Making your own route maps

[Gemz91]

Looking at making some of my own route maps for the routes I drive over. Just wondered if anyone has ever made their own route maps and if so what programs did you use on your computer?

I only have paint and don't think it'll be up to the task.

 

[Ken H]

Google maps. You can make your own overlays. But getting the curves right will give you a headache!

 

[skyhigh]

If you've got PowerPoint try setting that to A4 portrait size, it's what I've used for drawing out diagrams though I've not done my own route maps.

 

[Gemz91]

If you've got PowerPoint try setting that to A4 portrait size, it's what I've used for drawing out diagrams though I've not done my own route maps.

Cheers. Never though of using Power Point. Will give it a go.

 

[Mattyblob]

It's a bit of a learning curve if you haven't worked with vector files before but I recommend Inkscape. It's free download and vector files allow you to work really quickly once you've made the initial bits and bobs (create signals, speed restrictions, platforms, etc and you can essentially copy and paste them wherever you like) then all you need to do is label them up. Vectors are also completely scalable so it'll be crystal clear whether you want to get an overview or zoom right in.

 

[Gemz91]

It's a bit of a learning curve if you haven't worked with vector files before but I recommend Inkscape. It's free download and vector files allow you to work really quickly once you've made the initial bits and bobs (create signals, speed restrictions, platforms, etc and you can essentially copy and paste them wherever you like) then all you need to do is label them up. Vectors are also completely scalable so it'll be crystal clear whether you want to get an overview or zoom right in.

View attachment 109783

That looks great. I'm a complete novice when it comes to computers but willing to learn so will give it a go.

Cheers

 

[43066]

Must admit I found the only way to learn was driving the routes! Appreciate everyone is different in that respect, though.

Track access publications maps (A3 sized booklets convenient for carrying in your bag) are useful for complex areas eg terminal stations, and I’ve annotated mine with information like max train lengths for each platform - useful as a quick reference guide.

 

[Gemz91]

Must admit I found the only way to learn was driving the routes! Appreciate everyone is different in that respect, though.

Track access publications maps (A3 sized booklets convenient for carrying in your bag) are useful for complex areas eg terminal stations, and I’ve annotated mine with information like max train lengths for each platform - useful as a quick reference guide.

I agree mate. I'm already a qualified driver, just fancy making my own maps as a little project. Appreciate your advice though!

 

[Stigy]

I agree mate. I'm already a qualified driver, just fancy making my own maps as a little project. Appreciate your advice though!

I’ve never considered this before, but I can see how it would be good from a route learning perspective. I printed mine off in A5 and laminated them which is good for quick reference but at the same time some of the print can’t be hard to read as it should really be A4.

 

[Tomnick]

Another vote for Inkscape - brilliant for copying and pasting once you've got the basic components established. The only downside (if I'm not mistaken?) is that you can only work on one page at a time, so if I want to make a booklet then I have to export each page as individual images than drop them into a Word document and print it as a booklet from there. If anyone has a better way then I'd love to hear it!

Personally I've always found it useful to draw my own maps when road learning, preferably beforehand. The act of drawing the maps helps to consolidate the basic knowledge - speeds, crossings etc. - and then they serve as a useful reference for the future.

 

[wobman]

Must admit I found the only way to learn was driving the routes! Appreciate everyone is different in that respect, though.

Track access publications maps (A3 sized booklets convenient for carrying in your bag) are useful for complex areas eg terminal stations, and I’ve annotated mine with information like max train lengths for each platform - useful as a quick reference guide.

Im of the same opinion as you, but i also use Track Maps as a reference guide.
it's useful for the more obscure crossing and the Miles & Chains information.

 

[Gemz91]

Another vote for Inkscape - brilliant for copying and pasting once you've got the basic components established. The only downside (if I'm not mistaken?) is that you can only work on one page at a time, so if I want to make a booklet then I have to export each page as individual images than drop them into a Word document and print it as a booklet from there. If anyone has a better way then I'd love to hear it!

