Support
The Gauge Buddy documentation covers every part of the app in detail, with screenshots. For a quick start, see the getting started guide on this site.
Documentation
Your first layout
From an empty board to a printed plan, step by step.
User guide
One page per feature: track, boards, rooms, scenery, printing and more.
Troubleshooting
What to try when a piece will not join, a print is the wrong size, or a layout will not open.
Keyboard shortcuts
Every shortcut on one page.
Browse everything at docs.gaugebuddy.app.
Get in touch
Email [email protected]. It helps to include your macOS version, the version of Gauge Buddy (under Gauge Buddy → About), and the layout file if the problem is with a particular plan.
Common questions
Which Macs does Gauge Buddy run on?
Any Mac running macOS 15 or later.
Which scales and track systems are included?
Z, N, TT, HO, OO, O. The bundled libraries are Kato Unitrack in N, Peco Setrack in N, OO and O, and Peco Streamline in every supported scale. The home page lists them by scale. Coverage varies: some ranges have flexible track and turnouts but no fixed-length pieces, because that is what the manufacturer makes for that gauge.
My track is not in the list. Can I add it?
Yes. Use the Libraries menu to import a track library from a JSON or CSV file. On import the app analyses the system and reports whether its pieces fit together as they should. A library can be embedded in a layout so the file opens on another Mac.
Do I need an account or an internet connection?
No. Gauge Buddy has no accounts, no cloud service and no telemetry, and works entirely offline.
Where are my layouts kept?
Wherever you save them. Each layout is a .railplan document containing readable JSON. Back it up or share it like any other file.
Can I print a plan at full size?
Yes. Choose File → Print Layout and select Full size. The plan is tiled across numbered pages with a page map and registration marks. Print at 100% and measure the 100 mm calibration bar on the first page before relying on it; if your printer is slightly out, enter the measured length and print again.
What can I export?
Vector PDF, SVG, PNG, a CSV parts list and a CSV shopping list from Inventory and Purchasing.
Does it plan gradients, heights or 3D views?
No. Gauge Buddy is a 2D planning tool. It is exact about where track and scenery sit on the board, and does not model height.
If there are no issues, will my layout definitely work?
It means the geometry on the plan is consistent: pieces join properly, curves respect your minimum radius, nothing overlaps. It cannot account for how the layout is built, the tolerances of real track, or the rolling stock you run. Treat it as a careful check, and test-fit before fixing anything down.
Is Gauge Buddy available for iPad or Windows?
No. Gauge Buddy is a Mac app.
Is Gauge Buddy affiliated with Peco or Kato?
No. Gauge Buddy is independent. Track dimensions are taken from the manufacturers' published specifications, and the names are used only to identify compatible products.