Train simulators

kane45

New member
Being a massive fan of trainz was wondering if any body had any suggestion on what other train simulator are about and if there any good?
 
Run8 Train Simulator is the best in train physics. The graphics are a little on the meh side but that should not deter you. Currently they offer USA routes like the Tehachapi Pass Route (Mojave Sub), Cajon Sub(Cajon Pass), Needles Sub, CSX A-Line, CSX Selkirk/Mohawk Subs. The game has no way to create custom routes or content. You can find out more by following this link: www.run8studios.com

Run8 review by trmania(At the railyard):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yvtUbRkH9mY

**Most of the issues in the video have been fixed

The game is mainly multiplayer based, but here are some links to multiplayer servers

http://www.thedepotserver.com/ (The Depot ~ A Run8 Community)

http://www.highballrun8.com/ (Highball Server)

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1665341970347491/ (Michigan Southwestern Railroad, My Server, I host planned sessions only)
 
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Some years ago I tried Just Trains/Railworks and at that time the graphics were some way ahead of Trainz however creating session my main interest was quite hard and long winded so although the results were good my preferred simulator is Trainz. As for the driving experience sorry not really my thing. Peter
 
I like both Trainz and Train Simulator, they are the two best train simulators out there.

Train Simulator Pros: Graphics, fastest FPS, realism and some freeware out there.
Train Simulator Cons: Nearly everything costs money and some sounds on some locomotives aren't that accurate.

Trainz Pros: Graphics, tons of freeware, easier creating routes and reskins and very fun to drive trains around.
Trainz Cons: Lag, even with a good graphics card, and some things don't work.

Overall, both of these are hard to pick which is better, so i would suggest both of them. :)
 
Don't get Train Simulator 2016.
It has over 3000$ in DLC.

This is the most inane statement I've ever read. It's like saying don't buy a car because it will cost you $xxxx in servicing costs.

The fact that TS20xx has such a big catalogue of DLC and many content providers actively developing for it, is testament to its resounding success. No one is forced to buy any DLC so even my analogy about the car isn't strictly correct. However at least there's a good selection of routes and motive power to choose from, if you want to drive trains in a modern looking game engine. Yes there are disadvantages - the physics are way off on some of the traction (but still nowhere as bad as much of the stuff in Trainz) and there's more of a learning curve when it comes to building routes. It's also true there's much less freeware compared to Trainz, but given much of what we had previously has been obsoleted by TANE that distinction tends to blur a bit.

And when it comes to DLC, there are frequent sales on Steam which can see up to 75% knocked off the full retail price so a $40 route pack can be purchased for $10.

Anyhow I give this thread about another two hours in GT before it gets moved to Prototype or Community, or binned altogether!
 
Don't get Train Simulator 2016.
It has over 3000$ in DLC.
Please............ You can get yourself done in with Trainz as well. Both are very good sims for very different ways. I hate that the one of the only reasons that Train Simulator 2016 gets hit on is because of $3,000 in DLC. You don't have to all of it you know, like me, I haven't bought any of the European stuff, considering I don't really drive European trains. Really, if you're going to contribute some reason as to why Railworks is in worse off than trainz, then actually bring out something.

Train Simulator has some of the finest graphics out there, but they too are not perfect. Meets seem somewhat entirely too bright during the day. Shadows can be a bit wonky at points.
Physics are ehhh, decent, but not stellar. A heavy grain train doesn't what you would call feel like a heavy grain train. The overall isn't as immersive as some experiences I've played in trainz, so while it is a good driving simulator, it's not perfect.
It tends to be a more pretty screenshot simulator 2016, not a really a stellar train simulator. Perhaps when it comes out in UE4, then the experience can be better than what we have provided for us right now.

Overall, I like Train Simulator 2016, say whatever you like, I don't care.
Money is the last gripe I have about my Twain simming experience.
 
Well, I have Trainz, Train Simulator 2016, and MSTS/Open Rails. Run 8, I haven't tried, so I can't speak for. Each simulator has its own pros and cons. Honestly, I use them all about the same, depending on what I'm in the mood for.

Trainz: Definitely very user friendly, and surveyor mode is a plus. Has the easiest route editor by far. A variety of content. I use Trainz when I want to run my custom routes and equipment.

Microsoft Train Simulator / Open Rails: MSTS is the original for me, so sometimes I use it simply for the nostalgic factor. Open Rails has good operational features, like the ability to open/close angle cocks and bleed off air from cars. It is more operationally immersive than Trainz or TS2016. It is also MUCH more stable than the original MSTS.

TS2016: This, I use only for a few select routes and equipment, mainly passenger. I use this sim when I want to run a passenger train, or a commuter train sprinting between stations. The graphics are very nice, but this simulator lacks very much in physics. Freight trains stretch like rubber bands and in some cases perform like sports cars, darting off from a dead stop. There ARE some physics mods out there, but honestly I have only tried these on Amtrak and Metra trainsets. It has potential, and I don't want to start a war here, but the physics need a LOT of improvement.
 
