webDotTrainSim: Microsoft Train Simulator

Train Simulator 2 announcement at Game Conference, Liepzig

Thu, 23 Aug 2007 12:01:12 GMT

Via The Little Wheel Goes in the Back (tdragger):

Sorry it's been so long since my last post but there's been a lot happening. Nonetheless I thought you'd like to hear about what I'm up to this week. I'm in Leipzig, Germany at the massive Game Conference--the biggest is Europe--meeting with journalists to discuss Train Simulator 2. Despite the conspiracy theorists that claim we're not really working on it I've been talking to press and showing screens and videos from the game. Each one walked away with a DVD of content so hopefully you'll start seeing examples of TS2 on the web really soon.

In fact I'm in between press meetings now, which run every 30 minutes from 0900 to 2000! It makes for a very long day. Nonetheless the facilities are superb and the German staff has been amazingly accomodating. I'll try to share more when I have time. But for now, I've got more journalists to amaze...

and Major Nelson:

Today at the annual Game Convention in Leipzig, it was announced that Ubisoft has joined the Games for Windows program, with their first title 'Settlers: Rise of an Empire.' Plus, Microsoft Game Studio announced 'Train Simulator 2.' These announcements join the hardware news from yesterday. Speaking of hardware, did you know that the Microsoft Hardware division is 25 years old?

Microsoft announces new train simulator

Sat, 20 Jan 2007 05:06:29 GMT

Yesterday (January 19, 2007) Microsoft announced it's going to work on a new version of our well-loved (when it does what it's told; frustrating is the nice word used when tools such as the Activity Editor misbehave) Train Simulator.

The announcement is here.

There are a number of blogs by the Train Simuatlor team members:

Mavyryk's Place: mavyryk.spaces.live.com
Sim Elations: simelations.spaces.live.com
The Little Wheel Goes in Back (Mike Gilbert, Program Manager First Class, Aces Studio): blogs.msdn.com/tdragger/
TSEngineer - Rolling (Jamie Osborne, Dev Lead, programming, for Train Sim): tsengineer.spaces.live.com (no content yet, as of today)
Yard Limits (Rick Selby, Lead Game Designer on Train Sim): yardlimits.spaces.live.com.

You'll find these in the Favorites list for future reference. It's worth subscribing to feeds from each of the above so it's easy to follow what's happening.

There are links to various threads on the MSTS forums at www.webdottrainsim.com.

Technorati tags: Microsoft Train Simulator, announcement

Line news 07-Jan-06

Sat, 07 Jan 2006 01:22:13 GMT

One day to go (well, plus 10 hours to be exact when the international time zone is taken into account). The Train-sim.com library has Thomas Luetke's Swiss tourist route, the Einsiedeln, going from Rapperswil at 410 metres altitude to Einsiedeln at 882 metres; the two files to download are einsied1.rar (187Mb, 06-Jan-06) and einsied2.rar (227Mb, 06-Jan-06).

Line news 06-Jan-06

Sat, 07 Jan 2006 01:20:49 GMT

Two days to go. Route Riter has been updated to version 6.3.63, RRit6_3_63upd.zip (2.23Mb, 06-Jan-2006), because Mike Simpson wasn't happy with the way a couple of things weren't working as he'd like. For a good list of MSTS routes from around the world, see Who Says MSTS Is Dead??? MSTS has 400 plus routes avail..." on the Train-sim.com MSTS forum.

Line news 05-Jan-06

Sat, 07 Jan 2006 01:19:20 GMT

Three days to go. Looking good.

Line news 04-Jan-06

Sat, 07 Jan 2006 01:17:44 GMT

Four days to go. Version 1.3 of Ajouts à Train Simulator's Le Canari - Train Jaune de Cerdagne version 1.3 can now be downloaded, SNCF_CANARI.zip (4.7Mb, 25-Dec-05). For a route to run this historic train on, there's version 2.01 of the Ligne de Cerdagne route, Ligne de Cerdagne V2.01.exe (69Mb, 02-Jan-06), which can be downloaded from Simtrain-fr's routes page. Amicitreni has a new G2000 diesel loco in Del Fungo livery, DFG_G2000.rar (3.04Mb, 02-Jan-06), and a set of UIC-X 78-80 carriages, Uic-X_78-80.zip (6.41Mb, 02-Jan-06). There's a Virtual Railways forum on The Railway Forum and it might be worth keeping an eye on it.

Line news 29-Dec-05

Sat, 07 Jan 2006 01:13:24 GMT

If you're having problems with the New South Wales Central West route, check out Got A Problem With A Certain Route but any problems may be solved by checking you've got XTracks V3.16 and NewRoads V3.2 both installed. The Train-sim.com library has a number of new and upgraded Amtrak baggage carriages by Alex Stroshane and Superliner coaches by Matt Doti. Alex's passenger carriage sounds look good, pass-snd.zip (270kb, 26-Dec-05). The-Train crew were having server problems but they're back on the air but the download area doesn't seem to be operational at the time of writing.

