On the NS website, it mentions that their locomotive simulator in their exhibit car is one of the most popular attractions. It strikes me that if it is popular there, why not in a museum or at a trainshow?

So in general-

a) Are there reasonably priced (I know, I know) simulators offered by any manufacturer?

b) Does anyone on this board have any experience with Microsoft's Train simulator? Perhaps some hardware/software/mechanical interface could be cobbled together to make a reasonable simulator using a PC and the Microsoft software as the heart of the simulator.

Thanks in advance,

Matt Bumgarner

I believe that Britain's Deltic Preservation Society attempted something along the lines of what you describe with one of their two (!?!?!) truck-mounted authentic Deltic locomotive cabs. I don't think it got very far, primarily because of the physical hardware linkages between the prototype throttles, brakes, etc.

There exists at least one separate computer desktop control stand, somewhat similar in appearance and size to the modern diesel desks and their "joysticks" and screens, available for Microsoft Train Sim and other such simulator programs.

On the other hand, while searching for the price of NS's mobile loco simulator (it's a refitted motor home and somewhere above $200K, as I recall), I found the following at the RR Museum of Pa.:
http://www.rrmuseumpa.org/whatsnew/simulator.htm

Last time I was at the Railroad Museum of PA, I tried the NS simulator with fair results (hey I'm a dining car guy, not a diesel head!). However, it appeared to be really popular with kids and their families. I would say it was a definite hit for the museum.

I have been known to run a few trains in MSTS...

Microsoft Train Simulator seems to still have a substantial following, even though Microsoft itself has abandoned any future releases of MSTS. The most popular message board is found at www.train-sim.com

I believe some of the users have discussed ways to build a mock-up cab with appropriate controls that are wired into a souped-up PC computer and big-screen display.

A lot of these users are very adept at building routes, locomotives, and rolling stock that can be added into the game. Maybe if you offered the right ones some incentives ($$ or a year-long pass to all of your special events) they could recreate your route, your locomotive, and your trains. (I know that someone has recreated the Durango & Silverton in the 1950's. There may be others out there.) All that's needed is access to digital terrain data and specifics about the route the tracks take, and maybe some reference information about locomotives and rolling stock.

I would start by sending a private message to any of the message board moderators, since they would have a good idea of the "who's who" of MSTS, and if nothing else can point you in some different directions.

Here's a great idea once you get your simulator set up:

You could throw a little Operation Lifesaver into it. Have a simulation activity set up where you let high-school kids (especially the ones enrolled in Driver's Ed) take the throttle of a loaded coal train going 40 to 50 MPH, and tell them to not hit any cars crossing the tracks. Have one crossing set up where a SUV is stalled on the crossing, and show them what happens even when the emergency brakes are applied at the earliest moment they see the SUV.

One of the more interesting MSTS projects out there is the Western & Atlantic, circa 1862. http://hawkdawg.com/MSTS/rts/wa/wa_1862.htm

I wonder if it comes with any burning bridges...

[redacted]

I don't see the attraction - looks like a bad cartoon to me. Couldn't you just get real film of the real thing?

I can see how reconstructing lost stuff, like the 1865 W&A could be fun, but not until visual quality improves.

dave

Not to nit-pick, but I recently downloaded the Strasburg simulation and found that though extremely accurate, it is jerky and moves erratically. This is no doubt because of the number of compute cycles needed to establish the scenery. Still, a beautiful route.

I would love the see the K4s that is offered as a freebie on Train-Sim get better detailing, a new cab interior, and the correct tender. The folks who made it borrowed heavily from their I1sa, which is very nicely crafted.

Ever since Microsoft nixed the product line, I've done occasional searches for other train simulators in development. Kuju (the original designers for MSTS) seems to have its own project going. Auran Trainz has gone through a number of upgrades (although I don't know much about it.) And even Train Artisan (which did a large number of high-quality add-ons for MSTS) was developing their own train simulator with much higher graphics quality. I'm certain there are others out there.

Don't worry. Someday the graphics hardware will be so incredibly amazing that we won't know the difference between looking out a window and looking at a computer screen.

No, we caught them engine thievin' "damnyankee" firebugs before they could torch any...............:)

The best work out there involves re-creating long abandoned routes, and also period routes. Stock MSTS physics and graphics are lousy, but there are a number of "wizards" who have duplicated everything from early triple valves operating at 70 psi, to steaming and drawbar characteristics of any locomotive in the Baldwin 1919 catalogue. Bill Hobbs' work is some of the best. So is V-Scale Creations Andre Ming.

As a testimony to the accuracy of the aftermarket, few MSTS jockeys enjoy running steam - they just don't know how ...

I built 40 miles (Baker to Sumpter and Whitney) of the Sumpter Valley Railway, circa 1937-42, with the help of a couple other guys. Working from Terraserver, to follow the old grade, and 105' of profile maps to get the curves, sidings, etc. accurate, was quite a challenge, seeing as how the Ry was torn up in 1947! Living here helped, as I was able to use digital photos of locations as ground textures, etc. It took us 2 years, and if I did it again, I'd want at least $50,000 for the work I put into it!

Jon Davis and Tim Muir did locomotives and rolling stock from plans and photos. I laid all the track, and placed the structures, etc. along with doing the research. Many SVRy members, including crew members have it on their computers, and run trains that will never be again, dreaming of times past! We've even gotten quite a few donations and many visitors, due to the sim.

It ain't perfect, but it's pretty damn good! If you want to run a narrow gauge 2-6-6-2, 4-6-0 or Climax, this is the place to do it!

Here's a famous location on the original RR, as represented in the sim.





Recently, a guy cracked the code KUJU used, and has fixed many of the major problems the sim had, like the front couplers not working most the time. You can now switch cabs between locomotives, so you can use a switcher and assemble a train, then take the train out and run on a branch or mainline with a road loco.