Fixing Track - Welding/Joining?

[boleyd]

Assume I have a long many mile section of track using DEM terrain elevation. For some unknown reason (fiddling around) I discover a section of track missing. I try to add a replacement section but they do not perfectly match thus preventing a Weld. If I Join them a new track break is created in the section I first clicked in the Join. This seems to force me to replace a very large among to track as I "chase" joins to the end of the track.

Given the above, is there any process to replace a section of track without resorting to Joins where assuming that Welds are not alowed due to some difference between sections?

[Hack]

Hi Dick,

If you use the Snap to Track gizmo in the lower-left menu, you should be able to replace the rail. Simply click one end to start, and then bring the cursor right up to the end of the next section. The path should turn yellow when a match is made, whereby you can click to complete the new section. Unless you go beyond the edge of the next section, welding should not be necessary afterwards.

[tonyman2005]

You can also use the gradient tool in the track laying section to raise or lower the ends of track to line them up with the other piece of track then weld them together.

[boleyd]

Got it. Repaired my section. A bit obscure but logical.

The process that avoids tedious adjustment trying to satiafy the requirements of a Weld is:

Add a straight track to one of the tracks ends and then extend the other track end so that it snaps to the straight, red-framing part of, creating a switch.

Delete the switch track you do not not need and two double buffers should appear in the track.

Clicking on the WELD icon should then show their gray cubes, letting you weld them together without disturbing other joints.

Check the alignments of the tracks to be joined and set whatever in the alignment value box in the bottom left fly-out and also do not use it's "Snap to Terrain" option.

Especially useful with curved tracks, Jim Ward explained a long time ago. He also showed us all sorts of other tricks to make difficult track laying situations easier ! :-)

Basically RS creates something best described as a straight switch which is done by aligning the converging track just as if you were making a converging switch. The automatic alignment is the key.