Don't get Train Simulator 2016.
It has over 3000$ in DLC.

You have to pay for everything in real life, bills, taxes, food, houses, cars, so there is no point complaining about that the game or game DLC costs money, not many stuff are free in this world...

Take K&L Trainz for example, you have to pay to get their stuff because the company needs money so they can make more locomotives, plus the stuff are worth buying.
 
but the physics need a LOT of improvement.

No Train Simulator/Train Game has realistic physics yet, not yet anyway, because gaming development is still progressing and it is hard to know how a train will crash in a game, but i do know many Car Simulators/Car Games that have realistic physics, BeamNG.drive is one good example.
 
You have to pay for everything in real life, bills, taxes, food, houses, cars, so there is no point complaining about that the game or game DLC costs money, not many stuff are free in this world...

Take K&L Trainz for example, you have to pay to get their stuff because the company needs money so they can make more locomotives, plus the stuff are worth buying.
That would be a vaild argument if the game had more than 3 routes and almost all the Workshop content didn't need the DLC (Some of which is 1 route and a piece of rolling stock that costs as much as the ACTUAL GAME)

No one seems to be getting my argument....
You see, TS2016 is very lacking in content (3 routes in base Steam Edition game).
To get more content for this game, you either buy DLC or go to the Steam Workshop.
DLC is extremely expensive, as some of it costs as much as the GAME ITSELF.
Said DLC is usually 1 single route and a locomotive.
The standalone locomotive DLC is also very overpriced (some locos cost 20$ with no sale)
Then there's the Workshop.
Most routes/sessions on the Workshop need you to buy the DLC.
Here's the thing with the Workshop, however:
YOU CAN'T GET LOCOS ON THE WORKSHOP.
Thus, you HAVE to buy more locomotives from the Workshop.
Good tricks on DTG's part.....
Some people have said that some DLCs are of poor quality too.
Just go look at the Steam Reviews if you want to get into the details.
TL:DR TS2016 has not a lot of content in its base game, tons of overpriced DLCs, and a Workshop that needs you to buy said DLC for most of the stuff on it to work.

P.S. sales are few and far between.

No one seems to be getting my argument....
You see, TS2016 is very lacking in content (3 routes in base Steam Edition game).
To get more content for this game, you either buy DLC or go to the Steam Workshop.
DLC is extremely expensive, as some of it costs as much as the GAME ITSELF.
Said DLC is usually 1 single route and a locomotive.
The standalone locomotive DLC is also very overpriced (some locos cost 20$ with no sale)
Then there's the Workshop.
Most routes/sessions on the Workshop need you to buy the DLC.
Here's the thing with the Workshop, however:
YOU CAN'T GET LOCOS ON THE WORKSHOP.
Thus, you HAVE to buy more locomotives from the Workshop.
Good tricks on DTG's part.....
Some people have said that some DLCs are of poor quality too.
Just go look at the Steam Reviews if you want to get into the details.
TL:DR TS2016 has not a lot of content in its base game, tons of overpriced DLCs, and a Workshop that needs you to buy said DLC for most of the stuff on it to work.
4 routes, my bad.
 
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Isn't Train Simulator a bit restrictive? Trainz I found when I accidentally came across it years ago was a delight. Not being a techy person I surprisingly found how easy it was to start tinkering with building a project you could take a train anywhere you wanted to as well as programmes several to do different things all at the same time. Another I found wasmuch as far more limited than Trainz. In MS you had a veritable tech mountain to climb for anything and I still think that Trainz is the most versatile for any person to be able to have a crack at building and is far more varied in being able to programme. Did try Train Simulator and for all it's graphics style far too dashed limited and got rid of it.

What I have built in one big route (my whole Glasgow tramway closed in 1962) and my present Irish project I would never have been able to do at all. We have had these threads over and over here and thought were gone for good but there we are! I am a Trainzer full stop!!

Bobby
 
The world accurate train simulator is 'Zusi3.0'
Contra:
- very oldschool graphics
- only german content

No other train sim games will simulate all the railroad - stuff better than Zusi3.0
 
The world accurate train simulator is 'Zusi3.0'
Contra:
- very oldschool graphics
- only german content

No other train sim games will simulate all the railroad - stuff better than Zusi3.0

And eye watering expensive... much as I would like to try it, until the price drops (a bit) and there is confirmed language localisation of all key elements - in particular the route builder - I must sadly pass it by.
 
Isn't Train Simulator a bit restrictive? Trainz I found when I accidentally came across it years ago was a delight. Not being a techy person I surprisingly found how easy it was to start tinkering with building a project you could take a train anywhere you wanted to as well as programmes several to do different things all at the same time. Another I found wasmuch as far more limited than Trainz. In MS you had a veritable tech mountain to climb for anything and I still think that Trainz is the most versatile for any person to be able to have a crack at building and is far more varied in being able to programme. Did try Train Simulator and for all it's graphics style far too dashed limited and got rid of it.