Line news 26-Dec-05

Tue, 27 Dec 2005 03:32:07 GMT

Chris Nelson's New South Wales Central West Route, AU_nsw_CenWest_v1_MSTS1_Setup.exe (49.2Mb, 24-Dec-05), can now be downloaded from its Australian MSTS Add-ons page. The route models the line from Orange Fork to Dubbo via Wellington and Orange to Dubbo via Molong for a track length of approximately 330km. At Train-sim.com Daniel Anderson has a set of timetables and maps from the 1950s of the Central West, nswcwdoc.zip (2.4Mb, 25-Dec-05), to go with the NSW Central West route. Also in the Train-sim.com library are Asher Jebbink's AMG GM42 and GM44 locos, arg_gm42.zip (8Mb, 24-Dec-05) and arg_gm44.zip (8Mb, 24-Dec-05); there's a large collection of Rhatische Bahn rolling stock, including the Arosa Express, rhbarosa.zip (3.9Mb, 25-Dec-05), a set of loco sounds, rhbsound.zip (10.8Mb, 24-Dec-05), and a set of RhB Ge 4/4 III locos, rhbgeiii.zip (17.4Mb, 24-Dec-05). Finally there's Chris Helfrick's Strasburg Railroad route, strasbrg.zip (163Mb, 25-Dec-05).

Line news 24-Dec-05

Tue, 27 Dec 2005 03:30:53 GMT

Seasons greetings to one and all. Mike Simpson has an update to Route Riter to bring it to version 6.3.57, RRit6_3_57upd.zip (2.23Mb, 12-Dec-05), to add better error messages and update the TK.MSTS.Tokens.dll file. The Tunnel route by Frank Thomas can be now downloaded from http://hawkdawg.com/ (104Mb, 23-Dec-05). Peter Newell's Coals to Newcastle route is being further developed; for a preview, see what's new in version 5. Amicitreni has two new models, loco FS E444-048, FS_E444_048.rar (6.08Mb, 20-Dec-05), and Seatrain ALN776 FC, SEATRAIN_ALN776_FC.rar (18.8Mb, 20-Dec-05). UKTrainsim has good 'ol Australian ARG GM42 and GM44, Au_ARG_gm42.exe (7.66Mb, 22-Dec-05) and Au_ARG_gm44.exe (7.66Mb, 22-Dec-05). And from a few days ago, Trenomania now has: E656 navetta livrea old (two locos) (11Mb, 17-Dec-05), G2000 Railion (3Mb, 17-Dec-05) and Treno IC livrea 'old' (21Mb, 17-Dec-05).

Line news 21-Dec-05

Wed, 21 Dec 2005 08:58:51 GMT

To prepare for Wupper Express 10, there are couple of downloads you need so check if you have the following:

ICE3 403 trainset by Stefan Pufler: STP_DB_ICE3_403.zip (19-Aug-03, 7.335Mb) from The-Train.de. See web•TrainSim's Small fixes - ICE-3 403 tune up.
ICE3 403 update by CRS: STP_DB_403-CSR.zip (0.363Mb, 12-Oct-05) from Update for STP_DB_403 by Stefan Pufler (if you've changed the ENGine files to your preferences, back it up before copying the udpates). There are still some other fixes required after you've copied over the new ENGine files - see Small fixes - ICE-3 403 tune up.
DB Talent 643.2 by Mapic (Matthias Pichler) DB_Talent_643[1].2.zip (3.463Mb, 02-Dec-05) from The-Train.de download page.
- BR 643 cab by The Cabmaker (Markus Schaufler) cab-BR-643.zip (2.1Mb, 26-Oct-05) from The-Train.de BR 643 cab download page.

Line news 19-Dec-05

Wed, 21 Dec 2005 08:54:49 GMT

Train-sim.com has a number of Dick Cowen's steam locos reskinned into Great Northern vintage steam locos by Michael Stephan, one example being Great Northern 4-6-0 No. 1024, gn_4-6-0.zip (3.2Mb, 15-Dec-05). Dwight Mitchell and New England Backshops have a generic GE 25-ton cab, 25tcab.zip (1.9Mb, 16-Dec-05), and the TS-Grid might be a handy tool for route builders, ts-grid.zip (900kb, 15-Dec-05). Trenomania nas a night-time E402A cab (1.17Mb, 16-Dec-05). web•TrainSim has another Wupper Express 9 activity for you to try, Freight service, Krefeld Hbf to Bockum Hbf (0625 depature).

Line news 16-Dec-05

Wed, 21 Dec 2005 08:53:31 GMT

web•TrainSim has a bit of catching up to do. The Train-sim.com library has a loco creation tutorial by Brian Piotrowski, naltutor.zip (9.8Mb, 12-Dec-05); there's a shape file patch for the CLW AS-616 locos downloaded before 11-Dec-05, as616pat.zip (1.6Mb, 11-Dec-05); and there's an activity pack for the LP&S route, lpsrr456.zip (690kb, 13-Dec-05). web•TrainSim has been trying out Windows Live Local and came up with these three quick "tours": RE2 Monchengladbach to Essen (WE9), RB33 Monchengladbach to Oberhausen and Shelby to West Glacier on Marias Pass (the scratchpad has limit of ten entries). At last view, Germany hasn't yet got the aerial view - Australia has but it's at a 20-mile zoom scale so not very good for detail - and it'll be good to view the real thing when all countries (those with MSTS routes anyway) have a high-resolution aerial view and, better still, the bird's eye view. However, web•TrainSim has been doing a test of a freight activity on Wupper Express 9 and that should be ready in a day or two.

