Two new finds for train sims

Trains.com Train simulation software
1

I recently bought off ebay (for very modest prices), two titles from JoWood.

They are European releases, but feature Anerican themes and engines.

The first is called Railroad Pioneer, and involves exploring a hidden map with a band of surveyers to locate resources. Then you build rail lines to connect resources to cities.

It’s quite complex, as you can research upgrades to engines, and new car types. You can also invest in cities housing development to generate more passengers and in industries to up the output. The campain consists of scenarios in several states starting in NY and ending in CA.

Some of the cars are obviously European, but for me it does not detract from play. You can add signals to increase traffic, and build cars, which cost money. I’ve just started playing, but so far its interesting and fun.

The second is called Transport Giant and runs the gamut from horse drawn wagons to ships, jets and helicopters. There is much emphasis on rail, from an unbelieveable signal system, to multitracked stations which can be lengthened, to very long trains (like maybe 50 cars) and double and trippleheading of locos. You can even choose curve radii. So far I’ve only played the first and started the second level, put the potential seems incredible. It has an American campaign and a European one. I found the “Gold” edition, which has the latest patches installed and includes an Austrailian campaign. Again, some of the vehicles are European, or Austrailian, but lots of American locos, did I say lots? These Games are not perfect, but they’re very nice additions to a somewhat limited market segment, as well as a fresh angle.

I picked up both games for about 30 bucks total, including shipping, one even shipped from England.

2

Run as far away from JoWoo as you can. I did have these two games and ultimately they never got used. Railroad Tycoon II got all of my play time until Trainz 2004 and thier awesome Rio Grande steam engine came out. Now I can never find that copy.

3

[#ditto]

4

I had problems too!

5

Here’s an update…I’ve been playing “Transport Giant” for quite some time now, I think I was addicted for a while, as I couldn’t wait to get home from work to play, and didn’t want to stop to go to bed!

So far, I’ve had ZERO probelms, except that if the computer “goes to sleep”, it kills the program. I’m running about a generation and a half old AMD Athlon at 2.0 GHz, with 1GB of RAM and a $150 256MB GeForce based graphics card. The max game resolution is 1024x768, and seems to do fine.

I find the game fascinating, as you have to figure out tonnage ratio’s to calculate when additional power on a given train is cost effective (max train length is 64 cars and 6 engines). You need to factor fractional maintenance based performance decreases between servicings that affect tonnage ratings. You have to factor supply chain demand levels and manufacturing output, as well as cargo volume routing. You can store 256 loads of any type in as many warehouses as you can afford, where you can trans-load to other trains, trucks, ships, or airplanes. To sum it up, it’s heavy on logistics and economics.

I finished the American campaign, which culminated with supplying materials to build Kennedy Space Center, started the Autrailian Campaign, and am nearly complete with the European campaign (Building the “Chunnel”). Mission goals are mostly “make a lot of money”, which leaves lots of room for you to figure out what is cost effective, and what isn’t, although some are more specific.

I still haven’t figured out the signals, and if I could change one thing, it would be that the track can only be built on 2 axes, whch makes for some unnecessarily long routes.

For 15 bucks, I think it’s a bargain. I’ve played it a LOT more than Sid Meyer’s Railroads.

If we could just get the train lengths, engine selection, and doubleheading of Transport Giant, (and maybe the warehousing) with the tr