what is a good program to use to design layouts and run your train? is microsoft train simlulator good? or is trainz railroad simulator 2006 better? which do you use?
Microsoft “Train Simlulator” is a “real time” program to practice operating a real locomotive, in order to train an engineer or just for fun. Work an Acela out of Baltimore and head to Washington, pull a BNSF freight over the Rocky Mountains etc.
which one is better…MSTS or Trainz railroad simulator 2006?
Have you seen Train Player???
You can’t design layouts in it, but you can run trains on it, including layouts sketched on paper. You can get a 10-day free demo. I found this to be a fun tool for testing other people’s ideas on layouts.
Kurt
I’ve been using RR Track for a few week now. Great program for laying out, but it doesn’t do a simulation like 3rd Planit does, but I find it easier to work with than 3rd Planit.
Trainz Railway Simulator 2006 is very good for designing layouts. Sometimes its overwhelming at first (with all the objects & stuff) but once you get the hang of it it’s much easier than MSTS’ editors & tools - one thing being there are no fixed track pieces, you just click and drag and bend the track wherever you want it to go. Switches are made automatically. You can build layouts in full size (1:1) or even model train sizes like HO, O, and others.
As far as running the trains, it can be just like a model railroad (the DCC control) or a real train driving experience (the Cab controls).
I’m not sure about Trainz Classics but I don’t think it’s very different.