and the elements it contains, please use the tool
Tag benchwork and contained elements.
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Tool-Tag benchwork and contained elements
Use this tool to tag and manipulate benchworks and the contained elements. Connected
benchworks are treated as a single element (like connected track sections) and tagged with
just a single mouse click.
Benchworks are connected if at least one element lies partially on one benchwork and
partially on the other one.
In other words, this tool works like the arrow-tool, but only for benchworks. All commands
available for tagged elements will work as usual. Particularly you may want to export the
tagged elements including the benchwork(s) to a new file to create a separate module.
If you find that your benchwork is connected to others, but you want to tag only one of them,
the command Separate layer may help you to loosen the connections to other layers.
By default a benchwork contains all elements that are placed on, above and below it. If you
have the intention to stack benchworks, you should assign one or more layer(s) to it. Then
the benchwork will contain only elements that are placed in its range and in one of the
assigned layers.
To assign layers to a benchwork, tag it using the tool Tag benchwork, and use Assign layer to
benchwork on the "Properties" tab.
bottom-most benchwork will also contain elements placed below it.
We recommend that you create every one of the benchworks that later will overlap others in a
separate file. As a last step you may then use the Add layout command of the Edit-menu to
merge the benchworks - not only because WinRail can't create frames for overlapping
benchworks.
To tag a number of benchworks, hold down the <Shift> key while clicking each object. For a
button and drag the mouse to the opposite corner. Release the button.
After you have moved a benchwork, WinRail will adjust the workspace accordingly.
If you want to manipulate the benchwork without the elements it contains, please use the
tool Tag benchwork.
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Tool-Align benchwork
This tool assists you aligning your benchworks properly.
of the other benchwork. If the length of the edges is different, please place the second click
close to the corner where you want the benchworks to be aligned.
If you want to align a benchwork and also move the elements it contains, please use the tool
Align benchwork and contained elements.
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Tool-Align benchwork and contained elements
This tool assists you aligning your benchworks (and the elements they contain) properly.
of the other benchwork. If the length of the edges is different, please place the second click
close to the corner where you want the bemchworks to be aligned.
Connected benchworks are treated as a single element (like connected track sections) and
tagged with just a single mouse click.
Benchworks are connected if at least one element lies partially on one benchwork and
partially on the other one.
If you want to align a benchwork without moving the elements it contains, please use the
tool Align benchwork.
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Tool-Edit/create track position
Use this tool to add tags for the position of track sections and catenary masts to your
benchwork. These tags are very helpful if you are planning a module layout.
After you clicked with the mouse a dialog box will open that allows you to correct the
coordinates, as it is important for modules to be very exact. Also you will have to enter the
direction the track sections points to.
The coordinates you enter are considered to be relative to the upper left corner of the
benchwork.
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Drawing tools
Tool-Draw-Wire/Line
Use this tool to create wires and lines.
The difference between wires and lines is that wires have soldering points at their ends. If
you set the diameter of soldering points to 0 (on the "Properties" tab), lines are generated.
Unlike lines, wires are listed in your statistics, separated by colours. On initial choice of a
colour, you will be prompted to enter a name. Internally, colours are represented by numbers
only – it's quite impossible to pre-define names for 16.8 billions of colours...
This name is used to calculate the combined length required. It surely won't fit exactly, but
it's a good approximation to know how much of each colour you should buy. By the way, if
different colours are given the same name, statistics will treat them as identical.
Lines with a height applied are a great help to set the height of the terrain.
Drawing: Click the desired starting point and release the mouse button. At any point where
the line should change direction, click once more. To finish a line, right-click.
To get vertical or horizontal lines or wires, keep the <Shift> key depressed when drawing.
Shape of lines can be changed later on by tagging with Tools-Arrow and then dragging
ends or corners to a new position.
Other drawing-tools:
Arc
Rectangle
Rectangle with round corners
Polygon
Ellipse
For more sophisticated drawings we recommend that you use a specialized drawing
application to create them and then use the paste commands of the Clipboard group on the
"Home" tab to add them to the layout.
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Tool-Draw-Arc
Adds an arc to your layout.
When you click the desired location, a dialog pops up where you can enter radius, angle,
colour and so on.
To change the shape later on, tag it and open the tab sheet Lines of the Element-Properties
dialog.
Other drawing tools:
Line
Rectangle
Polygon
Ellipse
application to create them and then use the paste-commands of the Clipboard group on the
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Tool-Draw-Rectangle
Drag the mouse with the left button depressed to the desired size. Keep the <Shift>-key
depressed to create a square.
The properties are set under Element-Properties-Lines.
In contrast to most other elements, you can't rotate these rectangles, because rotation is not
supported by the Windows-GDI. If you need to rotate the shape, please use the Polygon
tool.
Line
Arc
Polygon
Ellipse
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Tool-Draw-Rectangle with rounded corners
Works like the Tool draw rectangle, but the corners of the rectangles are rounded..
Keep the <Shift>-key depressed to create a square.
supported by the Windows-GDI.
In the 3D-view these rectangles are drawn without round corners.
Line
Arc
Rectangle
Polygon
Ellipse
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Tool-Draw-Polygon
Drawing polygons works much like drawing lines: Click the corners of the polygon with
the left mouse button, but the last corner has to be clicked with the right mouse button. The
line from last point to first point will be added automatically.
Press the <Shift>-key to create vertical or horizontal lines.
Line
Arc
Rectangle
Ellipse
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Tool-Draw-Ellipse
This toll draws an ellipse or a circle if you press <Shift>.
supported by the Windows-GDI.
Other drawing-tools::
Line
Arc
Rectangle
Polygon
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Tools-Toggle fixation
