Yes, I am addicted to trains. And because of that I also play other sims, as each has its pros and cons. I play various ones. Train Simulator, like its predecessor MSTS has a huge amount of available routes and rolling stock, although the DirectX 9.0 based engine clearly shows its age. But its pro is definitely the moddability, scenario and route editor. Gives you much freedom. And has, with certain Locos, the best Steam engine simulation. And wonderful scenic routes from all over the world. TSW is the most impressive looking. But it suffers from the fact that as of now there is no editors available (correct me if I'm wrong), and the realism doesn't hold up to the good looks. And as Unreal Engine is not really made for a train sim which requires progressive loading of world tiles, the routes are shorter. It's better for the new player, as it guides you through operations. Hell, you even get XP for climbing onto the loco. Not quite my stuff. But let's see how it's developing in the future. Run8 V2 was developed by former MSTS addon developer 3DTrainStuff, and is widely accepted has having the most accurate physics, and offers a multiplayer mode that is quite impressive if you look at youtube videos. It's the closest you can get to the real thing. Cons are it is only focused on US railroading and uses an older rendering engine, but the lighting and sound is very nice, and you can manipulate the world, add trains, in realtime without ever having to stop the simulation. Very stable and smoothly running also. Zusi3 is the thing if you want real accurate operation of german trains and safety systems. It is highly complex, simulates PZB, LZB, CIR-ELKE, ETCS and is used for training real train drivers in a professional version of the sim. Graphics are simpler, still 2D bitmaps for the cabs, but the routes, signals, overhead wires and buildings are very accurately placed (Germans like that!). Also you only pay once, every addon they release will be added to your library for free. It is constantly being updated and the developer is actively discussing matters with the community. OpenRails is a free open source successor to Microsoft Train Simulator which lets you play the content that was made for MSTS and lets me play my home route, the AVG Schwarzwaldbahn between Karlsruhe and Freudenstadt. Derail Valley looks interesting and takes a different approach to rail simming. Not played yet. So each has its advantages if you're into trains. For quick arcade style play I recommend TSW. I spend most of my playtime with TS2022. So I'm interested in your thoughts, what do you like and dislike about TS and other sims?
First train sim I ever bought was TS2014 (in November 2013) played it for about an hour total in the first 7 yrs of owning it, bought it on a whim but just couldn't get into it. I bought Trainz (T.A.N.E.) in 2015 (can't even remember why) that got a little more interest out of me with 90 hrs over the next 5 years Even though I joined this forum in 2018 (for the life of me I cannot remember doing so) I never really picked up TS again until Feb 2020, then OMG I don't know what happened but I'm now over 1100 hrs in with 189 Steam DLC, 54 AP products and 25 JT products (bought direct from JT) plus a few other bits of payware and freeware here and there padding out my 500Gb SSD with just over 250Gb of TS content. The only other train sims I own are World of Subways 3 (London Underground) and World of Subways 4 (NY Line 7) which I have 20.8 hrs in and 95 minutes respectively, with WoS 3 being the only other train sim still installed on my PC. Oh I bought TSW CSX Heavy Haul when that first came out in 2017 and racked up 77.1 hrs of walking in that. Gave O.R. about an hour before deciding that wasn't for me Never gotten TSW2 it didn't interest me when it was free on Epicfail nor when 80% off in the last Steam sale.
I'm not sure I agree with that any longer. I mean from a technical point of view, it is clearly more up to date, but I don't think it is more accurate or impressive once you use the third party graphical updates available for it.
Interesting. Will probably buy a new high-end rig soon as saving your money makes no sense at the moment with zero interest rates and inflation. I got CSX Heavy Haul too when it came out, and then there is this guy on Youtube. Not much followers but the best ever in depth review of a game I ever saw. That dude works for CSX, has good knowledge of computers, and I find the stuff he says very interesting. He was also involved in the development of Smokeboxes' UP 119 if I remember correctly. Check him out here: Braking issues start at about 1h 20m... hilarious how he's trying not to get mad! I felt the same way often...
I only started with TS2021 last December. I have recollection of seeing a brief video (ad?) of a previous sim about a decade previously and wasn’t overly impressed by the graphics (and wasn’t ‘train-minded’ at the time). There’s also Open BVE. I don’t have this: while it might not be as graphically accomplished as TS, it was chosen by ‘Dad Rail’ on his YouTube videos for its realistic simulation (possibly also because it was free). I’ve never tried TSW, seen a little on video, but to me there’s higher priority things than being able to climb into your cab. The HUD interface just looks too much like a video game for me. Nothing against it or others, but I just have the time (and space!) to invest in one.
The only other train simulator I play apart from TS22 is TSW2. Many years ago I did have Trainz (around 2005 I think) and still have it on disc (no CD drive though on my laptop or PC now). Tbh I rarely played it anyway. MSTS was too expensive for me at the time being a student.
