Recommendations for a train simulator software and controller?

Here's a train game I came across that simulates a model railroad called Rule the Rail. I'll play around with it to see see what it's about.

I've played around for it for about 10 minutes. It comes with a pdf tutorial to help you get started. This could be a great tool to help visualize a layout.

I'll register tomorrow and see what else I can do with this.

Thanks for your response Stewart. The raildriver controller is exactly what I was looking for. I did join a train sim forum as this topic is not really related to O-gauge.

There are numerous software options, so I guess I have a lot of homework to do. I know the Trainz android I downloaded is 75% Europian consists, very little US train options. Can't complain, the download was $1.99! It is surprizingly powerful.

So it looks like I'm now also hooked on train sims!

Stack

I have an older copy of Train Simulator but haven't used it much because I never bought a Raildriver controller and using the typewriter keys and mouse always seemed like a lame way to control a train. At the time I remember being impressed with two things... #1 was the graphics and the way you could shift your perspective and look at different external views of the train/scenery or you could use the engineer's perspective and look out the cab windows. The animations were excellent then and I can see that they are even better now. The other thing that impressed me was that if you wanted to put in the time and effort you could make your own data files for your favorite railroad.

I might get back into this if it weren't for the fact that I am having enough trouble finding the time to do the stuff I need to do to get my layout where I want it to be.

I had an early version of Trainz which worked fine. I upgraded to Trainz 2010 and it was an absolute disaster. Trainz 2010 is the most buggy software I have ever seen released to the public. I don't think any of the routes worked properly on my Windows Vista laptop. I applied the latest patches and it still did not work . Even the software that does the upgrade was buggy. Attempts to obtain technical support from the vendor were all unsuccessful. I will never buy software from Trainz again.

Earl

Anyone who uses Microsoft Train Simulator should check out the web site www.train-sim.com

This is where hobbyists for computer-based train simulators post models they have made of locomotives, cars, building, landscape elements and complete routes. Anyone can download these for free, which tremendously expands the world your trains can run in and the road names available.

Microsoft Train Simulator is a very old software program that's hard to find new, but this strong hobby community makes it one of the best simulation platforms ever. The only down side to the free files is that they take a little more computer knowledge to install than the paid add-ons.

Earl, you may appreciate this: Granted, (to correct my previous quote) I only paid .99 cents for Trainz android, but I laughed till I cried today. As a step of the process, you need to pick a track to build the train on, well it was a arial shot, undoubtedly to high up when viewing on a 7" screen, but I built a double headed SD40-2 coal train on a two lane highway! From cab view, I got real suspicious when I passed a tractor-trailer on my right! I was convinced when I noticed the crossing-gates lower as I went over a set of tracks! It let me cruise that 2 lane for a good 10 minutes until a pop-indicated I had derailed! There may be some bugs they haven't worked out yet!

Seaboard99- Train-sim is the forum I joined today. Seems the forums are geared to Micrsoft Train Sim, Railworks, Trainz, and Rail Simulator. I'm sure there are others, but I will probably go with MSTS, as it definitely seems to have a large user base.

Stack

Hi Smokestack:

I have been in V scale since about 2002. I use MSTS. I'm curious: What are your railroading interests?

MSTS has a heavy "modern railroading" presence, quite a bit of 2nd generation diesels, and lots of 1st generation diesels. However, steam isn't quite so nicely represented as the above diesel era's.

My V scale tastes are REALLY weird: I get the biggest kick out of the railroading of the 1880's up into the 1900's.

Edit:

Well, my attempt to embed a Youtube video didn't work.

Here's a link if you want to view the video I was going to embed:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HxlyhdeqDSw

Andre

Andre, very nice! I'll be looking into V Scale's oferrings, particularly the Shay, which is a favorite of mine. My interests are steam thru 2nd gen diesels. I will most likely go with MSTS with the raildriver controller.

Stack