Train Simulator Games (PC)

[Herc Driver]

Both the boys use both Trainz and MSTrain...from what I can tell, the folks at Trainz took more time to model the world around the train tracks, and did a really nice job with the engine cab interiors. You can also build your own routes pretty easily with Trainz, literally from the topography up starting on essentially a flat earth and adding hills, mountains, etc, and adding the track in whatever direction you'd like. The MS sim has less graphics modeling the world around the tracks, (very few moving cars, no people). But you can get downloads for just about any diesel you'd like to run, some for a fee and some for free. Neither of my boys try to run trains on one of the "schedule routes", so I can't speak to how the sims run in that regard. Overall, and just from observing over their shoulder when they use the programs, I like the Trainz a bit better for the graphics and various views you get of the train and countryside.