Work in progress: This section is still a work in progress — content is being added and revised continuously.

Planned your layout in WinTrack so far? Then you don’t start from scratch — Trackplanner reads WinTrack files and imports the track geometry. Here’s how to bring your plan over and then check it with fresh eyes.

Step 1 — Import the file

Open the import bar and drop your WinTrack file (.tra) into it. Trackplanner reads the track geometry and creates a new plan from it. (The dialog also accepts .glp files — those come from the old Trackplanner 1.x, not from WinTrack.)

A WinTrack file dropped into the import bar

Step 2 — What comes across (and what doesn’t)

You don’t need to worry about the mapping: Trackplanner recognises the track system from the manufacturer part numbers automatically and rebuilds the plan in full. Only WinTrack-specific accessories (symbols that don’t exist here) are left out — the import tells you right away what couldn’t be matched.

The imported plan — the track system is recognised automatically

Step 3 — Review the plan check

After importing, it’s worth a look at the plan check: do all rail joints sit cleanly, are the radii sound (mind the minimum radius), are the usable lengths plausible? Small offsets from the old format can be tidied up here.

The imported plan in the plan check

What’s next?

Start the series: First oval with a siding.
More on this: Minimum radius.