Personally I've always found it useful to draw my own maps when road learning, preferably beforehand. The act of drawing the maps helps to consolidate the basic knowledge - speeds, crossings etc. - and then they serve as a useful reference for the future.

View attachment 109791

Cheers for the info. Just started to Download Inkscape, it has a guide for thicko's so I'm liking it already. Handy to know about the one page at a time issue, copy and pasting it into Word gives me a place I'm familiar with. Drawing maps for our road learning was part of my drivers course, but I think it's been dropped on the course now. At the time, our classroom teacher wouldn't even provide us with printed out paper with tracks on, it was insisted we did it all by hand from scratch. I think any benefits from the exercise were lost from drawing endless straight lines with a ruler on a sheet of paper. Lucky enough it was only for a short stretch of our route not it all!

Like the look of your maps. If I am successful at it I'll post what I come up with.

 

[T-Karmel]

No idea if that's also a case with other TOCs but ARL gives you a blank route map with just tracks and stations on it when you're going out with your Instructor and want you to draw in all the signals but also add all information that you will find useful for yourself - braking points, gradients, places at which there's risk you get distracted by something etc.

 

[Efini92]

Must admit I found the only way to learn was driving the routes! Appreciate everyone is different in that respect, though.

Track access publications maps (A3 sized booklets convenient for carrying in your bag) are useful for complex areas eg terminal stations, and I’ve annotated mine with information like max train lengths for each platform - useful as a quick reference guide.

Agreed, I can’t draw or take anything in on the secondmans side. I have to drive it.
The experience I’ve had with TAPS maps isn’t very good. Very few of the maps have signal indications on and there’s so many mistakes.

 

[Frankfurt]

Looking at making some of my own route maps for the routes I drive over. Just wondered if anyone has ever made their own route maps and if so what programs did you use on your computer?

I only have paint and don't think it'll be up to the task.

Have you ever came across Mick Rawlings Simplified maps? He has quite a large library of routes and he's always updating them. They are simple, hold a decent amount of information and there's plenty of room to add your own notes too once printed out. It could save you a job, or would be great to aid you in producing your own.

 

[Gemz91]

Have you ever came across Mick Rawlings Simplified maps? He has quite a large library of routes and he's always updating them. They are simple, hold a decent amount of information and there's plenty of room to add your own notes too once printed out. It could save you a job, or would be great to aid you in producing your own.

Any chance you have a link to them? Tried Googling but couldn't find anything. Cheers.

 

[Frankfurt]

Any chance you have a link to them? Tried Googling but couldn't find anything. Cheers.

Sent you a pm

 

[Cranky]

Could you send me the link too please , looking at making my own maps also. Thanks

 

[TheGoldfish]

Sent you a pm

Can I jump in here for the link also as I’m currently route learning too … cheers

 

[Twotwo]

Me too please!

 

[mwest123]

Have you ever came across Mick Rawlings Simplified maps? He has quite a large library of routes and he's always updating them. They are simple, hold a decent amount of information and there's plenty of room to add your own notes too once printed out. It could save you a job, or would be great to aid you in producing your own.

Would I be able to have a link too plz? Thanks

 

[slidingdoors]

Me too if possible please

 

[Docket]

Following

 

[Ashley89]

Sent you a pm

Hi would it be possible to get that link as I am route learning

Thanks

 

[Frankfurt]

I thought Mick's maps were common knowledge, turns out they aren't. Since the link to his Google drive isn't really mine to share I feel I shouldn't - sorry. I've given his email out to a few members, if he permits them to be shared on here then I'll post link.

 

[Cranky]

Completely understandable, hopefully he will share his wisdom with us all

 

[Ashley89]

I thought Mick's maps were common knowledge, turns out they aren't. Since the link to his Google drive isn't really mine to share I feel I shouldn't - sorry. I've given his email out to a few members, if he permits them to be shared on here then I'll post link.

Never heard of them before, Did try to see if could find them on Google. As said on others posts would be good to share his knowledge