CATrain

Model trains and model railway systems have a popularity that has managed to maintain itself over the years, despite more modern hobbies. Creating complex railway systems requires a lot of thought and planning, CATrain is an application that helps you create simulations of any system, however advanced. The simulations include customizable trains and popular models, so you can observe how your trains will run and at what speed.

The CATrain design is interesting and relatively straightforward to use, you select a piece of railway track and place it on the grid. After a significant amount of time, you can build a complete track and then equip it with all the extras you need to make it run. The process is tedious though, each tile must be laid individually and the grid is slightly cumbersome. A feature that allows you to just drag across the grid and lay a line of track in one go would greatly improve it, otherwise, placing just a straight line still has to be done one tile at a time.

Another issue with the design is the lack of convenient editing shortcuts, an undo feature or a quick way to delete a misplaced piece of track would be welcome. Currently, you must select the empty tile symbol and place an empty tile over an occupied one. Tooltips for the tiles as well would be another useful addition, as not everyone is familiar with each type of tool included in the application. All that being said, the interface is fairly simple to use and a basic track can be built relatively quickly, but there are clear paths for refinement.

While the application can be tricky to use in places, just what you can make with it is quite staggering. The application includes some prebuilt models that show you different advanced systems, they include roads with cars, different terrain that can affect a trains speed, multiple lines, stations and overpasses. The window is expandable, so quite huge systems can be built, creating a model of a town’s entire railway system is entirely possible and to a startlingly degree of accuracy.

Given the large grid system, the scale can be inaccurate in places, so some creative license does have to be taken. Every graphic has to fit inside the same size tile, which means cars can be as big as houses and so forth, but the general idea is very impressive. Given the application is free, it is a very robust piece of model testing software that fans of trains will enjoy immensely. Even for those new to trains, having a simulation of a train set going on your desktop is quite enjoyable to watch.

The application is not only both excellent for model train enthusiasts to test out new track designs or view how a simulation of a particular system would operate. The application also is just entertaining to play with and watch working, seeing your own trains move around a track you built is just fun to watch. In short, CATrains is a detailed, informative and fun application.