This is a quick way to toggle a fixation without having to open the "Properties" tab.
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Tools-Remove element from group
To remove only a single element from a group you could:
- tag the group
- use Discard group (on the "Features" tab)
- click the element while the <Shift>-key is pressed
- and then use Group (on the "Features" tab)
- or just click the element with this tool.
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Catenary
Tools-Catenary-Dock to track
This tool is useful when you want to place elements (not track sections!) in a certain distance
to the track centre and aligned to the track. Catenary masts are a good example but,
although this tool has moved to the catenary-menu, it is not limited to catenary masts.
The default distance is the width of the track or the width of the slope, if a roadbed width is
defined. Under Special Docking-Settings you can change this setting, so that for example
the clearance lines are taken into account.
First choose an element from the library that is not a trac k section (WinRail comes with many
libraries of catenary masts), then you can select this tool. Now just click the track section
where you want the element to appear.
Element-Flip track and Tools-Flip track will rotate the docked element by 90°; keep
the <Ctrl>-key depressed to move the docked element to the opposite side of the track
section.
When you use Element-Flip track WinRail will remember the last position and apply it to
further elements you dock to track sections.
To place several elements at equal distances along the track, for example catenary masts,
press the <Ctrl>-key while you click the track section with the Dock to track-tool. A dialog
box will open and ask you for the distance between the elements. Then the elements will be
placed along the track line until its end or until the next turnout or crossing.
If you clicked an existing catenary mast, it will be used as starting point, and no second mast
will be placed.
When you dock multiple catenary masts at once, the running wires are tensed between them
automatically.
For catenary masts you enter the distance between running wire and the centre of the track.
You even can enter two different values to get a zig-zag wire (click Settings); additionally you
can use two different masts, for example one with a long outrigger and the second with a
short one.
You can edit and move docked elements like any other element, but when you move the track
it belongs to, the docked element will follow.
In other words, clicking a docked element only tags this element, but clicking a track section
tags the track section and all its docked elements.
It is possible to dock elements that you already have in your layout. First click the element,
then click the track section.
There is another tool to loosen docked elements.
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p157
Tools-Catenary-Loosen docked element
This tool loosens docked elements from the track section to which they belong.
Although this tool has moved to the catenary-menu, it can be used to un-dock any kind of
element, not only catenary masts.
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p158
Tools-Catenary-Add running wire
Click the connecting points of two masts or span bridges to tense a wire between them.
WinRail tries automatically to find a matching wire segment in the currently loaded library.
Add crossing segment
Adding catenary to a track line
Delete a running wire
More information on catenary
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p159
Tools-Catenary-Delete running wire
Just click a running wire to delete it.
If you delete a catenary mast, all wires connected to it will be deleted as well (otherwise
they'd fall down on the track and cause accidents ).
Add running wire
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p160
Tools-Catenary-Crossing
Some catenary systems provide special crossing segments.
You can activate this tool to add such a crossing segment only under the following conditions:
- the currently loaded library contains at least one crossing segment
- there is at least one crossing in the layout
- the currently chosen element is a catenary mast.
Click the desired crossing the place the segment over the centre of the crossing. Additionally
four catenary masts will be docked to the crossing.
If the length of the crossing segment is variable, the masts will be placed as close as possible
to the ends of the crossing. In any case the masts will be docked to the crossing, even if the
minimum length of the crossing segment is longer than the length of the crossing.
Add running wire
Delete running wire
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p161
Tools-Catenary-Assign article nos.
WinRail tries to assign article numbers from the library automatically whenever you add a
wire or change its length by moving one of the related masts.
Details...
However, there are a few reason you might want to initiate the assignment manually:
- You may have moved a mast while a track library was loaded. Because it didn't
contain catenary elements, no matching wire segment was found.
- The is more than one matching element, and you want to decide which one to be used
- You changed the catenary library
In these cases you can click the wire segments one by one to assign article numbers to them.
If more than one matching element is found, a menu will open to choose from.
Another way to assign article numbers is to tag them and then call Assign article nos.
to running wire.
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p162
Edit connection of running wire at mast
This tool allows you to edit, create and delete connecting points at masts and span bridges
for running wires.
-o-
p163
Tool-Terrain
The best way to set the height of the terrain is to place lines or rectangles, apply a
height to them and call Adjust height of terrain ("Features" tab).
The distance between the points that will be created depends on the setting you made in the
3D input box in the tool bar beneath the menu bar.
For additional details and colouring you will need the terrain tool.
You should not try to add too many details with this tool, it is just designed to allow some
fine-tuning. For ramps and roads use Special-Ramp/Pillar; for structures a light version of
the Parts Compiler is included with WinRail Standard (the full version is included in WinRail
DeLuxe).
As you activate this tool, you will probably notice that many details of your layout will not be
drawn to give you a better overview. Also, several commands will not be available in
terrain-mode.
WinRail maintains a list of points, each of them holding information about height and colour.
Height and colour between these points will be interpolated.
You can add points or edit existing ones by double-clicking them or by choosing the
appropriate commands from the context menu that opens when you click the right
mouse-button.
To manipulate several points at once or an area, move the mouse while you keep the left
button depressed and then choose from the context menu.
You can drag the selected points to another location.
Insert point
Insert point with last recent setting
Edit
Shift height
Shift colours
Set colour of terrain according to height
