Use a Vector based drawing program

Determine Layout.  How many miles do you want on one page?  I draw in Millimeters and every 1 millimeter is a tenth of a mile.  I set snap to Half a Millimeter.   Scale currently using is 1 to 1.25.  This will give you 32 miles a line.  1 to 1.25 is about as small you want to go.  Anything smaller is not usable.  And the maximum number of lines per page is 5 at 1 to 1.25 scale.   At a Scale of 1 to 1 you have 25 miles per line with a 4 line max per page.

Figure on using 3 times more layers than you think you need.  Be smart how you set up your layers.  Example I have GRADE broken into 3 separate Layers.  One for the Line, one for Change Point, and one for Text.  Suggest you use a naming scheme that keeps them together.  Like GLINE, GPOINT, GTEXT.  If you don't use Layers. you are creating a lot of hard work for yourself.  Editing will be a bitch with no Layers.  My Mile Post are broken into 3 Layers also. MPNUM, MPLINE, MP10.  Number - Marker Line - 10th of a mile.  Fact is you will wish you broke things down all the way at times.

FIND and DO EQUATIONS.  They can Help or Hurt, best to do NOW.  Can be a big layout issue if you be one of the unlucky ones.  Equations at times will allow you to cheat on room. Other times you may be screaming your lungs out.  You will scream big if you don't do them NOW, and are unlucky.  Equations can bit hard if you don't watch for them.

Chart Mile Post then SPEEDS.  Trust me the speeds can change the Layout Fast.  Do early or possibly regrets latter.  Also when numbering Mile Post do it by TENS.  That is 10, 20, 30, 40 then go back and fill in. That tip alone will save you hair if you spaced off and skipped or duplicated a mile post in the middle. Or if you miscalculated your layout, your not that deep into it yet and change should be easy.  Don't get screwed up right up front.  Gets harder to correct farther into it.

Chart Detectors, Control Points, Station Names, and what's important to you from Time Table only. 

If UP Employee Download Signal List and Road Crossing list for your Sub.  Keep in mind there is NO such thing as PERFECT DATA.  There will be errors for one reason or another in all data.  This is where it starts to get tricky.  But if you are running the territory, there are no issues for verification.  NONE

Below are the Paths taken on UNION PACIFIC Web

<><><><> Path to Signals <><><><>
* UP Employee Home
   * Departments
     * Engineering
        * Right of Way, Facilities and Maps
          * Facilities Information And Maps *
            * EFMS Facility and Characteristic Reports
               * Signals
                 * List of Signal Masts

<><><><> Path to Road Crossings <><><><>
* UP Employee Home
   * Departments
     * Engineering
       * Right of Way, Facilities and Maps
         * Facilities Information And Maps *
           * Public Projects
             * DOT Road Crossing Reports
               * Summary list of DOTs

DON'T SCREW UP on the FILTERS when asking for data.  Check out every OPTION and get what you think you are getting.  Know and understand the filters.

If using Track Profiles for grade, check elevation on each end to make sure it corresponds to grade being reported.  Check close, very close.  At times the Plus and Minus get turned around.  Sometimes elevation is only clue it's astray.   Contact me if you plan on using UP Excel Download of Track Profile Grades.  I've written a program to check for grade errors.  It catches most errors.  You will need Excel knowledge.  Will give very little hand holding, no time for such.

I no longer use Track Profiles for grade.  I use GPS Elevation readings every 1800 feet.  About 1/3rd mile  Sub reading taken every 100 feet to allow for track curvature.  It's a true track footage between reference points.

THE BIG FLIP.  Fast simple easy flip, NO!  Sorry, I wish it were.  If you figure on drawing Subdivision for both directions.  You MUST have TRACK drawn on it's own and separate LAYER.  If you didn't figure on 12 and Tow.  

Flip (Mirror) all Horizontal
Flip (Mirror) TRACK ONLY Vertically
Items left behind from Track Only Flip, now need moved back over track in REVERSE ORDER.
Clean up is all that's left.  That can be anything from quick and easy to knuckle busting.  Lot of variable to consider after a flip.   Different Speeds maybe.  Footage change between signals.  Double track signals will be a mess if signals are not same on both mains.    You will have to clean up any road crossing over the main and siding both.  That I guarantee.

You better have all your REFERECE LINES marked and figured before you ever start flipping.  Lining everything back up would be a nightmare without.  I use same layer as track for REFERENCE LINES.  I put Vertical Reference lines on overlap Mile Post, and Horizontal Reference with main line.

My Spec's as of today and a few past.
SCALE 1 to 1.25
10 Millimeters equals a mile.
Snap set at 0.5 Millimeters
30 miles a line
5 Lines Maximum per page ( and very tight for room )
3 to 4 lines a page is optimum at this scale.
Grade calculated every 1800 feet
Placement of item accuracy 125 feet

Following is a list of tools I expect to find in a good vector drawing program. 
You only need a 2D drawing program.  3D is over kill and more to learn.  More money also.
You want a program that will let you make a CUSTOM TOOL BOX or hot keys that give you one click access to the following.

SHEET SET UP = allows you to set print area, scale, orientation, and placement.
PRINT SET UP =  Select printer and settings
PART INSERT = insert pre drawn items
PART CLIP = draw and save for multiple retrieval
GROUP = Makes everything one
UNGROUP = Breaks items down into separate items
CHANGE PROPERTIES = MULTIPLE SETTINGS ( A MUST HAVE )
ZOOM SHEET
ZOOM ALL ( all pages at once as single drawing view )
ZOOM AREA
PREVIOUS VIEW
FILL
FILLET
LINE
ARC
BOX
CIRCLE
TRIM
EXTEND
BREAK
COPY
MULTIPLE COPY
MIRROR
ROTATE
SCALE
TEXT
EDIT TEXT
SNAP
ORTHO
MEASURE
SHOW PROPERTIES
ATTACH
STREATCH
UNDO
REDO
SAVE
PRINT