I started out with Trainz. But while it was fun for a bit, I never really got into it. I moved over to TS back when it was still called Railworks. For a few years I played that occasionally, usually when it updated yearly and reminded me that I had it! It‘s only in the past 5 years That I got really into it and built a PC to run it better. I avoided TSW for a long time, mainly due to negative comments in these forums, but eventually got it in a sale and found that I really liked it. Since TSW2 came out, It has gradually replaced TS for me. I still like and play TS though, just less often. The only other train game I played regularly is Derail Valley. I bought it because it supports VR, but it’s the only VR game that makes me feel slightly sick. So I‘ll dip into it now and then in normal mode. It’s good, but it is just a game and I get bored pretty quickly. I’m still interested to see how it develops though.
I was sorely tempted by a pop up ad on the Steam client for Lawnmower Simulator. But the price of £20+ plus the short routes was a deal breaker for me
I entered the Train Sim game with Trainz and I enjoyed it running different routes and locos No knowing enough I tended to use the Train Set Controller as I got used to it Then I spotted Railworks 3/Train Simulator 2012 and have been with it since. I tried TSW2020 and the graphics were better but the way it was set up was rubbish. You are late and booked to stop at an intermediate station and you have to wait the allotted dwell time. In real life the station duties would be done and the train would depart asap to pick up time. There were mods available that changed the default trains to something else Like running the FLT train on GWE with something other than a Class 66 Or NTP with something other than a 45 or 47 Then I got TSW2 as it promised stuff being allowed to run what you want and it never happened An DTG stopped the mods working so I could not run what I wanted unless I made a complete scenario So I'm not using any Train Sim Walking games and I'm with TS2022 Peter
My entry to the train simulation was TSW2020, it was at the time a choice I made because it was newer, after a while I bought TS and found it to be a lot better, though I feel I need to use various enhancements. When TSW2 came I bought it only because of the tube, played it for a month or so and haven't touched it since. Today I play TS and Diesel Railcar Simulator, the latter is in EA but coming along nicely.
Walking simulators, yeah. I think although it can be quirky TS hast the most to offer and is my favourite. Well, wouldn't be here else would I? Actually I started with a german freeware called Loksim3D in 2013... Was never into trains before.. then I got the fever!
Oh yes all these things popping up made me put it away quickly. You feel being treated like a baby. Reward for using Reverser lol
For graphics - TSW2. For realism - MaSzyna. For more fun - World of Subways series. Still waiting for full release of RailSim.
I use TS2022, TSW2 and TramSim if that counts. Every once and a while I get the urge to play Run 8 and while I appreciate the realism, the bland scenery and having to dispatch all the trains myself wears thin pretty quick. Could never get into Trainz myself…bought the last one that was released determined to figure it out but it never clicked for me. Over the years have also dabbled in OR…spent a ton of time in BVE and MSTS long ago. Curious about the post above saying you can bring the graphics of TS2022 closer to TSW2 with the right mods…what mods are people using for that? I think I have RW Enhancer installed…
Presumably all the gamey graphics stuff can be turned off? I had a look at a TSW video last night, and all these things appearing would drive me nuts, ruining any chance of viewing it as anything other than a video game. And what’s this below? I thought it portended an imminent alien abduction experience, but this waterfall of green sick is apparently a searchlight to show you where to stop! I’m not actually convinced that TSW graphics are that much better, to be honest, and any advantage is destroyed by the rather insipid game graphics overlay.
inversnecky in TSW2 you can turn the markers and prompts off as well as speed limit warnings, next signal state and even the speedo.
Oh boy, trains...I started with an HO scale layout many years ago... Before the Train Driver sims started to come along, but once computers started to tackle these tasks I had a few of the "traffic control" simulators from Siam Railway Games. They were mostly ASCII graphics driven DOS games, but were a lot of fun back in the day. I was surprised to find that they are still exist and have a pretty extensive catalogue of DOS oldies and newer windows based games. The first train simulator was EA Train Simulator with the Barstow to San Bernadino route (and a couple of other routes that I can't remember). Played that a lot, but eventually a computer upgrade came and I never re-installed it. Picked up TS2013 and played some, but never got back into it in a big way until about 2019 when I started finding it enjoyable again. Now I have to do a run every day or so (when RL allows) I have Run8 and Derail Valley on my "will buy sometime" list. Have toyed with OperRails, but just can't get into it. I own TSW2, but find it is too distracting with all the extra things to do (sometimes simplicity is King). I would rather just hop in the train and drive. I also own a couple of the Steam casual game train games like Train Valley which are good for a mindless distraction every once in a while
I think the first time I drove a train in a game was GTA San Andreas - sounds silly and I'd not defend the Brown Streak as a remotely realistic vehicle, but something about preferring to drive the train around the map instead of doing the gang wars made me curious to try more of that. The first dedicated sim I tried was probably Aerosoft's Circle Line WoS, then I moved across to TS in 2015. I think it was the pandemic that made me really hooked on the genre though, so really I'm new to all this compared to many of you. I will say though, given some of the above posts, TSW is better than I used to think. The existence of tutorials is in some ways deceptive, because it led me to foolishly imagine that was the limit of driving complexity. In reality, they've done a good job of enabling people who want an easy time, while allowing for a more immersive experience for those who'd rather that. Its main downsides are the poverty of third party involvement, but that's already changing and afaik even the mighty JT are working on something for it. Yes, the 'track side walker' thing is a light joke, and I find it kind of annoying and unrealistic that I have to get out of the cab and perform work that's normally for guards or dispatching workers to do, but on the other hand it is sometimes nice to just be able to walk around, even ride an AI service. I've sat a couple of times on the Manchester-Leeds route because it's very nicely made and gives a nice nostalgia rush. I still won't ever abandon TS for it, as sometimes you just want to spend a rainy Sunday afternoon driving all the way from Cardiff to Paddington, and I'd miss the joy of finding a really well-made freeware route. I do find myself dipping into it more when I just want a quick run, though. As a final thought, the other big difference I've found between TSW and TS - the community around the latter is so much friendlier. It's a feature of the former being newer and not having modding capabilities, I know, and the sheer age of TS meaning mostly the hardcore remain. Things don't seem to get as nasty so frequently over this side, though, and I value that.
