Introduction

TrainTracks 2 (TT2) allows you to build virtual track layouts and bring them to life on your Android device. There is a lot you can do in the application and this guide attempts to bridge the gap between the online help and tips available in TT2.

This guide refers to TrainTracks 2 release v2.42 and above.

The maximum map size is 400 columns x 400 rows. By default TT2 sets the columns and rows based on your device but you can increase the map size in the builder settings for the map you are working on. Alternatively, you can change the default size in the TT2 settings (see later) so that every new map starts at this size.

By default the builder auto-saves your changes every 1 minute. This can be changed in the settings to be as short as 30s or as long as 5 minutes. When auto-saving is in progress a spinning wheel is displayed next to the 3 dot icon. It is typically very quick so you may not even see it.

Asset selection (such as tracks, roads, trains etc) is provided on the right side of the screen via a number of tabbed selectors. Most assets are self explanatory, however some comments can be made:

• Rolling stock - you can only place locomotives or carriages on straight tracks. You can drag the rolling stock along the track to snap them to other rolling stock and by touching the rolling stock you can change its direction

• Tracks - all track assets can be rotated and snap to the grid. Select the finger icon to allow freehand track drawing. Select the action icons and place near a track so that a passing locomotive will obey the action when in AI mode. Actions include sounding a horn, ringing a bell, slowing down, speeding up, and waiting for 5 or 10 seconds. You can string slow down and speed up actions together.

• Roads - only the road T-intersection and road bridges can be rotated. All are snapped to the grid. Select the finger icon to allow freehand road drawing.

• Vehicles - vehicles can be placed anywhere on the map. If they are placed on straight roads then they will travel along the road. By touching the vehicle you can change the lane it will start from. Vehicles not on roads can be moved and rotated but will not move when the map is played.

• Buildings - platform assets snap to the grid and can be rotated. Other assets can be rotated at a finer angle. The bridge like assets are there for adding bridges over water or ravines; use the track bridge in tracks for bridges over tracks and roads.

• Trees - you can select the ground tile type (water, sand, grass etc) and drag your finger to 'colour in' the screen. Alternatively the fill icon can be used to allow you to highlight a square and then fill it. Similarly the mountain icon allows you to select an area and then create a random mountain terrain. The assets with 1, 2, and 3 on them allow you to create 3 level mountains. They appear this way in the builder to allow shadows to be generated.

• Shadows - allows you to create other shadows. This is useful if you want to create the illusion of ravines, holes etc.

The world generator allows you to create random terrain of mountains and water to give some variety to your layout. By increasing the sea level you will get more water and increasing the ground level will reduce the number and size of mountains. The shadows option creates shadows to give some depth.

The text option allows you to write some text on your map - like the name of a station for example.

Other options in the tool bar include settings where you can change the size of the map plus the usual new, open, and save options and the ability to play the map directly from the builder. When you exit from playing the map you are returned to the builder.

Freehand drawing of tracks and roads uses a dot system to display the possible endpoints of the tracks/roads that you can place at that location. When the dots appear trace out the path to the destination dot so that the track/road is placed on the map. Once you hit that dot location a new set of endpoints will be generated for you. For best results it is recommended that you move your finger slowly to place the tracks/roads. You can also toggle the finger icon on and off to allow you to pan the map to the next free area as the map is frozen when freehand is enabled.

Other controls available to you include:

• Resize - select this to scale the map to fit your device. By default the map will be scaled to the device on start.

• Train - select this to follow the train around the map. You will be prompted to select the train that you want to follow. Zoom into the map to get a better re

• Restart - quick way to restart the map if you have crashed the train

• Decouple - select this button and then select the carriages that you want to decouple. They will be highlighted and you will be prompted to confirm. Once confirmed, the locomotive will drive away from the other carriages.

• Horn - sound the horn of the selected locomotive

• Stop - stop the selected locomotive. If physics is enabled the train will slow to a stop.

• Throttle - accelerates or decelerates the train.

• Bell - rings a bell for passenger trains notifying that the train is about to leave the station.

Some track assets can also be touched; these include points, turn tables, stop signals, and track crossings. Track crossings can be long touched to enable or disable automatic mode but this mode can also be set in TT2 settings so its always on.

To enable AI for all trains, long press the looking eye in the top right. To run a single train with AI, touch the eye and then select the train. To disable, repeat the process. Trains that are under AI control have a blue speed bar (as opposed to red) and they obey any action icon placed near the track.

Many things can happen on large maps and to keep an eye on things, the event manager can be used. The event manager marks certain events with a blue exclamation mark. These can notify you of something happening on the map; such as cars waiting too long at track crossings, trains waiting too long at stop signals, platforms becoming too busy etc. Touching the event icon will take you to the location on the map where you can then deal with it.

• Max speed for carriage coupling - this is a percentage of top speed of the locomotive. If you exceed this speed, the TT2 will consider it a crash rather than a coupling. The lower the value, the more realistic TT2 becomes.

• Automatic boom gates - this will automatically lower and raise boom gates as the train approaches. When all trains are under AI control automatic boom gates is enabled.

• AI Features - these allow you to set a number of timers and features for AI. Some you may want, some maybe not!

I hope you enjoy playing with TT2. There is a lot to do and explore - which is half the fun!

If you have any questions or issues please let me know.