Choose colours
Load height profile
Delete point
-o-
p164
Terrain - Insert and/or edit point
Adds new points or edits existing ones. You will notice a change of the mouse cursor as you
hit a point.
You can change the colour, the height, or both; just check the appropriate boxes.
If you are editing an area, i.e. you opened a rectangle dragging the mouse, you have the
choice only to edit the points included with the rectangle, or to set the properties of the whole
area covered by the rectangle.
This dialog also allows you to delete points. However, the four points at the outer corners of
the terrain can't be deleted.
There are commands to shift colour and height.
-o-
p165
Terrain-Insert point with last recent setting
Adds a point with the settings made in the Edit point - dialog most recently.
-o-
Terrain-Shift height or colour
Instead of setting all tagged points to the same height and colour, these commands shift
the values by an amount you have to specify, so that the distance between the points will
remain the same so that you can easily move whatever you have created to another level.
On a computer-screen, colours consist of three components: red, green and blue.
You can shift the overall brightness of the colours, which will change the value of each
component by the same amount. However, it is also possible to change the value of the three
components independently.
-o-
p166
Terrain-Choose colour
WinRail offers a list of heights with corresponding colours that you may change.
In the area below the list you can see how the colours will fade between the heights.
These colours will be used by the several functions that adjust the height of the terrain,
especially when loading a height profile.
-o-
p167
Terrain-Height lines
Creates height lines in the vertical distance you have set. It is possible to see the height lines
permanently or only while the Tool Terrain is active.
This is an example:
-o-
p168
Terrain-Load height profile
Will load a text file containing coordinates and heights. These points will be added or will
replace existing points, respectively.
The file may be created using NotePad or any other text processor. Please make sure to save
the file as plain text (.txt) with line breaks.
Every line defines a single point or a line:
<x> <y> <z> defines a point,
<x1> <y1> <z1> <x2> <y2> <z2> defines a line. The X- and Y-values are the c oordinates
as displayed by the rulers. The Z-value is the height.
Lines starting with a semicolon are ignored.
The values have to be in mm or in inches, depending on the setting in the System dialogue (
"View"-tab).
For lines several points will be created. The distance depends on the value set in the input
box labeled 3D in the tool bar under the menu bar.
Example:
; Point at x=100, y=100, height = 50:
100 100 50
; Line from x=200, y=100, height 50 to x=200, y=400, height = 100
200 100 50 200 400 100
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p169
Terrain-Set colour according to height
This command will apply a colour to the tagged terrain-points.
WinRail maintains a list of height values with the corresponding colours. On the bottom of
the Window you can see how the colour will fade from one value to the other.
The height of the points does not have to match exactly the values in the list; the colours will
be calculated accordingly.
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p170
Terrain-Delete point
Will delete point(s) from the terrain. The Edit point - dialog offers this feature as well.
However, the four points at the outer corners of the terrain can't be deleted.
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p171
Terrain-Fill edges
Depending on the shape of the benchwork and the position of the "terrain points" it is possible
that in the 3D-view the benchwork is not completely filled with terrain.
This function tries to fix this by adding additional points at the edges of the benchwork.
WinRail did this automatically in previous versions, but for complex shapes this may mess up
the terrain. Also while you change the shape of the benchwork many additional points would
eventually be added, most of them useless.
Therefore we recommend that you call this function as the last step.
For complex shapes it might be necessary to call this function more than once.
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p172
Introduction
Answers to frequently asked questions (FAQ)
- Crashes/Error message when the application starts or on certain actions
In the last months a few users reported very strange problems: WinRail won't start at all, or a
wide range of problems occur, from access violations to bluescreens.
The most common reasons are still misbehaved video drivers. Your first action when you
encounter problems should be to visit the web site of the manufacturer of your video card,
download the latest driver version and install it. Some drivers offer options related to the
hardware acceleration, sometimes called performance settings. They are worth a try.
If this doesn't help, you should get the latest drivers for all of your hardware components,
including chipset drivers for the motherboard and an updated BIOS.
Please refer to the computer manual.
- I decreased the Zoom-value, and now I can't scroll to the right and bottom part of
my layout
Open the "View" tab and increase the limits of your workspace to get a larger range of the
scroll bars..
- Some curves are not visible
When using big radii and a zoom of 1:1 down to 1:5, some screen or printer drivers may have
trouble displaying the curves.
Set Curves painted by application in the System dialogue ("View" tab) to avoid this.
- The tracks don't fit as you think they should
Well - of course there may be an error in the library.
In most cases, however, it will turn out that the tracks really don't fit, for several reasons:
- You chose a wrong radius by mistake. Refer to information supplied by the manufacturer,
especially when you attempt to use curved turnouts.
- The tracks don't fit as the manufacturer would like to see it. One example in the past was
the Atlas H0 snap switches, but you still will get trouble with some N gauge curved switches
from other manufacturers.
- Any attempt to draw a flex track hangs the computer
This is definitely a fault of the video driver. Try to get an updated driver from the
manufacturer of your graphics adaptor.
This problem applies especially to brand new machines/adaptors.
Perhaps setting Draw flex track to slow in the System dialogue ("View" tab) may help.
- How do I place a round loco shed in the right distance to the turntable?
The loco sheds have connection points, so it is easy to build a complete circle of sheds. Now
tag the shed circle and the turntable, then align them horizontally and vertically centred.
p173
Afterwards you can delete the additional sheds.
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p174
Introduction
Troubleshooting
First, reading the chapter Frequently asked questions is strongly recommended - perhaps
you will find a solution there.
If you really don't know how to go on, and you can‚t find any hint in the online help, then you
may call any member of the WinRail Team:
Gunnar Blumert
Waldstrasse 117
D-25712 Burg
Germany
Phone:+49-(0)4825-2892 (mo. - fri. 14.30 - 16.30 ME[S]T)