What I have built in one big route (my whole Glasgow tramway closed in 1962) and my present Irish project I would never have been able to do at all. We have had these threads over and over here and thought were gone for good but there we are! I am a Trainzer full stop!!

Bobby

Which "Train Simulator" are you referencing, Bob? If the old MS one then yes it is technically quite hard to build routes though I am currently endeavouring to do one at present, alongside a similar project in Trainz. There is also a huge struggle getting the editor to run and perform satisfactorily on modern hardware and O/S and of course all the old errors that Kuju and MS never bothered to patch out are still there too. So, why bother you may ask. Well the beauty of MSTS is, that "it is as it is." The programme is never going to get updated or changed so that half the earlier content can't run. It's not going to look much uglier or prettier than it does right now. Warts 'n all it is very much a known quantity. It never had any real official support so there's no "life-cycle" rug waiting to be pulled out from beneath by a publisher eager to wean users on to his new "PAYG" business model. There's still a sizeable user community particularly in the US and an emerging one on the Indian sub-continent with plenty of assets both in terms of route scenery and motive power etc.

Also supporting MSTS is the Open Rails initiative. Although the avowed aim of the people behind this is to provide a new open source simulator it does a very good job of running most MSTS stuff.
 
It was Rail Simulator think called Vern? It had the opportunity of creating routes but was so dashed fiddly and certainly not as easy or likewise so after a brief look I stayed with trainz! Somewhere lurking hers is still MS and a couple of routes a brother bought me for two different birthdays years ago and was my first try at train sims. There is still a site here in GB that covers MS and the simulator I mention and does have an impressive list of MS routes built by many fans. However you could not surf to far from track and I wasn't very keen on the linear map in the corner that showed the line in front of you. It was surfing for railway simulators that I came across trainz and started to realie that for the general average person who does not loaded down by high techy processes it was a delight. That was TRS4. Trainz to me is so practical from changing points to setting where a train can go and so on. Might actually put the old MS disks back on my old pc as the couple of professional routes given by my brother were generally ok for MS.

When I got into tTainz i realised that my fiurst attempt at building the former Glasgow tramway system (closed sadly 1962) that trying that in MS or elsewhere was a no-no. That project is still on my computer and as a break from my equally big way and during their initial research before the item had tried to contact me. Hadn't been well and missed out on getting it outlined in the paper so groaned. (www.glasgowtramsim.moonfruit.com)
 
Ah yes! Rail Simulator. It was actually the prototype programme that Kuju published through EA, which morphed via several ownership changes into Railworks which then of course became TS20xx. When it first shipped there weren't even any editors (they had to be registered for and downloaded later). Not sure if I've still got the original box somewhere.

Trainz does indeed reign supreme for tram routes, not least because MSTS never did support closed loops or turning circles, a de-facto feature of many lines and RS/RW/TS20xx, well it just never caught on apart from my attempt at Blackpool and one or two other authors have put stuff out. It just doesn't seem to fit in the paradigm that either DTG or the majority of creators are trying to create for the sim.

The only bind with Trainz at least pre TANE is trying to get road sections flush with the track in turn flush with the terrain for street running. Fine on the level as you just tamp the splines but by heck it's a pain where there's any hills involved.
 
There was one simulator, I forget the name, the updates derailed anything you ran and had you run under the right of way. And the brakes on the rolling stock were so bad, so ineffectual that I ended up never playing with that again. It was very hard to run around and explore routes with that.

I tried World of Subways, that was a closed sim (you can't add to it) and they never fixed their bugs nor their built in mistakes. They even had sessions that could not run in their sim. They never, ever fixed this defective product. Never. They promised an extension which never came. Not spending any more money there. How could you purchase something from a team which is still selling a defective railsim?

MSTS's backgrounds and and scenery are a wee bit, uh, um, erm.
I'll stick with TANE. I've even stopped using 2009 and 2012.
 
Trainz Cons: Lag, even with a good graphics card, and some things don't work.

Well, graphics cards have nothing to do with lag so yea. Try restarting your router, or using a wire Ethernet connection.

Run8 Train Simulator is the best in train physics. The graphics are a little on the meh side but that should not deter you. Currently they offer USA routes like the Tehachapi Pass Route (Mojave Sub), Cajon Sub(Cajon Pass), Needles Sub, CSX A-Line, CSX Selkirk/Mohawk Subs. The game has no way to create custom routes or content. You can find out more by following this link: www.run8studios.com

Run8 review by trmania(At the railyard):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yvtUbRkH9mY

**Most of the issues in the video have been fixed

The game is mainly multiplayer based, but here are some links to multiplayer servers

http://www.thedepotserver.com/ (The Depot ~ A Run8 Community)

http://www.highballrun8.com/ (Highball Server)

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1665341970347491/ (Michigan Southwestern Railroad, My Server, I host planned sessions only)

If you go Run8 avoid the depot. However California, Michigan, and Florida Railroad hosts a simple 24/7 server.
 
It's interesting to see lag being mentioned, as this can also be caused by low framerates (something I found out when doing video recording and the amount of stutter was noticeable).

Shane
 
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