Line news 10-Dec-05

Sat, 10 Dec 2005 04:13:53 GMT

Amicitreni.net has version 2 of the FS E402A loco Pack D, FS_E402a_Pack_D_V2.rar (15.4Mb, 06-Dec-05), and the E402A cab by Mauro Ciociola, CabE402a.zip (4.22Mb, 06-Dec-05). The E402A loco set is also available from Trenomania.it. Georg Dissen's BR 480 Berlin S-Bahn trainset is available from Michael Krege's cabs site (6.5Mb). web•TrainSim has uploaded his Evening (2021 departure) RE2 Service Monchengladbach to Essen Wupper Express 9 activity to web•TrainSim Downloads.

Line news 05-Dec-05

Tue, 06 Dec 2005 00:30:13 GMT

Train-sim.com has Austin Yoder's Norfolk Southern Pocahontas District route, running from Bluefield West Virginia to Williamson West Virginia. The download file, pokeyv1.zip (255Mb, 04-Dec-05), contains a self-installer for the route and includes route maps. Daryll LeCroy has programmed a MSTS utility he's called M.A.L.T. (MSTS Auto Loader Tool) to aid the loading of the MSTS Editors; M.A.L.T. can be downloaded from this page and there's a discussion forum for any help you require. Mike Simpson has already warned about using Route Riter on the Berlin Subway route; Tony Formosa also points out how to be careful when using Train Store after an installation of the Berlin Subway on the Copy/Restore Problem with Berlin Subway Addon thread on the Train-sim.com forums. web•TrainSim has two activities for Wupper Express 9, Afternoon RE2 service Essen to Monchengladbach and Early morning RB33 service Oberhausen to Monchengladbach. The activities are packed using Route Riter and can be downloaded from web•TrainSim Downloads.

Line news 03-Dec-05

Tue, 06 Dec 2005 00:29:09 GMT

John Hopkins has contributed all possible variations of cab design for Dash 8 and Dash 9 locos to the Train-sim.com library: left-hand or right-hand drive, day, night, imperial or metric measurement units. For example, the U.S. right-hand drive day cab is in download d8-am-us.zip (2.2Mb, 01-Dec-05) and the left-hand drive day cab is in d8-amimp.zip (2.2Mb, 01-Dec-05). Cameron Lashley of Columbus Locomotive Works (CLW), and with help from North American Locomotive Works, has modelled the Baldwin AS-616 (All Service, 6 axles, 1600 horsepower; the link is to those used by Union Pacific but there's a good description of the class) - the download files are el_as616.zip (17.5Mb, 01-Dec-05) for the Erie and Erie Lackawanna models and co_as616.zip (11.1Mb, 03-Dec-05) for models in Chesapeake & Ohio livery. Paul DeVerter of the Port City Car Company has his Narrow Gauge Mulecar No. 7, mulecrng.zip (630kb, 01-Dec-05), and Bob Boudoin has an updated ENGine file for the CSX ES44DC No. 5528 DC loco, csx44dc.zip (8kb, 02-Dec-05). web•TrainSim is working on a couple of activities for Wupper Express 9 and should be uploading them in a day or two once he's completed another test run (and, fingers crossed, the timing for the traffic does what he wants).

Line news 29-Nov-05

Tue, 06 Dec 2005 00:28:13 GMT

Good news from the Graphics15 team - work on building Wupper Express 10 is going better than expected and the route could be completed in January '06. Mike Simpson has re-compiled Route Riter so that the latest full install is now version 6.3.55, RRit6_3_55full.zip (13.0Mb, 27-Nov-05), but there's an update for those with version 6.3.10 or later, RRit6_3_55upd.zip (2.05Mb, 26-Nov-05). Most of the updates apply to route builders but there's also a better shape viewer module that gives fuller thumbnail pictures of rolling stock. The latest full version is also available from the Train-sim.com library in file rr6355.zip (13Mb, 27-Nov-05). Frank Musick has several sets of ALCo DL-109 locos, such as New Haven Nos. 0701-0700, nh0701-1.zip (2.2Mb, 27-Nov-05). Both Amicitreni.net and Trenomania.it have electric loco FS E633-006 (8Mb).