Fax:+49-(0)4825-1217
Email info@winrail.de
http://www.winrail.de
Span Software
Little Moss, Peacock Lane
High Legh
Knutsford, Cheshire
WA16 6PL
England
Phone +44-(0)1565-832999
Fax +44-(0)1565-830653
Email info@winrail.com
http://www.winrail.com
Trenes-Aguilo
08950 Esplugues de Llobregat (Barcelona)
Spain
Tel.: 00 34 93 499 05 29
E-mail.: trenes-aguilo@infonegocio.com
http://www.trenes-aguilo.com
If something doesn't work out the right way, please shut down Windows, restart your
computer and don't start anything else but WinRail. If the error doesn't come up again, some
other application is responsible for it. Otherwise, there are two possibilities:
- You have a problem with your Windows-Installation or the cooperation between Windows
and your hardware. In that case also we can't be of much help.
- There is a bug in WinRail. According to Murphy, there is always one more bug in an
application --- but this applies to Windows, too.
If you experience problems with the printing, most probably your printer driver is the bad
guy. Try another printer driver or another printing resolution (eg., 180 dpi). In any case the
functions for printing are the same as the output-functions to the screen.
p175
To give you efficient help. we need detailed information. Which function did you call, what
happened and what, in your opinion, was to happen ?
Tips and hints for further development of this application are highly appreciated at any time.
But please: we can't promise to answer all letters. You can rest assured, however, that all
reasonable proposals will be worked on.
-o-
p176
Introduction
Registering WinRail
If you are using the demonstration or shareware version of WinRail, you should register with
us to receive the full product and to be eligible for our support and advice.
Here are the prices: In the UK, WinRail (including more than 350 libraries) sells at £49.95.
WinRail DeLuxe (including the full Parts Compiler to create your own libraries and modify the
existing ones) sells at £69.95.
Approximate US$ prices (depending on exchange rates) are:
WinRail Standard $80

