Expanding a drawing in one direction only

Peter,

“It will probably take at least 6 weeks to do the entire thing (it’s one of the largest rail yards and interlockings in the U.S. and certainly the busiest).”

If you are moving tracks over 6 weeks you will certainly get in trouble with the operators.

Sorry, it was stronger than I.

Presuming each track, including each tracks connecting other tracks, is an object in itself, a simple crude way might be to start with (Smart Guides being your friends):

1)) Select the first (topmost) regular cyan track along with the attached set consisting of the black track ending with an arrow and the short track attached to the left, then move the whole thing up by the height needed for the additions; lock the topmost track;

2)) Direct Select (ShiftClick to select both) the upper end anchor points of the black tracks that connects the arrow to the second track;

3)) Direct Select (ShiftClick to select both) the upper end anchor points of the short cyan tracks that connects the first track to the second (next) one at the left and at the right, then move them up by the same amount as in 1)), this will keep the connexions;

4)) Select the second regular cyan track, then move it up by the height needed for the additions; lock the second track;

5)) Direct Select (ShiftClick to select all of them) the set of the lower end anchor points of the short black tracks that connect to each other and to the it to the second track, then move them up by the same amount as in 4)), this will keep the connexions;

6)) Direct Select (ShiftClick to select all four) the lower end anchor points of the short cyan tracks that connects it to the first track, and the upper end anchor points of the short cyan tracks that connects it to the third track, then move them up by the same amount as in 4)), this will keep the connexions;

Continue in the same way, adjusting the curvature of the distorted tracks in 2)), 3)), 5)), and 6)), and using similar solutions for other combinations.

Can you share a sample Illustrator file for inspection?

Hi ​@PeterD-NJ,

Try Distribute Spacing in your Align panel.

You can select a key object (click key icon first) that each line will distance from. Type in a measurement under “Distribute Spacing” and click “Vertical Distribute Space” (bottom left icon)

Unless I'm missing some important details it sounds like what you're asking will require multiple steps.

You could isolate the lines representing the railroad tracks, perhaps turning them into a group and then non-proportionately scale the group so it is taller. But doing that will change the angle of the lines. All of the other elements, such as station platform objects, would have to be re-positioned and maybe even rotated to match the angle of the lines.

Another idea (but maybe more difficult): repositioning the individual lines vertically to create the desired amount of space between the lines. The problem with this approach is you'll have to do a decent amount of path editing to get all the points where the tracks cross each other or merge into each other depicted accurately.