Line news 26-Nov-05

Tue, 06 Dec 2005 00:27:03 GMT

Mike Simpson has an update for Route Riter, RRit6_3_53upd.zip (2.04Mb, 23-Nov-05), to fix a couple of problems that route builders might come across. The Graphics15 team have posted more screenshots of Wupper Express 10 (use the Screenshots link under Wupper Express on the left-hand menu). Hugh Reilly has ENGine file replacements for a couple of his locos to update the physics to Bob Boudoin's version 4.7 parameters: Norfolk Southern Dash 9-40CW, hrnsfx1a.zip (200kb, 24-Nov-05), and BNSF Dash 9-44CW, hrbnsfx1.zip (215kb, 24-Nov-05). To explain why web•TrainSim has to painfully rebuild all his Wupper Express 8 services (SRV files) so he can move his Wupper Express 8 activities over to Wupper Express 9, see this short writeup on his webDotTrainSim Space.

Line news 24-Nov-05

Fri, 25 Nov 2005 06:29:27 GMT

Amicitreni.net has Riccardo Gennari's pack of all models in the FS ALe 801-940 series trainsets, FS_ALe801-940_Pack.rar (29.7Mb, 19-Nov-05). Trenomania.it has Renzo Grassi's Set treni old per la Leopolda 3 (37.1Mb, 22-Nov-05) and Elettromotrici di prima generazione (8.4Mb, 22-Nov-05). Route Riter has been updated to version 6.3.52, RRit6_3_52upd.zip (2.04Mb, 20-Nov-05), to fix a couple of bugs but more importantly, Mike warns that RR should not be used on the Berlin Underground route. The-Train.de has a pack of twenty activities for Stadtbahn U79 version 3, U_79_V3_Actpack.rar (320kb, 23-Nov-05). By the way, it seems the Graphics15 team's Güterwagen Königs Pilsener and Güterwagen Rlmms wagons are included in wup7ap1.zip (2.5Mb, 22-Sep-03) also at The-Train.de. The Seaboard Air Line route rolling stock packs have been changed and there are new versions now in the Train-sim.com library: salrspk1.zip (40Mb, 22-Nov-05) and salrspk2.zip (27Mb, 22-Nov-05). Hugh Reilly has contributed more ENGine file upgrades for various Dash 9-44CW locos using his photoreal textures: hrbnsfx1.zip (215kb, 22-Nov-05), hrbnsfx2.zip (139kb, 22-Nov-05) and hrnsfx1.zip (203kb, 23-Nov-05). Craig Kawahara has produced track charts of the London and Port Stanley Railway route in booklet form, lps_diag.zip (164kb, 21-Nov-05) and Tim Muir has modelled a Hagerstown & Frederick steeplecab, hf_ge12.zip (7.9Mb, 21-Nov-05).

Line news 21-Nov-05

Fri, 25 Nov 2005 06:28:01 GMT

Over the past few days Liu Fei has contributed a large number of Chinese electric and diesel locos to the Train-sim.com library and he's looking after the MSTS Chinese Locomotives and Trainsets site as well. There are new routes and models at Train-sim.com today but web•TrainSim will mention Southern Pacific 4449 first, as contributed by Tom Price, sp_4449.zip (2.4Mb, 20-Nov-05). The first route to menion is version 3 of Jonathan Lewis' Rio Grande Southern, rgs_v3.zip (201Mb, 20-Nov-05), which now includes the complete main line from Ridgway to Durango. The second route is Carey Stevens' Seaboard Air Line, Florida Division which can be downloaded as a single archive, salflall.zip (121Mb, 20-Nov-05), or in smaller chunks: salfl1.zip (12Mb, 20-Nov-05), salfl.z03 (36Mb, 20-Nov-05), salfl.z02 (36Mb, 20-Nov-05) and salfl.z01 (36Mb, 20-Nov-05). There are two packs of rolling stock for Seaboard Air Line, Florida Division: salrspk1.zip (39Mb, 20-Nov-05) and salrspk2.zip (66Mb, 20-Nov-05). Finally Chris Jennings has modelled another Sydney CityRail interurban trainset, the U-set, uset10.zip (10Mb, 19-Nov-05).

Line news 19-Nov-05

Fri, 25 Nov 2005 06:26:35 GMT

The Graphics15 team must have had forebodings that Australia would qualify for the World Cup and extra rolling stock would be required. So they've created a set of electric locos, g15_db146.zip (3.39Mb, 18-Nov-05), which includes DB 146 028-6, DB 145 007-1 and RAG 145-CL 206. The set can be downloaded from the Graphics15 downloads page or from The-Train library. For cab and sounds, see web•TrainSim's Small fixes - E146 electric loco. The London to Southampton route is now available from UKTrainsim in three files, lsfile1.exe (14.5Mb, 18-Nov-05), lsfile2.exe (12Mb, 18-Nov-05) and lsfile3.exe (10Mb, 18-Nov-05). As well there are route announcements for the London Portsmouth and London Brighton routes, LPS.zip (2.3Mb, 18-Nov-05) and LBE Sounder v2.zip (1.1Mb, 18-Nov-05) respectively. Finally, The Cabmaker has an OBB 1822 cab.