WinRail DeLuxe $120
WinRail can be ordered from our web site (http://www.winrail.com) as a software download,
or on a CD. The English language version of WinRail can be supplied anywhere in the world
at these prices, plus postage for the CD version, of course. Contact Span Software for help
and advice.
Span Software Limited

Little Moss, Peacock Lane
High Legh
Knutsford, Cheshire
WA16 6PL
England
Phone:+44-1565 832999
Fax:+44-1565 830653
Email:info@winrail.com
http://www.winrail.com
Please have a look at the file ORDER.TXT.
All registered users will be notified about updates.
Distribution in Spain:
Trenes-Aguilo
08950 Esplugues de Llobregat (Barcelona)
Tel.: 00 34 93 499 05 29
E-mail.: trenes-aguilo@infonegocio.com
http://www.trenes-aguilo.com
-o-
p177
Introduction
Transition curves in theory and practice – a ”Must-have” not only for esthetes
[Original by Thomas Rödel - translated by Dirk Frieborg and Chris Hawley]
Preview
Look through any model railway manufacturer's catalogue, especially the sections concerning
track elements, and you will soon notice a discussion of geometry. Model railway track
elements are a unit of two rails and some form of carrier, with usually plastic ties, but
sometimes metal or foam constructions.
Further investigation reveals that most manufacturers are using different (but fixed) radii for
curves, and problems arise when trying to connect curved track of fixed radius to straight
track. A train passing this transition from curve to straight can be seen to have a jerky
motion, and the ends of the cars move relative to one another.
Both these effects are far from ideal for our model railroad. They become more annoying if
they lead to dec oupling or even derailments.
Why does this happen?
A train moving from a straight line into a curve changes direction suddenly at the transition
point, from 0° to the angle of the curve. Strictly speaking, the radius changes from infinite
(in the straight) to the radius of the curve, and it is this which causes the jerky passage of the
train. This change of angle could be described as ”the change of direction per length of track”.
Although model railway operation offers some damping effects to make the lack of
smoothness less apparent, such as sideways shifting of axles and wheel sets, coupling guides,
elasticity and flexing of wheels and rims, these are not sufficient to mask the problem.
So, what can be done?
For all the reasons above, a smooth transition from straight to curve has to be created. A
simple and straightforward method would be to use short curves, increasing from an angle
near 0°, until the final radius of the curve is reached. This would cause one single jerk to be
divided into a number of smaller ones at the point of curve. The visible train movement would
still be unrealistic, as the eye would detect the same overall effect on a train moving at
normal speed, but the train itself would be more stable and less likely to derail.
Unfortunately, this method has two big disadvantages, the lack of availability of track with
small or intermediate radii, and the added cost of buying such track where it is available.
Those who still might want to try this method are advised to assemble a test track with the
smallest radius, preferably in an S-Curve, before attempting any large construction. Thorough
testing, especially pushing trains at higher speeds and with different car combinations should
reveal any problems and save much work at a later date.
The real solution
For solving that problem completely, let's have a look at our real example. There is always a
smooth transition from 0° up to the highest angle of the curve; a so-called transition curve.
When moving along such a curve, the chassis is turned round slowly and, above all, without a
jerk from straight to curve. Danger of derailment is completely banished - for this particular
reason, in any case. The visual appearance of both the rolling train and the course of the
track is simply overwhelming.
Even when constructing turnouts, transition curves assist in shortening ladders and short
p178
distanced crossovers between parallel tracks, and increase their reliability.
How can a transition curve be realized now?
Using flex track, as everybody knows, nearly any radius can be created. But which one is the
right one? The problem with transition curves is that they have to be calculated individually,
or the modeller has to use a flexible bar, which can be tricky. For those who don't wish to
become embroiled in mathematical formulae, the following simplified method (NEM 113) and
a flexible bar will make the job much easier.
First, we will refer to the detailed calculation.
In the real world, transition curves are calculated taking into account topography and other
factors, and a variety of arcs will result from the different mathematical calculations. One of
the most simple arcs is the ”cubic parabola” defined by the equation
y = m * xn
For model railroad construction with its comparatively small radii, a function of 3rd order will
suffice. So, we set n=3, and we have
y = m * x³
Following this procedure, the image can be c reated on graph paper or, just for simplicity, on
chequered paper, depending on m.
For the above formula, there are set a fixed value for m and a variable value for x, starting
with 0 up to the highest value of the curve. The results are transferred as the coordinates of
the points of intersection from the x and y axes. Sample points are now connected with a
continuous line. This graph finally represents the required transition curve. In most cases, an
adaption to the scale of your layout is to be made, but this can be done simply by choosing
other units for x and y.
Up to now, the value for m has not been taken into consideration. This is the variable factor
for different radii of the original curve. m is calculated in accordance to the following
equation:
1
m = ---------------
12 * r² * tan(a)
r is the radius of the original curve. It is specified in the track manufacturer's catalogue (eg
360mm) or can be measured by making a full circle of those curved track elements and
taking the length from the middle of track through the centre of the circle to the middle of the
track opposite equals 2*r; half of this diameter equals r).
a is the angle by which a car should be rotated on this transition curve. In different words, it
is the ‘missing' angle between the curve and the straight. In most cases, this angle is given in
the catalogues, too, but can be easily determined:
When using curves of which 12 pieces are necessary to build a full circle (360°), then the
turning angle per piece is 360° / 12 = 30°.
Similarly, if there are 24 pieces, the figure is 15°.
If you want to achieve the transition from curve to straight within one piece of track taken
from the last example (24 pieces), you define a = 15°; if 1½ pieces are preferred, then a =
22.5°.
p179
For example:
Radius of curved track = 360 mm
Change of direction = 30°
1 1
m = --------------- = ------------------ = 0.000001113715797048 mm-2
12 * r² * tan(a) 12*360*360*tan(30°)
For transferring these values to our model railroad, the coordinates (xL and yL) of the
connection point (from transition curve to the curve with fixed radius) are important.
If the origin of the coordinates is defined as the changing point from straight to transition
curve, these values are calculated as follows (n=3):
xL = 2 * r * tan(a) and yL = (2/3) * r * tan²(a)
Returning to our layout, if the transition point and a sufficient number of points on the curve
have been calculated, define the starting point of the curve and the position of the origin of
the coordinates and hence the transition point to the curve will be marked.
There are many ways to construct the arc consisting of calculated points. The simplest is
transferring the sample points to (graph) paper in the correct scale, and then connecting
them with the aid of a graph ruler or a flexible bar (where is my third hand?). Sticking your
piece of paper to some cardboard will enable you to construct a template or stencil. Keep any
stencils you make - they will come in useful for the future. An alternative would be to transfer
just a few values to the benchwork and use the flexible bar (the design of this will be
discussed at a later stage when describing the simplified determination according to NEM).
First, however, some general remarks:
The best looking and the most reliable results will be achieved by using no fixed radii at all,
but only transition curves. This means, for building a quarter of a circle, you put together two
transition curves of 45°. Unfortunately, this will require quite a lot of space.
The smallest practicable transition c urve results from the smallest radius permissible for your
trucks and coaches, especially your longest car. Initially, the manufacturer's specifications
should be noted particularly, otherwise long cars or multi-axle locomotives with restricted
curve ability will derail.
Construction according to NEM 113
As in almost every other field, there is a standard by MOROP for transition curves as well.
Following it for determination of transition curves, a pocket calculator is needed, but there is
a more simple way of realization. This method is most suitable for practical use; however, a
plain constructive determination is not possible.
NEM 113 is based on the fact that the position of a straight track with a transition curve is
different by the factor f from the position of a straight track followed by a fixed-radius curve.
Values for f and l can be found out by two methods. For using recommended values, fixed
factors f and l are given, depending on the gauge G:
Nominal scale | Z N TT H0 S 0 I
--------------------------------------------------------
Gauge G (mm)| 6,5 9 12 16,5 22,5 32 45
--------------------------------------------------------
Factor F (mm)| 3 4 6 9 13 18 25
So, any radius of a gauge is assigned a fixed arc. Thus the main disadvantage of this method
p180
is that individual adaptation cannot be made. For this reason, NEM contains a second way
which allows the use of transition curves of any length. Restrictions of this method are:
l shall be smaller then r (if possible, l<0.8*r)
l shall be as great as the length of the longest vehicle used
Calculation for f is made depending on the ratio l/r according to one of the following
equations:
l/r = <0,6 0,6-0,8 >0,8
l² l² l²
f = ------ ------ ------
24 * r 23 * r 22 * r
for which values of l/r greater than 0.8 should be avoided.
With results for l and f, the coordinates of both the connection of straight line and transition
curve, and the connection of transition curve and fixed curve can be found out as follows:
- Draw a parallel to the straight track (being in a position as if transition curve was
connected), moved by 4*f in the direction of the curve. For the original position of the
straight (without transition curve), the parallel must be shifted by 3*f. The point of
intersection with the arc is the point L.
- Starting at the point L, the length l must be taken in the direction towards the straight.
Move this point onto the straight.
The result is the exact position of the changing point from transition curve into the straight.
Now, some sample points have to be found. Reasonable values for this are 1/10 divisions,
that means 0.3*l, 0.5*l, 0.7*l, 0.9*l etc., where calculation should start at 0.3. Smaller
values are of no interest as their results will be nearly 0. For small gauges, 0.3*l, 0.5*l and
0.7*l often will be sufficient.
Anyone who will consider calculation and transfer as too complicated, may work with a
flexible bar here as well. The special advantage of the flexible bar is the ability to adjust the
curve a little bit. In any case, you can't avoid the basic calculations for f and l, but you can
vary them slightly even on the benchwork.
To construct a flexible bar, you need a material which is elastic and returns to its original
shape when required. On the other hand it must be quite stable and distortion-proof to ensure
it won't bend while being used for drawing against. For this reason, a rectangular,
non-profiled bar of metal or plastics will be most suitable, but wood will also do.
I use a bar of aluminium, 5 by 20 mm and 1m length, to which I've attac hed some aluminium
angle using rivets. The bottom of the angle must be provided with some drillholes of different
diameter, which are then used to fix the whole bar to the benchwork. In most cases, 4 small
nails or short screws will do - so don't make the holes too big.
To draw the desired transition curve, the flexible bar will be fixed to the benchwork in the way
that point x of the top view equals the ending point of the fixed curve, which is point L in our
construction. The bar must be adjusted to be rectangular to the line across the centre of the
circle, i.e it must be tangential to the arc in point L.
You always should place the bar so that it is bent away from the fixing angle, so that you can
draw on the edge opposite the angle.
If the centre of the circle can't be determined, (perhaps because it is outside the benchwork),
p181
the following technique should help:
Draw an extension of the final straight track to the point xL - that is the length l. From the
transition point between the straight and the transition curve, pointing towards the curve, set
a mark at 2/3 of l on this line. The flexible bar is positioned correctly when it touches this
point in its unbent state.
Now, bend the bar until it touches the end of the straight, and draw your transition curve
along it.
It doesn't matter which approach you finally decide to use. You should simply try the different
methods and choose the most suitable one for your situation.
I hope I wasn't too overtaxing with this whole subject, but once having constructed a
transition curve, theory will soon become practice; and the substantial benefits to the course
of your track and movement of your trains should show you that the effort is worthwhile.
Tom Rödel
[Source: MOROP NEM 113