I started getting into train sims way back in 2001 with MSTS. I even dabbled with reskinning for my own use and modifying ENG and WAG files. Even tried my hand at 3D modelling with Train Sim Modeller, but found it too hard. Mucked around with Trainz for a little bit, but found it that it didn't represent well as an actual simulator. Then bought the forerunner to TS - Rail Simulator, which I thought was amazing graphically at the time and virtually the same controls as MSTS. took a break from simming and concentrated on a few other things, but still played MSTS and OpenRails for a while. Got in to TS around 2018 - bought it retail and added more DLC over time. Now TS takes up pretty much all of my SSD apart from the OS - Need a new one.
BVE in about 2009 started it off for me and I found it authentic and immersive at the time. Enjoyed it, but once the Armstrong Powerhouse soundpacks were coming out thick and fast by the early 2010s they were the deciding factor that drew me into TS. I don't regret much of the well in excess of a grand I must have spent on TS add-ons since. Some of the freeware routes are so good that they are worth a healthy donation to the creators too. I have TSW2 on my PS but I rarely bother with it. My girlfriend recently found it on there though and she has a terrific time overshooting platforms on the Bakerloo after a few glasses of red.
If you think how much it would cost to build a model railway: even a locomotive now is a couple of hundred or so!
One thing I would like to have a stab at, time permitting, is the signalling simulator Sim Sig: https://www.simsig.co.uk/ There are some free options to try before having to buy it. Any one had a go?
I also dabble with this one, while while not technically a simulator, it's more or less a world-wide sandbox, allowing you to build what you think a railway network should look like using a real world map. Unfortunately existing lines aren't shown, but that doesn't really matter. But if you want to build a Transcontinental rail tunnel from Canada to Russia, you can. It's called NIMBY Rails. Anyone tried it? https://store.steampowered.com/app/1134710/NIMBY_Rails/
Funny enough I think i use those exact reshade settings, but don't have RW Enhancer. Is RW Enhancer worth getting? (I run my game at 1080p)
I used to have this installed and it is very good as a signalbox simulator And like bing in a big Power Box the only thing you see are lines on a map and changing colour to represent trains. The areas they cover are a bit big - Kings Cross covered all the way to Hitchin which is a big area for one person. An old one was Tehachapi and a lot more basic but interesting with the Single Lines
I have train sim and train sim world, I keep going back to train sim, cannot get used to TSW there just does not seem as much "life" around there really needs to be more trains and so many stations feed dead.
I've always kept that in mind as well. I've got thousands of miles of virtual track, most of the stock available (for UK and Germany at least) so to me the prices aren't an issue. I do see some complaints but when they come from people with rigs that cost 2 grand to set up, it seems odd to argue that a unit or a route is "overpriced" by a fiver or something.
Plus if you have a locomotive, you can readily duplicate it for a double header, without having to buy another, as you would with a model!
I recommend watching this video for anyone who wants to know how stuff works, although it's about the TSW beta it is full of knowledge and he explains in great detail how to operate an engine in RL. It's from the guy who was in the beta testing team for Smokeboxes' UP119.
For anyone interested, Run 8 V3 is out now bringing many new features to the best and most realistic US rail sim available! http://www.run8studios.com/
Run 8 V3 worth a look though if starting from scratch it will be quite expensive to gather all the routes. However once you do, you get a 500 mile continuous drive from Fresno or Los Angeles to Seligman. However it’s a game that requires a bit of thought whether getting used to the non mnemonic key structure or the fact you essentially make up your own play style. The addition of an AI despatcher in V3 is probably the biggest single advancement and improvement.
As I've already got all western subdivisions for V2, they got imported automatically and all the rolling stock too. They also updated the graphics engine, have weather effects now... impressive.
Yes I have all the subs apart from Arvin and Bakersfield to Fresno. I have come across a bit of a bug when driving in the rain, start to get a lateral jerkiness going around curves. Hopefully this can be fixed easily.