Line news 17-Nov-05

Fri, 25 Nov 2005 06:25:37 GMT

Last night (Australian Summer Time) the Australian Soceroos qualified for the World Cup in Germany next year. So everybody is excited and that's motivation for web•TrainSim to make sure he's prepared plenty of paths on Wupper Express and Stadtbahn U79 to carry all the Australians who'll be visiting the region in June 2006. Mike Simpson may have been watching the match but he must have had one eye on updating Route Riter, RRit6_3_50upd.zip (2.04Mb, 17-Nov-05), to make a couple of improvements.

Line news 16-Nov-05

Fri, 25 Nov 2005 06:24:41 GMT

Paul Gausden has updated his Shape Viewer tool to version 1.6, SView1_6_187a.zip (2.54Mb, 15-Nov-05), to improve a couple of features introduced in version 1.5 - the new version can be downloaded from its page at Steam4Me. Don't leave Steam4Me because Route Riter has been updated, RRit6_3_48upd.zip (2.04Mb, 16-Nov-05), to simplify thumbnail creation for ConBuilder and it needs the new version of Shape Viewer. Trenomania mentions two routes, version 3 of Linee Toscane (300Mb, 15-Nov-05) and Scalo di Marcianise sm.to (250Mb, 15-Nov-05). At Train-sim.com Ted Curphey has his Ultimate pack of gondolas (i.e., all those he's created thus far), ugpac1.zip (5Mb, 15-Nov-05), Paul DeVerter of the Port City Car Co. has modelled an 1885 mule and a bobtail coach, mule_car.zip (1Mb, 15-Nov-05), Frank Musick has a Chicago and Northwestern loco pack (Baldwin DR-6-2-1000 No. 5000A and ALCo DL109 No. 5007A), cnwset.zip (3.7Mb, 15-Nov-05), and Craig Kawahara has eased the complexity of Austin Yoder's Norfolk Southern Pocahontas District route with a comprehensive map booklet, pokeymap.zip (440kb, 14-Nov-05). Finally, catch up on the latest TMTS (TrainMaster Trainsimulator) news.

Line news 14-Nov-05

Fri, 25 Nov 2005 06:23:40 GMT

In response to a fellow trainsimmer's request, Mike Simpson took about two minutes to add a feature to Route Riter to eliminate the onerous job of creating thumbnail images of rolling stock for use in ConBuilder. The update brings Route Riter to version 6.3.45, RRit6_3_45upd.zip (1.91Mb, 12-Nov-05), and can be downloaded from the usual Route Riter page. Other news snippets include a night cab for the D445 diesel loco, CabD445-Notte.zip (1.6Mb, 13-Nov-05), from the Amicitreni.net library and version 1 of Berlin tramway Linie 68 version 1 (with patch) from The-Train.de.

Route Riter now makes thumbnail pics for ConBuilder

Sun, 13 Nov 2005 08:04:09 GMT

Mike Simpson has made a change to Route Riter so that we can now easily create thumbnail images of all rolling stock for use in ConBuilder. Lots of time is thus saved and the whole job is much simpler.

So Route Riter is now at version 6.3.45, RRit6_3_45upd.zip (1.91Mb, 12-Nov-05), and can be downloaded from the usual Route Riter page.

Line news 12-Nov-05

Sun, 13 Nov 2005 07:59:08 GMT

Okrasa Ghia has wrapped Joe Realmuto's FCalc physics calculator for MSTS rolling stock into a Windows application, fcalc.zip (1Mb, 10-Nov-05). FCalc can be downloaded from either Train-sim.com or UKTrainsim. While at Train-sim.com, you'll want to look at Ryan Foreman's SD40-2 cab, sd402cab.zip (6.9Mb, 11-Nov-05) and Dick Cowen has contributed the third Canton RR steam pack, ctnspk03.zip (15.6Mb, 11-Nov-05) which includes a number of updated ENGine files. Version 3 of the Paris Rive Gauche route can be downloaded from the author's site, as either Prg3.exe (85Mb) or Prg3.zip (102Mb).

Line news 10-Nov-05

Sun, 13 Nov 2005 07:56:40 GMT

Wayne Campbell has version 2.00 of his London & Port Stanley route, lps-v200.zip (177Mb, 09-Nov-05), at Train-sim.com. Note the L&PS route installs as a mini-MSTS installed route; if you have questions, see the London and Port Stanley troubleshooting page. Frank Musick has two more ALCO DL-109 models, Gulf, Mobile & Ohio ALCO DL-109 A-A set, gmo271.zip (2Mb, 08-Nov-05), and Rock Island ALCO DL-109 Rocket A-A set, crip622.zip (1.7Mb, 08-Nov-05). The Tramway de Bordeaux route, version 2.4, is now available from Tramway de Bordeaux site. Graphics15 is on the air again after some changes to the site which now includes a download section and a gallery of photos of rolling stock around the area modelled by the Wupper Express route. And that leads into what web•TrainSim is doing - he's shuffling bits of paper to organise his rather large list of Wupper Express paths so he can create new services that will work with Wupper Express 10 (which will just about completely model all lines on the Rhein-Ruhr network).