Hans Thorey - Kreatives Hobby Modelleisenbahnen - Elektor Verlag]
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p182
Introduction
Standards for transition curves and clearances
The MOROP (www.morop.org) is working on English versions of these sheets. Please check
out http://www.morop.org/en/normes/index.html.
The NMRA (www.nmra.org) also has issued related standards – see

http://www.nmra.org/standards/consist.html.
NEM 102 – Clearance for straight sections
NEM 103 – Clearance for curved sections
NEM 104 – Clearance for narrow gauge
NEM 112 – track distance
NEM 113 – Transition curves
NEM 301 – Car dimensions
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p183
Clearance for straight sections
This standard defines the required clearance for models of standard- and narrow-gauge
railways.
p184
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p185
p186
Clearance for curved sections
This standard defines the required clearance for curved sections. The clearance has to be the
value of E wider than the clearance according to NEM 102, depending on the dimensions of
the car. The cars are devided into three categories, depending on the length of the car and
the distance between the pins or axles. Category ("Wagengruppe") A is up to 20 m length
and 14 m distance, B up to 24,2 m/17,2 m, C up to 27,2 m/19,5 m.
p187
p188
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p189
p190
Clearance for narrow gauge
This standard defines the required clearance for narrow gauge (650 – 1250 mm). For curved
sections, the value E has to be added. You can just try out the required value for E or use the
given formula.
R is the radius of the track section, A is the distance between axles or pins, respectively.
This standard is not currently available in English.
p191
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p192
p193
Distance of parallel lines
Table 2 gives the minimum distance between parallel lines. "In Bahnhöfen" gives the
minimum distance at stations.
For curved sections you need a larger distance, given in table 3, depending on radius (left
column) and gauge and car-category.
p194
p195
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p196
p197
Transition curves
A brief discussion of this topic can be found here.
p198
p199
p200
p201
-o-
p202
p203
Dimensions of the cars
p204
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p205
p206
Index
-3-
3-rail track 130
3D - An Overview
3D-viewer 112
-A-
Activate prices 79
Align benchwork 147, 148
Align benchwork and contained elements 148
Answers to frequently asked questions 175
Arc
Assign Article no. to running wire 102
Assign article nos. 162
Autosave
-B-
Benchwork 19, 144, 143, 145, 146, 147, 148, 149
Benchwork-files 74
Benchworks 143,
Bring to front/Put to back 67
-C-
Catenary 157
Change width of track
Clearance 107
Clearance 107
Clipboard 48
Close gaps 90
Configure library 60
Connect track 126
Contents
Control vertical distance of track 94
Create frames 76
Create track position 149
Crossover
Crossover/Ladder 93
Cut at module border 94
-D-
Delete running wire
Descriptions 131
Detect height of track 95
Discard print region 46
Dock to track 157
Docking-Settings
p207
Draw benchwork (Polygon) 144

