help with fixing track without deleting the rest?

[class1987]

Hi everyone I need some help with building the rail track by joining it up. For example I've got a piece of track on my route that needs joining up but when I join 1 piece the next piece of track splits and so on, is there anyway to join a piece of track up without deleting half of the track that I've already done?

I've used the wield feature too but sometimes it doesn't show up unless it feels like it which is very annoying.

Also I'd like to know how to alter a piece of track like I've layed as I've noticed that I've put a bend in accidently and cannot alter it to the way I want it without the track splitting apart, could someone tell me how to fix these problems I'm having.

Chears, Ian.

[AndiS]

I am not sure what you mean by wield feature, but if you mean "snap to track", then this is the right thing to use.

The point with it is this: The editor inserts a piece of track with constant radius. This means that it will not work if you are too far away or too near. In the first case, you will see the white curve extend far away. All you need to do is insert a piece of straight track first, to get nearer to the track that you want to match. Then, a smaller radius is needed and eventually, it will work (after a few attempts). In the second case, you either need to chop off a bit of the approaching track (using the split tool), or use a track type (e.g., yard) with a smaller minimum radius.

Using the join tool is a mistake in most cases. It is only useful to piece together track parts that are lying around somewhere where they are not needed any more. To join gaps, you always use the snap-to-track feature.

If track breaks up, this need not be a big problem if you can weld it again. This is a routine case when you use snap-to-track. It creates a switch, you delete the unneeded part, which leaves buffer stops where the switch was, you select the weld icon and click on the grey cube above the buffer stops and all is well.

[class1987]

Ok thanks for the info, I've noticed when I use the snap to track it doesn't always work when you want it to is that because of how the track is layed or what?

Chears, Ian.

[AndiS]

I've noticed when I use the snap to track it doesn't always work when you want it to is that because of how the track is layed or what?

Just watch the white ribbon expand that will become your track. The far end must hit the track to which you want to snap at a place where there are no breaks (no red triangles) in it. There are many situations (in the world / in geometry) where fitting a single curve segment to a given piece of track will not lead to another given track. Observing this for different starting distances will train your eye to approximate good starting points for the snapping trick.