Line news 06-Nov-05

Sun, 06 Nov 2005 05:02:53 GMT

Frank Musick has brought more history to MSTS with his ALCO DL-109 models, New York, New Haven & Hartford No. 0701, nh0701.zip (2.2Mb, 06-Nov-05), and another in Gulf, Mobile & Ohio livery, gmo272.zip (1.4Mb, 06-Nov-05). Frank's models are available from the Train-sim.com library and the other new addition for the day is a set of four GN F45s by Lucio Moreira, gnf45set.zip (6Mb, 05-Nov-05).

Line news 05-Nov-05

Sun, 06 Nov 2005 05:01:51 GMT

Mike Simpson has a warning when using Route Riter to attempt to modify multi-line values (e.g., the Description ( ) section) in ENG/WAG files. Thus Route Riter version 6.2.43, RRit6_3_43upd.zip (1.91Mb, 04-Nov-05), now has an option to make backup copies of any changed ENG/WAG files. At Train-sim.com Hugh Reiley has a set of three Dash-9s in BNSF livery, Nos. 4408, 5529 and 4092, hrbns1d9.zip (14.6Mb, 01-Nov-05). Hugh has also contributed BNSF Dash 9-44CW No. 4816, hrbns2d9.zip (3.6Mb, 04-Nov-05). Dick Cowen has released the second Canton Railroad steam pack, ctnspk02.zip (10Mb, 04-Nov-05), comprising a 4-6-2, a 2-10-0 and a 2-8-0. UKTrainsim has a new cab for the venerable Class 47, Class47cab.zip (3.4Mb, 04-Nov-05), and a night-time one too, 47nightcab.zip (2.3Mb, 04-Nov-05).

Line news 31-Oct-05

Sun, 06 Nov 2005 05:00:43 GMT

The Virtual Train team have contributed a set of Southern Pacific cab forwards to the Train-sim.com library. Included in the set are locos AC-3 4038, AC-4 4100, AC-12 4285 and SP-2 5021 - the download file is vtcfpack.zip (18.9Mb, 29-Oct-05). Both Amicitreni.net and Trenomania.it have Mauro Ciociola's ETR500 trainset No. 45 in AV livery; at the former site it's file FS-Etr500AV.rar (15.9Mb, 30-Oct-05) and the cab is available separately, Doppia_cab_ETR500_PLT_AV_&_OLD_By_Màyo.zip (5.4Mb, 31-Oct-05).

Line news 28-Oct-05

Fri, 28 Oct 2005 09:05:02 GMT

Mike Simpson has added a new function under the Activities/Stock tab, List all Rolling-Stock in Selected Route, in Route Riter, RRit6_3_41upd.zip (1.90Mb, 27-Oct-05), to list all rolling stock in a selected route (including loose consists and other consists) by having Route Riter search through all activities installed for that particular route. At Train-sim.com Obrian Jones has his re-uploaded Atlanta to Macon route that fixes a couple of glitches in his earlier version - there are seven files, atlanta0.rar to atlanta6.rar (all dated 26-Oct-05), and Don Shriner has contributed an archive of path files, atlpath.zip (129kb, 26-Oct-05), so you can begin exploring while waiting for some activities. UKTrainsim has a new route, the Highland Mainline, available in sixteen files, Highland_Mainline1.zip to Highland_Mainline16.zip, with install instructions in Highland_mainlinereadmes.zip (3kb, 27-Oct-05). The Graphics15 team have put up some screenshots of Wupper Express 10 - to view them, click Screenshots under the Wupper Express heading on the left-hand navigation pane. ConBuilder has been updated to version 2.3.37.

Line news 26-Oct-05

Fri, 28 Oct 2005 09:03:04 GMT

Some good news - Chris Longhurst is doing some work on his former payware Euro Loco Pack trains which are now to become freeware and the first is now available, Eurostar version 2 in both Eurostar and GNER liveries. Currently the Eurostar can be downloaded from TheTrain.de's library, (13.661Mb, 25-Oct-05). Keep an eye on the the Euro Loco Pack no more ? thread on the Train-sim forums for more info. The Train-sim.com library has John Hopkins' new (and updated) Dash 9 modern cab, dash9dc2.zip (1.3Mb, 24-Oct-05), and a cab for low-nose diesels, gencab-1.zip (2.2Mb, 24-Oct-05). Mike Simpson has improved the Make Dead Locos/Make AI Locos functions in Route Riter, RRit6_3_36upd.zip (1.71Mb, 20-Oct-05). Trenomania.it has a set of sounds for loco E656-577 (11.6Mb, 24-Oct-05) with update (723kb, 25-Oct-05).

Line news 24-Oct-05

Mon, 24 Oct 2005 09:32:13 GMT

Dick Cowen's update for all Canton RR steam locos, ctnspk01.zip (22Mb, 22-Oct-05), is available from the Train-sim.com library and from a couple of days ago, Rick Grout and Steve Thompson have a photorealistic cab view for steam locos of 1910-35, svr16cab.zip (7Mb, 19-Oct-05). Simtrain has news of version 2.1 of the Rhone-Alpes route by Pierre L. Porcheron - see the Des nouvelles de la rhone alpes v2.1 thread on the forums. Rhone-Alpes version 2.1 can be downloaded from Trainsimline.net, Ligne_Rhone_Alpes_V2.1.exe (282MB).