Draw rectangular benchwork 143
Drawing tools 150
-E-
Edit 64
Edit stock 79
Edit track 89
Edit track position 149
Edit-Redo 177
Edit/create track position 149
Element-Alignment 34
Element-Info 54
Element-Parts-Compiler 25, 150
Element-Properties: Bitmap
Element-Properties: Filter 34
Element-Properties: Flex track 16
Element-Properties: Metafile 87
Element-Properties: OLE-Container
Export 44
Export tagged elements to file
-F-
Fill edges 172
Find short-circuits
Fixed 83
Flex track 132
Flip track 66
Flip track joints
-G-
gradient, reset 68
Gradients and level grounds
Grid lines/Coordinates
Group/Discard group 69
-H-
Height 139, 81
Height 139, 81
height, reset
Helix 100
-I-
Import 52
Initial program start 79
Insert and/or edit point 165
Insert graphics 51
Insert object 50
Insulation
Invert selection 64
p208
-L-
layer 68, 81
Length of tagged track 95
Library 53
Lines 83
List of required materials 79
Load library 54
Loosen track
-M-
Measurement 124
Module 19, 52, 44, 144, 143, 145, 146, 147, 148, 149, 74
module border, cut track 94
Move description 120
Move track
-N-
NEM 103 191
NEM 112 198
NEM 301
New features 41
New features in Version 8.0
-P-
Page setup 45
Pages 109
Parallel track
Paste special 49
Place object
Place track and connect 122
Polygon 154, 144
Price 81
Print 45
Properties-Track connections 124
-Q-
Quit 46
-R-
Ramp/Pillar 92
Roadbed lines 107
Rotate element 66
Ruler
p209
-S-
Save as 44
Search
Separate layer 68
Set print region
Shapes 85
Shift height or colour
Span bridge 163
Standards for transition curves and clerances 184, 14
Statistics
Stocks, lists of materials and prices
System 114
-T-
Tag benchwork 145, 146
Tag benchwork and contained elements 146
Tag only 119
Tagging and manipulating elements
Terrain
Terrain-Fill edges 172
Text field 131
Text fields 84
Texts 81
Texts 81
The Catenary tab 101
The clipboard
The Display tab 105
The DLL-interface to create your own flex sections
The Element menu 72
The Features tab 66
The File menu 46
The Flex track tab 96
The Home tab 47
The Other elements tab 104
The Properties tab 80
The Special menu 70
The Tools
The Track tab 88
The user interface 10
The View tab 110
Toggle fixation 156
Tolerances 116
Tools 63
Tools-Align benchwork 147
Tools-Tag benchwork 145
Track 107
Transition curve
Transition curves in theory and practice 183
Troubleshooting 60
Types of flex track 97
-U-
Update 64
-V-
p210
Vertical distance of track 94

