As an avid train guy from N scale up to 1:1 scale, I thought it might be interesting to weigh the pros and cons of this hobby, essentially pitting Trainz against the 3D version covered by such magazines as Model Railroader and Model Railroad Craftsman in such categories as Time, Space, Money, Skill Level, Selection, Versatility and Intangibles. So without further fanfare….
…Ladies and gentlemen, focus your attention on the center of the ring, as our two contenders prepare to square off for the hobby-weight championship. It’s TRS (Trainz) vs. MRR (Model Railroading):
As a lifetime (well, close enough) model railroader, I have said this hobby requires three things: time, space and money. And most of the time, I was always lacking in at least one those (and it was always something different each time).
Round 1, Time: dead even, because this program is as addicting and time consuming as the 3D version. Trainz and MR finish this round even.
Round 2, Space: I think Trainz wins that one hands down, since the only space it takes up in on one’s hard drive. And a bigger hard drive is much easier to obtain and purchase than for one to build a bigger train room! Trainz takes this round 10-9.
Round 3, Money: Even though MRR would love to grab the crown from TRS, Trainz wins this category, even if you subscribe to the sites that take payment for custom content and often buy First Class Tickets. Model Railroading is a wonderful hobby; but it is god-awful expensive! One detailed but simple plastic structure can set one back $50, $60, $70 or more. That is more than TS2009 and any version prior to it. Locos run $85 and up, and if you want DCC control AND sound, plan on forking out at least $200. Trainz scores a knockdown, and wins the round 10-8.
Round 4, Skill Level: Hmmm, that can be a hard category to award, because everyone has different skill sets. If you’re happy with Trainz as it comes, your skill requirements are reduced to running a program, and learning the different parts of it, i.e. Driver and Surveyor. There is a reason why the manual is more than 300 pages! Add to that, CMP, Download Station, and the joys of missing dependencies, the skill requirements amp up exponentially.
But compared to MR, Trainz is child’s play. With MR, one must have skill (or know someone with it) in carpentry, track-laying, electrical wiring, painting (backdrops), lighting, scenic techniques, and knowledge in design and operation of said railroad.
I had a layout going, but the quality of the benchwork was far from great, and track-laying/wiring was a big headache. Of course, once we decided to adopt a special-needs child at my wife’s school, she got our bedroom, and the only room left for my wife and I was my train room. So what was started was removed (navigating around a queen sized bed was more of a challenge than I wanted). Trainz requires no nail pounding, no soldering, no messy plaster, no tricky wiring. Nirvana. So for me, Trainz wins this category 10-9.
Round 5, Selection: Again, this question has different answers to different people. As an N-scaler for so long, I have been impressed with the amazing growing selection of locos, rolling stock, structures, people, cars, scenic materials, etc.
But Trainz also has a wealth of choices, especially in the scenery/texturing options. Although MRR has a ton of wonderful engines available out there, until TRS came along I had never had in my livery an engine in Southern Pacific’s Black Widow paint scheme. I now have four! I could never come up with the cash for Con-Cor’s gorgeous Union Pacific “Big Boy”, but with TRS, I got one for the price of admission.
Taking both at face value, MRR gets the nod by a hair, but with TRS’s incorporated DLS and CMP, the score narrows even more. Both are constantly offering new choices. Both clearly have “limited releases”, since even TRS has custom-content-creating users who move onto other venues. MRR scores a 10-9 edge.
Round 6, Versatility: This is where I think TRS pulls away decisively. Although both versions allow you to run any train in any setting to suit your interests and whims, only TRS can shift easily with you if your interests change. If you design a layout that depicts a 1970s coal hauler thru the Appalachians and suddenly decide you want to try logging runs in the Pacific Northwest using 1930s steam power, then by George, you can. In fact, you can really do so in either MRR or TRS.
But with TRS, the changes take place with a few keystrokes and mouse clicks. Drastic changes in MRR could require heavier alteration devices, like hammers and crowbars!
TRS wins this one with another knockdown in the 7th. TRS wins on points 10-8.
Rounds 7-10, Intangibles: Here is where MRR makes up some lost points. Because as detailed as we make our TRS routes, they are still just a 2D representation. There is just something about seeing life in miniature that makes MRR so appealing.
I may not have a layout (for now), but every November we rearrange our living room for our ever-growing Christmas village. With 73 businesses, plus a trolley car system, and a connection with the D&RGW passing thru town, this display has never failed to elicit at least a “wow” from any viewer. Pretty sure I wouldn’t receive the same response were this reduced to a computer monitor. MRR takes round 7, 10-9.
Of course, one of the dangers with 3D things is their chance of breakage if mishandled. Anyone visiting a layout has to be viewed as a potential danger to everything within their reach, especially if they are children. I view my dog and kids with a higher level of distrust during the holidays than I do the rest of the year! TRS does not have that problem. TRS takes round 8, 10-9.
Engines, rolling stock, track and some scenery require periodic maintenance to sustain a level of reliable operation; with TRS, Auran does all of the maintenance, leaving us to create and drive our trains. There are no derailments in TRS (unless you choose that option). TRS captures the 9th round, 10-9.
MRR is by and large a social hobby, and getting together to run some trains (what is usually called “an operating session”) is the backbone of the hobby. TRS, not so much. Yeah sure, we have the forums, but it’s not the same fellowship one gets from MRR gatherings.
On the flip side, getting a handful of working adults together at the same time, for several hours, has become increasingly more difficult in these busy times. TRS’ AI engineers are always available. But nevertheless, MRR takes this round 10-9.