Line news 20-Oct-05

Mon, 24 Oct 2005 09:31:11 GMT

The Train-sim.com library has version 2 of Obrian Jones' Atlanta Macon route (Atlanta to Macon and from Macon to Gordon, Georgia) available in nine files, atlanta0.rar (1kb, 18-Oct-05) which contains instructions to atlanta8.rar (26Mb, 18-Oct-05) (Note that atlanta8.rar is not 260Mb as listed in the library and you need WinRAR to unpack the compresssed files after download). Another new route is HOR-GEO-Elec, horgelec.zip (44Mb, 19-Oct-05), by Rene Rump, set in south-western Germany in the Black Forest region (the download includes non-default German rolling stock).

Line news 19-Oct-05

Wed, 19 Oct 2005 08:48:55 GMT

There are two new creative models by Paul Gausden at UKTrainsim: London Brighton & South Coast Railway (LBSCR) A1 Terrier Stepney (in original condition), LBSCR_A1_STEPNEY.zip (2.59Mb, 17-Oct-05) and LBSCR A1 Boxhill, LBSCR_A1_BOXHILL.zip (2.59Mb, 17-Oct-05). You can read all about Stepney No. 55 at the Bluebell Railway site and LBSCR A1 Boxhill at the Southern E-group site. Trenomania.it has a number of electric locos that have been re-liveried by Davide Bianco, and there's Mr. Rokko's ALn668-1400 (version 2) trainset.

Line news 17-Oct-05

Mon, 17 Oct 2005 09:41:20 GMT

UKTrainsim has an update to the GWR Penzance to Paddington route to bring it to version 2.4.7, GWR247_Patch.zip (16.5Mb, 16-Oct-05) - see the author's post on the UKTrainsim forums for more info. UKTrainsim is reporting that Autodesk have terminated gMax from October 6. Route Riter has a further update, RRit6_3_32upd.zip (1.72Mb, 16-Oct-05), to fix the "Fix .SD files" option broken by v6.3.28. Train-sim.com has Mike Laxer's trial model of Milwaukee Road 4-8-4 No. 261, milw261.zip (1.8Mb, 16-Oct-05), and you can obtain lots of details about this loco from the official web site (there's a first-hand description of Firing Milwaukee Road 261 and plenty of photos).

Line news 16-Oct-05

Sun, 16 Oct 2005 05:15:17 GMT

Train-sim.com has a new Dash-9 cab by John Hopkins using digital readouts and bar graphs, dc-dash9.zip (1.6Mb, 15-Oct-05). John is already aware a minor problem with the left-hand view. Tom Cook has a set of Kenworth trucks, modelled on those found in Australia, kwsar2.zip (6.7Mb, 15-Oct-05), with prominent bull bars or roo bars - see the 7 Kenworth Trucks & Unfinnished Freeware Cabviews thread (from personal experience, a grey kangaroo can quite easily wreck a car). For some nostalgia, Trevor Burt has contributed a set of Bedford J2 and J3 trucks, tbjbdtrk.zip (330kb, 11-Oct-05). Route Riter has an update to V6.3.28 to fix a small bug, RRit6_3_28upd.zip (1.72Mb, 15-Oct-05). François Cardon has modelled the Standart/Z1500 set, Standart.exe (5.8Mb, 15-Oct-05), with cabview, passenger view and sounds.

Line news 15-Oct-05

Sat, 15 Oct 2005 09:00:39 GMT

Back after a few days of exam supervison. Route Riter has been updated to version 6.3.27, RRit6_3_27upd.zip (1.72Mb, 14-Oct-05), with a new help file, RRit6_3_27hlp.zip (2.89Mb, 14-Oct-05). One new feature is the ability to make the same change to a large number of ENGine or WAGon files simultaneously using the ENG/WAG File Editor (under the Activities/Stock tab). Graphics15 have a route map showing the new lines to be added in Wupper Express 10: KR-Oppum to Neuss, Bottrop to Essen, Gelsenkirchen to Essen, Oberhausen to Dortmund, and Essen to W-Vohwinkel. If you look at the official VRR line plan for 2005 (link is to a PDF doc), you'll see that the Graphics15 team will have just about modelled the complete system by Wupper 10. At Train-sim.com Hugh Reilly has a wide range of 100 ton hopper wagons in various company liveries, e.g. UP 3-bay hoppers hruphops.zip (1.4Mb, 13-Oct-05) and Canadian National 100 ton hoppers, hrcnhops.zip (3.3Mb, 13-Oct-05).

Line news 08-Oct-05

Sat, 08 Oct 2005 05:57:30 GMT

Today's two downloads by Dick Cowen from Train-sim.com are worthy of mention. Dick has modelled 4-6-0 steam loco No. 382, the (in)famous one Casey Jones crashed, ctn460.zip (6.6Mb, 07-Oct-05), and then found some spare parts to put together Canton Railroad 4-4-0, ctn440.zip (6.6Mb, 07-Oct-05).