View 63
View-Control vertical distance of track 94
View-Horizontal ruler 175
View-Options 177
View-Page preview 45
View-Properties - Workspace/Height control 165, 90, 62
View-Properties: Desktop
View-Properties: Layer 15
View-Properties: System 98
View-Status bar
View-Toolbars-Customize
-W-
Where do I find my commands? 13
Wires 87
Wires and Lines
Working with layers
-Y-
Your first layout 64
-Z-
Zoom
p211
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WinRail Help

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WinRail X3

Printable version of the WinRail Help file.

© Gunnar Blumert and Span Software Limited, 2014

- Performance and system requirements

- Initial program start

- Your first layout

- Using the keyboard

- Tagging and manipulating elements

- Prices and lists of materials

- Gradients and level grounds

- Wires and lines

- Working with layers

- New features in this version

Performance and system requirements

WinRail – what is it?

WinRail lets you

- perform the track layout in correct scale (including flex tracks)

- have a 3-dimensional visualization of track and terrain

- manage an area of 3,000 * 3,000 m

- add accessories (wires, houses, trees, catenary etc.) to your layout

- link parts of different layouts (e.g., combine several modules)

- compute and create helixes

- generate parallel tracks, crossovers and ladders

- find short circuits

- calculate the shape of the frames

- compute lists of materials used for your layout

- calculate the costs of all that fun

WinRail requires Windows XP or higher (Windows 8, Windows 7, Vista, XP). We recommend

Best of all, it is fun to use!

The user interface

The tab-pages are organized by groups that c omprise related commands.

Below the ribbon you'll find the tool bar:

Next is the selection bar:

On the left of it you can choose zoom and layer.

Where do I find my commands?

The dialogue window Element-Properties doesn't exist any more.

The Statistics-menu has moved to the "Features" tab.

Initial program start

The limit is 3,000m x 3,000m (10,000ft x 10,000ft).

WinRail data files are stored in "C:\WinRail X2" by default.

Your first layout

To begin a new section of track, choose Tool-Place object again.

The same scale is used to print the layout.

Tagging and manipulating elements

not work if you want to close a circle:

Using the keyboard

Fixed elements cannot be

- moved – neither by Drag-and-Drop nor by menu command

- assigned gradients and heights to

Useful especially for catenary masts is the Tool Catenary-Dock to track.

layout and choose Edit-Insert.

- simply start two copies of WinRail.

Stock, lists of materials and prices

5 straight tracks @ $0.80 = $3.80

Tools-Insert flex track and Tools-Shape flex track.

The DLL-interface for creating your own flex sections

The DLL-interface to create your own flex sections

All information about the details c an be found in the demo-project FlexDLLDemo.dpr

Gradients and level ground

Detecting the height of a track