I retired from Norfolk-Southern a couple years ago and now have the need to run a train(never thought I would have those feeling again) Can any one out there help me find a good train simulator for PCs. I ran trains from Cincinnati Ohio to Danville, Ky and would like to have something with hill and senery
Thanks for any help I can get
One of the best is Microsoft Train Simulator. It uses a keyboard for the controls, but as you were once in the industry, you should look at getting the RailDriver controller - which simulates the controls much more realisticlly.
As for Ohio, there is a cool route called “Ohio Valley” available from http://www.avsim.com
Kind Regards,
LogJam
I have Microsoft Train Sumulator and Trainz TRS2004 - I like them both, and I believe they are comparably prices. There are other programs available as well, but I can’t speak for them. TRS and MSTS both have editors that allow you to build your own scenario - you could rebuild your old stomping grounds if you were so inclined.
There are many good routes/scenarios that come with both programs, and many people have worked very hard to create many other routes, some free, some not.
I also have the P.I. Engineering “Rail Driver”, which really enhances the experience. It work with both MSTS and TRS2004, and resembles on of those “new fangled” consoles, as opposed to the AAR control stand. Still beats running your trains from the keyboard. There is the possibility that PIE will be coming out with an AAR stand, but that’s just conjecture right now.
Enjoy, and spend lots of time here on the forum. There are a lot of great folks here, from “real” railroaders to those of us who just like to watch them.
my next question is how toget this rail driver that you both mentioned. Thanks for you information and I will looking into the software you talked about .
WA Jones
I’m a Microsoft Trainsimulator fan (MSTS)…I found mine at Wally World (wal-mart).
MSTS is great! Make sure you go the www.train-sim.com file libriary! The only bad things about MSTS are: A. The game requires a newer computer (IE 2000 or XP) B. It crashes so often and can drive me crazy.
I might get Trainz since I found out somebodys making the NS Reading & Lehigh Lines for Trainz 2004
To get Raildriver go to http://www.raildriver.com/
I have all of the simulators and settled on the previous Trainz version called “Ultimate Train collection”, UTC for short. It is the easiest to use and the railroad modeler is very easy to use allowing you to build your own routs. Using US geological photos I have built routs that exist full s[:D]cale such as an industrial branch in Jackson MI. The Raildriver is excellent and adds a great deal to the experiance making it very realistic. There is a huge amount of free content and routs on the Trainz ‘download station’ which is added to daily. These include buildings ,rail equipment vehicles etc. You can alter the performance, engine sound, horn sound, etc… of the engines. If you like being a tower operator, like me, there is a tower you can sit in and control the switches and signals as the trains run them selves by following the signal indications. This auto pilot setting also allows other trafic that you as an engineer must deal with. Great fun. I began buying the simmulators 2 or 3 years ago and I have not touched the model rail road since. As soon as the MSTS II comes out I will try it too. You never know what may come next. Trainmang.
From what I here MSTS 2 is canceled
By the way, I believe the Ohio route is called “Ohio Rail” - rather than the “Ohio Valley” that I previously mentioned. Either case, its a great route designed by the talented Rich Garber.
There is even a Virtual Railroad for this route. A Virtual Railroad is a group of individuals who run a route as if it is a real RR business. Check it out at:
http://www.or4c.com/OhioValley
Cheers,
LogJam
I have MSTS and I like it alot. I also Highly recomend the raildriver, it really is great, and its worth the $175.00 (With shipping and tax)
Noah
Hello Trainmanw, Welcome to the forums. The http://www.trains.com/community/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=12235#watchlink has some more info, on train simulators, begun by 420express. There are now demo-downloads of everything from running all, and I mean ALL of the engines-worldwide. Trainz is an Austrailian company, with a whole webpage dedicated to US operations. Route building, is actually called digital elevation modeling, (or DEM). http://www.strategyfirst.com/en/downloads/demos has The Ultimate Trainz Collection Demo Download from Strategy First (Mirror 1) (101 MB) will get you started. http://www.trains.com/community/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=6746
is a topic called “which trains sim. do you use?” and shows tree68 at the trottle of RailDriver desktop controller. (The AAR standard controller is on the way). Be sure to add these to your watched topics list. Checkout the forums pages, and screenshots, and well as http://www.alabamarailfan.com and links to other websites. Stay tune, and let us know how your doing, your stories are what we live to hear, here. Enjoy Your Hobby! AJ\backyard
This is Allen Jenkins at Frontiernet.net and I just went on the inertnet to find trainsmag.com. Don’t ever let Microsoft ask me if I’m DONE with Model Railroader! DO you think Dr. Carstens would except such a sugestion? So what if no one wants a SCL painted engine! I’ll paint them! My Life,(a quality word), is better because of MR! Enjoy MY Hobby!