Despite its solid showing near the end, the veteran train champion just didn’t measure up well against the young stud with its new moves and amazing potential. Ladies and gentlemen, the winner by majority decision, the new Hobby-weight Champion of the Rails, is TRS!
…Ladies and gentlemen, focus your attention on the center of the ring, as our two contenders prepare to square off for the hobby-weight championship. It’s TRS (Trainz) vs. MRR (Model Railroading):
As a lifetime (well, close enough) model railroader, I have said this hobby requires three things: time, space and money. And most of the time, I was always lacking in at least one those (and it was always something different each time).
Round 1, Time: dead even, because this program is as addicting and time consuming as the 3D version. Trainz and MR finish this round even.
Round 2, Space: I think Trainz wins that one hands down, since the only space it takes up in on one’s hard drive. And a bigger hard drive is much easier to obtain and purchase than for one to build a bigger train room! Trainz takes this round 10-9.
Round 3, Money: Even though MRR would love to grab the crown from TRS, Trainz wins this category, even if you subscribe to the sites that take payment for custom content and often buy First Class Tickets. Model Railroading is a wonderful hobby; but it is god-awful expensive! One detailed but simple plastic structure can set one back $50, $60, $70 or more. That is more than TS2009 and any version prior to it. Locos run $85 and up, and if you want DCC control AND sound, plan on forking out at least $200. Trainz scores a knockdown, and wins the round 10-8.
Round 4, Skill Level: Hmmm, that can be a hard category to award, because everyone has different skill sets. If you’re happy with Trainz as it comes, your skill requirements are reduced to running a program, and learning the different parts of it, i.e. Driver and Surveyor. There is a reason why the manual is more than 300 pages! Add to that, CMP, Download Station, and the joys of missing dependencies, the skill requirements amp up exponentially.
But compared to MR, Trainz is child’s play. With MR, one must have skill (or know someone with it) in carpentry, track-laying, electrical wiring, painting (backdrops), lighting, scenic techniques, and knowledge in design and operation of said railroad.
I had a layout going, but the quality of the benchwork was far from great, and track-laying/wiring was a big headache. Of course, once we decided to adopt a special-needs child at my wife’s school, she got our bedroom, and the only room left for my wife and I was my train room. So what was started was removed (navigating around a queen sized bed was more of a challenge than I wanted). Trainz requires no nail pounding, no soldering, no messy plaster, no tricky wiring. Nirvana. So for me, Trainz wins this category 10-9.
Round 5, Selection: Again, this question has different answers to different people. As an N-scaler for so long, I have been impressed with the amazing growing selection of locos, rolling stock, structures, people, cars, scenic materials, etc.
But Trainz also has a wealth of choices, especially in the scenery/texturing options. Although MRR has a ton of wonderful engines available out there, until TRS came along I had never had in my livery an engine in Southern Pacific’s Black Widow paint scheme. I now have four! I could never come up with the cash for Con-Cor’s gorgeous Union Pacific “Big Boy”, but with TRS, I got one for the price of admission.
Taking both at face value, MRR gets the nod by a hair, but with TRS’s incorporated DLS and CMP, the score narrows even more. Both are constantly offering new choices. Both clearly have “limited releases”, since even TRS has custom-content-creating users who move onto other venues. MRR scores a 10-9 edge.
Round 6, Versatility: This is where I think TRS pulls away decisively. Although both versions allow you to run any train in any setting to suit your interests and whims, only TRS can shift easily with you if your interests change. If you design a layout that depicts a 1970s coal hauler thru the Appalachians and suddenly decide you want to try logging runs in the Pacific Northwest using 1930s steam power, then by George, you can. In fact, you can really do so in either MRR or TRS.
But with TRS, the changes take place with a few keystrokes and mouse clicks. Drastic changes in MRR could require heavier alteration devices, like hammers and crowbars!
TRS wins this one with another knockdown in the 7th. TRS wins on points 10-8.
Rounds 7-10, Intangibles: Here is where MRR makes up some lost points. Because as detailed as we make our TRS routes, they are still just a 2D representation. There is just something about seeing life in miniature that makes MRR so appealing.
I may not have a layout (for now), but every November we rearrange our living room for our ever-growing Christmas village. With 73 businesses, plus a trolley car system, and a connection with the D&RGW passing thru town, this display has never failed to elicit at least a “wow” from any viewer. Pretty sure I wouldn’t receive the same response were this reduced to a computer monitor. MRR takes round 7, 10-9.
Of course, one of the dangers with 3D things is their chance of breakage if mishandled. Anyone visiting a layout has to be viewed as a potential danger to everything within their reach, especially if they are children. I view my dog and kids with a higher level of distrust during the holidays than I do the rest of the year! TRS does not have that problem. TRS takes round 8, 10-9.
Engines, rolling stock, track and some scenery require periodic maintenance to sustain a level of reliable operation; with TRS, Auran does all of the maintenance, leaving us to create and drive our trains. There are no derailments in TRS (unless you choose that option). TRS captures the 9th round, 10-9.
MRR is by and large a social hobby, and getting together to run some trains (what is usually called “an operating session”) is the backbone of the hobby. TRS, not so much. Yeah sure, we have the forums, but it’s not the same fellowship one gets from MRR gatherings.
On the flip side, getting a handful of working adults together at the same time, for several hours, has become increasingly more difficult in these busy times. TRS’ AI engineers are always available. But nevertheless, MRR takes this round 10-9.
Despite its solid showing near the end, the veteran train champion just didn’t measure up well against the young stud with its new moves and amazing potential. Ladies and gentlemen, the winner by majority decision, the new Hobby-weight Champion of the Rails, is TRS!
rry about that..I wrote this long diatribe in Word, then just copied and pasted.