Line news 07-Oct-05

Fri, 07 Oct 2005 09:39:52 GMT

UKTrainsim has news of a new MSTS utility program, MSTS Genie, being developeed by Brockville Simulator Works - see see MSTS Genie Announced for more details. Tim Booth has updated his MSTS Track Viewer to version 0.96, tsf_tv_setup.exe (200kb, 06-Oct-05), and there's a set of Textpad syntax definition files for use on MSTS files, TextPadSyntax.zip (135kb, 03-Oct-05). As announced in the Decapod New Version thread on the Train-sim.com forums, Ron Pertuit has remodelled Harold Clitheroe's PRR I-1sa Decapod 2-10-0 steam loco - it's available to download in two parts, decapod1.zip (11.1Mb, 06-Oct-05) and decapod2.zip (8.5Mb, 06-Oct-05).

Line news 03-Oct-05

Wed, 05 Oct 2005 09:57:51 GMT

The Train-sim.com library has Rene Rump's new Crescent-Potash route, potash.zip (24Mb, 01-Oct-05), situated in the canyons of Utah, Colorado. Install instructions are in the File_id.diz file and there's more help in the Potash Route and Installing the Potash Route Train-sim.com forum threads. There's also an activity, Eastbound BNSF UPS Z, seligz.zip (36kb, 01-Oct-05), by Chris Bogley for the freeware Seligman Sub route. Route Riter has been updated to version 6.3.19, RRit6_3_19upd.zip (1.90Mb, 30-Sep-05). The new pack of ten activities for Wupper Express 9 can be downloaded from the Graphics15 homepage as well as from The-Train.de. Amicitreni.net has a new route, Orte-Capranica in its library (the download is 79.2Mb, in nine files). You can try web•TrainSim's MSTS + Virtual Earth map location page - it's a preview as there's no option yet to switch from road to aerial view and he's got lots more places along the Northeast Corridor to add as well as some other routes.

Line news 05-Oct-05

Wed, 05 Oct 2005 09:55:50 GMT

Train-sim.com has the latest version of XTracks (version 3.16), the self-installer package being in xtracks.zip (10.2Mb, 04-Oct-05) and route builder's edition being xtracksr.zip (24.7Mb, 04-Oct-05). Check the XTracks v3.16 uploaded Train-sim.com forum thread for more info and the XTracks site for a full list of new sections in V3.16. Lucio Moreira has uploaded his Wisconsin Central F45s (modelled by Ted Curphey), wcf45set.zip (7.7Mb, 03-Oct-05) with a fix for the ditch lights, wcf45fix.zip (895kb, 04-Oct-05). Ted Curphey has his set of four Montana Rail Link F45s, updated to prototypical standard, mrl_f45s.zip (7.8Mb, 03-Oct-05) and Eric Anderson has an activity for the freeware Seligman Sub based on the BNSF Q-WIPX9-23 service, q-wipx9.zip (17kb, 03-Oct-05). There are two important updates at The-Train.de to modify the ENG and WAG files of Stefan Pufler's ICE3 403 and 406 trainsets to give them more prototypical performance - download pages are Update for STP_DB_403 by Stefan Pufler and Update for STP_DB_406 by Stefan Pufler (each file is 0.196Mb, dated 05-Oct-05). Funtrain.net now has the download for the French Paris Sud Oeust route at this page (download consists of seven files totalling 192Mb). Amicitreni.net has a new Italian route, the Orte - Capranica (the setting for the Von Ryan's Express movie) - there are some screenshots at Trainss.com.

Line news 01-Oct-05

Sat, 01 Oct 2005 05:41:06 GMT

Jan Henning Gettkant has contributed another set of ALCO locos to the Train-sim.com library. This set includes C-628s, C-630s and C-424s and more that ran for Norfolk & Western, nw_centh.zip (44.9Mb, 30-Sep-05). There's a new Hungarian Railways route, Nova-tó, available from the Hungarian Train-sim Centre download page (430Mb). For some screenshots, see Trainss.com.

Line news 30-Sep-05

Fri, 30 Sep 2005 09:47:35 GMT

Pascal Grando has new 140C 287 and 140C 38 SNCF ex-Est 1919 steam locos, 140C287.zip (10Mb, 28-Sep-05), and an updated version of his 140C 231, v1.1 140C_MAJ1_1.zip (8.3Mb, 22-Sep-05). The Graphics15 team have released a new pack of ten activities for Wupper Express 9, we9act1.zip.zip (340kb, 30-Sep-05), which can be downloaded from The-Train.de (links is to download page). Train-sim.com has Thomas J. Pearce's set of PRR Tuscan Red 5 Stripe E8s, bllwe8s2.zip (4.7Mb, 29-Sep-05), fitted with the distinctive PRR Trainphone antennas, and he's made available the ACE graphics files of these antennas so they can be added to other cab locos, bllwkit1.zip (630kb, 29-Sep-05).