10-05-2014, 01:57 PM
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 -->
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xLW-4Y3ZP1Q">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xLW-4Y3ZP1Q</a><!-- m -->
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=la761noPmyk">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=la761noPmyk</a><!-- m -->
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-isHnHK3kmg">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-isHnHK3kmg</a><!-- m -->
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fxAP-p4Z1ho">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fxAP-p4Z1ho</a><!-- m -->
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.
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 -->
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xLW-4Y3ZP1Q">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xLW-4Y3ZP1Q</a><!-- m -->
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=la761noPmyk">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=la761noPmyk</a><!-- m -->
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-isHnHK3kmg">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-isHnHK3kmg</a><!-- m -->
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fxAP-p4Z1ho">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fxAP-p4Z1ho</a><!-- m -->
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.