For those who love trains.

[Michael Slaunwhite]

Back in 1974 I would visit my Brother-in-law's home (well to see my Sister), and very often you would find him in his basement working on his electric model trains set, and I spent hours upon hours just sitting there watching, and sometimes give him a small hand working on the landscapes (8x4 plywood sheet), and occasionally he would let me sit with him, and run the trains.

Now in 2012 I no longer have the opprotunity to visit my Brother-in-law, but I can tell you this much, over all of those years he never stopped loving trains, and expanding on his train set layout. I did have a couple of photo's of his latest layout (2010), and it's extensive. It runs throughout his home, basement, just everywhere. The best part from what I can see from the photo is that he designed the track network in such a way that it hugs very close to the upper most part of the wall (1 foot below the ceiling), and runs everywhere, even out to his shed via a wooden plexiglass bridge from his home to the garage...simply brilliant, and all I can say he didn't scrimp on the landscaping either.

The reason for this being so expansive is because my sister passed away back a few years ago which left him alone, so he poured everything he had into it (money, imagination, and loneliness), and voila, a train set to be proud of.

Now the reason why I posted this is because I came across a some pretty cool trains sims out there. The first is free, and the one I use. They are updating this simulation every so often, and believe me it's really cool. I personally love trains myself, and now live by a very active railroad (4 times per day, 2pm, 8pm, 2am, 4am...and so it goes) which by the way is just cool to watch, and if a diesel passes by hauling a heavy load, believe me the windows sometimes will rattle.

Note: Openbve is FREE, and donations are accepted of course.
#1 OpenBVE: http://www.openbve.org/

There use to be another called BVE4 but I can't seem to find a workable link. Maybe you folks will have better luck.

Some of us are familiar with Microsofts Train Simulator which is still going strong, but that isn't the one I am going to post here. Another is called Trainz, but I'm not going to post that one either...

#1: Railworks 3 Train Simulator 2012: http://store.steampowered.com/app/24010/
#2: World of Subways 3: Aerosoft Website
#2b: World of Subways 3: Forum Link

Special Note for World of Subways 3: Make sure you get the latest patch which is 1.3 which can be found at this link: 1.3 Patch

It's a must!

Here is a video of the World of Subways 3 Tutorial for those who wish to take this particular sim on.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=pl ... v6ZkqU6-kw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=pl ... RWr-yqO0ZY

Enjoy!

[Saddletank]

I did stacks of work on MSTS, bought it when it came out and probably got almost 10 years of fun out of it - built a British steam-era route with some online friends, great fun.

The original is looking very dated now though and I'm tempted to get RW3 but I don't know if I've got the time for it. I know there aare some great routes for it out there. We'll see..

[Michael Slaunwhite]

I did stacks of work on MSTS, bought it when it came out and probably got almost 10 years of fun out of it - built a British steam-era route with some online friends, great fun.

Hi saddletank.

I have played it allot when I picked my copy many years ago, but I have never made anything for it. I always relied on you good people to bring it to life for me (I have no talent in such things I'm afraid).

Would you still have the links to your routes that you have made, love to give them a try?

The original is looking very dated now though and I'm tempted to get RW3 but I don't know if I've got the time for it. I know there aare some great routes for it out there. We'll see..

It does look interesting. This is where I become a hypocrite, and suggest it since it's a Steam product for those who do enjoy these sort of sims, and love trains to pick up a copy...

[Videos]

Railworks 3 [HD] Train Simulator 2012 / Edinburgh to Glasgow
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=pl ... Mn_nlpfMDw

RailWorks 3 Train Simulator 2012 Donner Pass: Southern Pacific
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=pl ... 1c8H4KeGrU

There are many more, and allot to work with as well...

[Saddletank]

I thought that train accelerated pretty quick in the second video, before being shown that it was just 2 locos hauling a caboose.

My MSTS work:

http://www.uktrainsim.com/filelib-searc ... saddletank

[Michael Slaunwhite]

I thought that train accelerated pretty quick in the second video, before being shown that it was just 2 locos hauling a caboose.

My MSTS work:

http://www.uktrainsim.com/filelib-searc ... saddletank

Your right it did. I'm not sure if the characteristics of engine is bound by the sims control level you can choose (Novice or Veteran). I stay away from the arcade in these type of simulators I prefer to use the veteran control setup for realism. If I'm going to spend a few hours on a sim of this kind, I like to have it as real as I can get it.

A very BIG thank you to you Sir for the link. I haven't visited this site in a very long time. I'll definitely be downloading your work!

Thanks Saddletank, very much appreciated!

[Saddletank]

Mm, there's something very satisfying about hauling a long slow heavy train over a steeply graded route like Techapi(sp?) Pass. When you've six SD-40s at the front and three more at the tail and a 100 coal cars and you're at full throttle and just grinding up the mountain at 15mph there is quite a cool feel to it all.

[Michael Slaunwhite]

Mm, there's something very satisfying about hauling a long slow heavy train over a steeply graded route like Techapi(sp?) Pass. When you've six SD-40s at the front and three more at the tail and a 100 coal cars and you're at full throttle and just grinding up the mountain at 15mph there is quite a cool feel to it all.

I totally agree, you said it all right there. I know that there are folks out there that would think that it is boring, and it isn't. Your so right there is a level of satisfaction that you just can't explain to someone who doesn't have an appreciation for trains.

Thanks saddletank!

[Saddletank]

That's a very cool model at the bottom - got any more info on that?

[Braxton Bragg]

Oh Saddletank Yes I remember you You built the Branch line From Swindon, Highworth branch
How are you old chum?

[Michael Slaunwhite]

That's a very cool model at the bottom - got any more info on that?

Here is the link for the above photo: http://modeltrains.about.com/od/modelra ... Layout.htm

Here is something that may interest you.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=pl ... eKkOjcCKgk

[Additonal]
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=pl ... cC-Ax3jJ-M

[Now this is taking it to the extreme...]
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=pl ... SL0YDzd2ck


I love this stuff.