Railworks America

Hi there, I'm new to this forum as well as Railworks.
I'm curious about making a route, but I'm unsure on the best way to make the map itself. I understand the Railworks uses Google maps for map creation. I also understand that the Google maps are lacking in detail or definition. Is there other options for map making in Railworks?

It is Google Earth actually, and it is precise enough for route building.
There are other options, do some research in the Route Design forum here at RWA.

I must tell you that making a route is quite a challenge. I wouldn't recommend it as a first contact with the train simulator.

Topic moved to Route design forum

BDWorkshop wrote:Hi there, I'm new to this forum as well as Railworks.
I'm curious about making a route, but I'm unsure on the best way to make the map itself. I understand the Railworks uses Google maps for map creation. I also understand that the Google maps are lacking in detail or definition. Is there other options for map making in Railworks?

Welcome aboard!

The Google Earth overlay is one of the tools used for route building within railworks. It overlays a top down view of the location you choose based on latitude and longitude coordinates. It has two resolutions for clarity vs speed of loading. I have found it to be plenty accurate for locating where to place objects and trackage.

The other tool used to 'build' routes in Railworks is the importation of Satellite 'Digital Elevation Modules' data. This SRTM/DEM data actually sculpts and shapes the terrain of the area in question. This is a brilliant feature, which (with a little practice) can very quickly create hundreds of miles of terrain which is quite accurate to the real area.

The combination of both of these tools can allow you to create prototypical routes in Railworks with relative ease.

What I would suggest is searching the site here for information and tutorials on both of these route building features. Then start with a SMALL section of a route, or area you are interested in. By small, I mean a few miles by a few miles. This will give you a taste of what is ahead for a larger route.

Chacal wrote:It is Google Earth actually, and it is precise enough for route building.
There are other options, do some research in the Route Design forum here at RWA.

I must tell you that making a route is quite a challenge. I wouldn't recommend it as a first contact with the train simulator.

Topic moved to Route design forum

Thanks, I'm first planning on just spending some time playing Railworks. From there I'll see which way my inspiration takes me. At this point I've only seen YouTube videos of Railworks, and I like what I see.

BoostedFridge wrote:The other tool used to 'build' routes in Railworks is the importation of Satellite 'Digital Elevation Modules' data. This SRTM/DEM data actually sculpts and shapes the terrain of the area in question. This is a brilliant feature, which (with a little practice) can very quickly create hundreds of miles of terrain which is quite accurate to the real area.

Is this the Redem program I've been reading about?

Railworks itself can process DEM/SRTM data of a 1 arc/second resolution.

Redem is a payware add on program, which allows Railworks to use higher resolution DEM/SRTM data of 1/3, or 1/9 arc second. This is quite useful in mountainous areas. The redem website shows some examples of 1 arc/second vs 1/9 arc second terrain.

Thanks for the information. One last question...
Is there a noticeable difference to the route builder or route user between the 1 arc and the 1/3, 1/9 arc resolution?

BDWorkshop wrote:Thanks for the information. One last question...
Is there a noticeable difference to the route builder or route user between the 1 arc and the 1/3, 1/9 arc resolution?

There is certainly a difference. The more flat an area, the less of a difference.

For example, in the steep and rocky area of Cow Creek Canyon on my route, there is an area where 1/3 arc second was not available, and I had to 'fill' the gap with 1 arc second. In the 1/3 terrain, the "shelf" that the track sits upon was fairly pronounced, as was the falloff to the creek below. I had to do minimal tweaking of the terrain to define the edge if the road bed. In the 1 arc/sec section in the same area, the canyon walls sloped gently down to the creek bed, with barely any indication that the track was there. The canyon walls were sloped at a gentler angle too. In this area, I had to lay the tracks purely based on the Google Earth overlay, then go back and sculpt the terrain to fit.

In an area of farmland, or flat terrain the difference would be much less noticeable.