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Anyone tried any of these programs:

Create Your Own Model Railway Deluxe:
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.amazon.com/Model-Railway-Deluxe-Pc/dp/B000KP8KH0">http://www.amazon.com/Model-Railway-Del ... B000KP8KH0</a><!-- m -->

Model Train Simulator 11
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.amazon.com/Model-Train-Simulator-2011-PC/dp/B004CJ7NG4">http://www.amazon.com/Model-Train-Simul ... B004CJ7NG4</a><!-- m -->

Railroad X
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I was wondering if anyone has fiddled with these and if they are worth buying?
There are many to choose from, including Trainz, TrainSim and MSTrains. I have been using Train Sim since 2009 - currently TS2015. It allows users to drive trains running from steam to electric to diesel to high speed modern trains in Europe and Japan. Routes range from America to Europe, Japan, South Africa and New Zealand, in weather and conditions ranging from darkest night to brightest day, thunderstorms, rain, fog and all four seasons, with more coming all of the time and the ability for the player to create both routes and scenarios and to run free routes and scenarios created by others. There are literally hundreds of free scenarios available.

These used to be "sims" but are now presented as games, with the chance to drive freely or to engage in a career in which strict standards of performance apply. I have played hundreds of hours and continue to enjoy it immensely. It can be addictive at times.

If you want to see what it's like, check out some of the play video for any game version you wish on YouTube, or go to any of the game forums. Trainsim used to be under RailWorks, so that forum lives here: <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.trainsim.com/vbts/forumdisplay.php?98-RW-General">http://www.trainsim.com/vbts/forumdispl ... RW-General</a><!-- m -->

YouTube sample intro: <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bCENoWG6FLs">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bCENoWG6FLs</a><!-- m -->

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There is also a Steam Community closely linked to TS which will allow you to browse the kinds of routes and scenarios available. My routes include the New York Corridor and New York - New New Haven Corridor, the Ohio Steel Route, Marias Pas Route, Sherman Hill Route, Cajon Pass Route, Stevens Pass Route, Donner Pass Route, Castle Rock Route, Canadian Passes, Pacific Surfline Route (LA region), British London route, a German route, the Portland Terminal route, The Northwestern Monongahela Coal Route, Horseshoe Curve Route (Pennsy Line), Colton and Northern Route, Rascal and Cottonwood Route (shortlines) the Majestic Route (user created shortline with a lot of industries and logging), The Raquette Lake Route, Moscow and Camden Route (user created shortlines) and a large roster of locos and rolling stock to utilize on them ranging from the Consolidation coal-fired 4-6-0 to the Challenger and Big Boy locos and diesels from switchers to huge SD70MAC's and larger. Consists of 120 or more heavily cars are routine, ranging to ultra-fast passenger trains (120 mph and much higher on the Japanese routes) and passenger trains of yesteryear such as the Daylight with it's streamlined GS4 steam loco and matching coaches, the Sante Fe and the DRG passenger trains.

I will warn you that it can be expensive. The initial purchase is reasonable and gives you TS2015 plus a basic selection of routes, scenarios, locos and rolling stock; thereafter you must purchase add-ons. New routes usually come with the relevant locos and some scenarios, in some cases a lot of scenarios. However, there are significant sales at least four times a year at up to 50% off and that is how I amassed my current roster.

If you wish to contact mne personally for more info, I am <!-- e --><a href="mailto:RockyMtDoc@aol.com">RockyMtDoc@aol.com</a><!-- e -->, and I would be happy to hear from yu and assist you in any way I can.
I've seen TrainSim and Trainz, but my understanding is you can only follow pre-programmed routes, not create your own railroad to fiddle with on the PC (including all the loops we love to make), which is why the model railroad simulator in particular looks interesting
ScrewySqrl Wrote:I've seen TrainSim and Trainz, but my understanding is you can only follow pre-programmed routes, not create your own railroad to fiddle with on the PC (including all the loops we love to make), which is why the model railroad simulator in particular looks interesting

It is, but be advised that the learning curve can be steep; however, you can clone an existing route, modify it and rename the result as your own, using elements form any route in your collection. My ambition is to recreate the Florence and Cripple Creek Railroad one day for the benefit of users, and then expand it to include the numerous coal mines, oil wells and other rail-served industries in this area circa 1900.

The routes you purchase are, of course, pre-programmed but are beautifully constructed, and some have those "loops" you mentioned. There are several in which you can watch your consist going around on one side or the other of your cab as you wind along, and the Yo-Ho spiral tunnels are a masterpiece. You also have turrntables and transfer tables. Thumbsup
I think If I'm going to get something, it will be Railroad X
ScrewySqrl Wrote:I think If I'm going to get something, it will be Railroad X

I'm not familiar with that one.
MountainMan Wrote:
ScrewySqrl Wrote:I think If I'm going to get something, it will be Railroad X

I'm not familiar with that one.

Last I heard of Railroad X (downloadable) it was full of malware and two possible viruses.
that must be something different from the Railroad X I'm thinking of, which is on steam (and Just went on SALE as I noticed it!)

<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://store.steampowered.com/app/251020/">http://store.steampowered.com/app/251020/</a><!-- m -->

I will have to pick it up tonight. Its on Sale for $20 instead of $40
ScrewySqrl Wrote:that must be something different from the Railroad X I'm thinking of, which is on steam (and Just went on SALE as I noticed it!)

<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://store.steampowered.com/app/251020/">http://store.steampowered.com/app/251020/</a><!-- m -->

I will have to pick it up tonight. Its on Sale for $20 instead of $40

Its the same one..I would still run a scan before buying but,that's my policy before I download anything.
Auran Trainz will let you build your layout your way, any size (if your computer has enough memory the sky is the limit) and any shape. Then you can drive your train from inside or outside the cab, do operating sessions or just cruise. There is plenty of support and add-ons as well. However as MountainMan said these programs can be addictive and you end up spending so much time playing with it that you don't get any real modeling done. These programs are handy for anyone who has disabilities that would prevent them from doing real modeling.
Tyson Rayles Wrote:Auran Trainz will let you build your layout your way, any size (if your computer has enough memory the sky is the limit) and any shape. Then you can drive your train from inside or outside the cab, do operating sessions or just cruise. There is plenty of support and add-ons as well. However as MountainMan said these programs can be addictive and you end up spending so much time playing with it that you don't get any real modeling done. These programs are handy for anyone who has disabilities that would prevent them from doing real modeling.

Or those of us who want to actually feel what it's like to drive steam, diesel or electric locos hauling consists over the major routes of the world, something that cannot be done by modeling.

I don't have any problem doing both, myself, and operating actual trains has taught me a great deal about how my layout should be constructed and what ideas I should avoid incorporating in order to lessen or eliminate potential problems. You get out it what you put into it, and what you look for.
Interesting thread, but do they run on Linux &/or BSD(?).
switcher1 Wrote:Interesting thread, but do they run on Linux &/or BSD(?).


Don't think so, but you can check. Trainz and ailroad X are both on steam, you can check the Linux side