Thanks for visiting! The Macaw team was acqui-hired by Invision in January 2016, at which point Macaw was sunsetted. The software and book are no longer available, but this we're keeping this website up as a reminder of the fun we had. If you're interested in what the Macaw folks are up to now, go check out Clover.

Map [hot] — Trainz

If you want to build a "Factual" route based on a real-world location, hand-sculpting terrain can be daunting. Several specialized tools assist in bringing real geography into Trainz: YouTube·RailsOfTheWorld Productions

: The Track Tab (F4) allows you to place "spline" objects. You click to set spline points, which the track follows automatically. Advanced tools like the "Straighten Track" tool and "Trackmark" mode help refine layouts for both visual appeal and AI operations.

In the world of virtual railroading, a —commonly referred to as a Route —is the digital "level" or world where your locomotives come to life. Whether you are recreating a historical branch line or a massive fictional empire, the map is the foundation of the entire simulation experience, containing the landscape, scenery, and track infrastructure. Creating Your Own Trainz Map trainz map

: Using the Topology Tab (F1) , you can raise hills, carve valleys, and create plateaus with the "Height Up" and "Plateau" tools. Realism comes from the Paint Tab (F2) , where you blend different ground textures to create realistic grass, ballast, and soil.

tile called a baseboard. You can expand your world by clicking the "Add/Update Ground" tool on the edges of existing boards to grow your territory. If you want to build a "Factual" route

: The Object Tab (F3) is used to place buildings, trees, and streetlights. For efficient editing, Trainz uses layers, allowing you to "lock" or hide certain elements—like trees—while you work on the track underneath. Prototypical Mapping Tools

For many players, the true heart of Trainz is , the built-in world creation tool. Building a map can range from a quick 10-minute layout to a multi-year prototypical project. Advanced tools like the "Straighten Track" tool and

: Every new map starts with a single

About the Authors

trainz map

Joe’s a dinosaur by Internet standards, having first used the Web in text mode on a dial-up Unix system in the mid-1990s and learning HTML in the late 1990s. In any case, he got a little hooked and has been a web professional since 2000, operating the mostly one-man web studio ShooFly Development and Design. He has also been a drummer for more than half his life, which is frankly alarming. He lives in Los Angeles with his wife and their frequently adorable, occasionally noisy cat.

Rex has loved making things on the computer since his family got their first one in the early 1990s, trying out any design applications he could get his hands on. After graduating with a degree in digital illustration, he got a job at an interactive agency in the early 2000s and quickly became a big fan of designing things for the web. He’s an art director at a marketing and design agency in Grand Rapids, Michigan, where he lives with his wife and their two pets.

Big thanks to the Macaw team for making such a great tool and supporting this book!