Train simulator
Encyclopedia
A train simulator is a computer based simulation of rail transport
operations.
Signaller training simulators have been developed by The Railway Engineering Company (TRE) in the UK, and OpenTrack Railway Technology in Switzerland.
's cab and operate realistic cab controls such as throttle, brake valve, sand, horn
and whistle
, lights etc.
One of the first commercially available train simulators was Southern Belle, released in 1985. The game simulated a journey of the Southern Belle steam passenger train from London Victoria to Brighton
, while at the same time the player must comply with speed limits, not to go too fast on curves and keep to the schedule. It was followed with Evening Star
in 1987.
Other train driving simulation software includes:
The PC game 3D Ultra Lionel Traintown
, amongst some others, give a different experience to driving, by being in a 3rd person omniscient
perspective, controlling the trains from a bird's eye view.
Peripherals specifically designed for use with driving simulations include RailDriver
by US manufacturer P.I. Engineering is a programmable desktop cab controller with throttle, brake lever and switches designed to work with Trainz
, TrainMaster, Microsoft Train Simulator
and Rail Simulator
.
series (1985 to present) is an early example. Chris Sawyer
's Transport Tycoon
(1994) was an influential game in this genre, spawning remakes such as Simutrans
(1999), OpenTTD
(2004) and Sawyer's own Locomotion
(2004). Sid Meier
designed two railroad simulations: Railroad Tycoon
(1990) and Railroads!
(2006). The Railroad Tycoon series itself inspired other rail games such as Rails Across America
(2001).
Some rail simulation games focus on railroad switch
es rather than economics. Examples include The Train Game
(1983) and SimSig
. JBSS BAHN
focuses on simulating a complex railroad lay out.
Rail transport
Rail transport is a means of conveyance of passengers and goods by way of wheeled vehicles running on rail tracks. In contrast to road transport, where vehicles merely run on a prepared surface, rail vehicles are also directionally guided by the tracks they run on...
operations.
Industrial train simulations
Like flight simulators, train simulators have been produced for railway training purposes. Driver simulators include those produced by- Ongakukan in Japan
- EADS in Germany
- Bentley SystemsBentley SystemsBentley Systems, Incorporated is a software company that produces solutions for the design, construction and operation of infrastructure. The company’s software serves the building, plant, civil, and geospatial vertical markets in the areas of architecture, engineering, construction and operations...
in the UK - Lander in Spain
- CORYS T.E.S.S., a French company based in Grenoble
- Sydac a member of the Knorr-BremseKnorr-BremseKnorr-Bremse is a manufacturer of braking systems for rail and commercial vehicles that has operated in the field for over 100 years. The company also produces door systems for rail vehicles and torsional dampers. In 2009, the Group's workforce of over 14,000 achieved worldwide sales of EUR 2.761...
Group based in Australia.
Signaller training simulators have been developed by The Railway Engineering Company (TRE) in the UK, and OpenTrack Railway Technology in Switzerland.
Consumer train simulation
There are two broad categories of train simulation video games: Driving simulations and railroad-themed strategy simulation games.Driving simulation
Train driving simulation games usually allow a user to have a "driver's view" from the locomotiveLocomotive
A locomotive is a railway vehicle that provides the motive power for a train. The word originates from the Latin loco – "from a place", ablative of locus, "place" + Medieval Latin motivus, "causing motion", and is a shortened form of the term locomotive engine, first used in the early 19th...
's cab and operate realistic cab controls such as throttle, brake valve, sand, horn
Train horn
Train horns are audible warning devices found on most diesel and electric locomotives. Their primary purpose is to alert persons and animals to the presence of a train, especially when approaching a grade crossing. They are also used for acknowledging signals given by railroad employees Train horns...
and whistle
Train whistle
A train whistle or air whistle, , is an audible signaling device on a steam locomotive used to warn that the train is approaching, and to communicate with rail workers....
, lights etc.
One of the first commercially available train simulators was Southern Belle, released in 1985. The game simulated a journey of the Southern Belle steam passenger train from London Victoria to Brighton
Brighton railway station
Brighton railway station is the principal railway station in the city of Brighton and Hove, on the south coast of England. The station master is Mark Epsom...
, while at the same time the player must comply with speed limits, not to go too fast on curves and keep to the schedule. It was followed with Evening Star
Evening Star (video game)
Evening Star is a vector graphics Train Simulation type game for the ZX Spectrum, Commodore 64, BBC Micro, Acorn Electron and Amstrad CPC. This game is the sequel to Southern Belle.-Gameplay:...
in 1987.
Other train driving simulation software includes:
- BVE TrainsimBVE TrainsimBVE Trainsim is a Japanese three-dimensional computer-based train simulator. It is notable for focusing on providing an accurate driving experience as viewed from inside the cab, rather than creating a network of other trains—other trains passed along the route are only displayed as stationary...
(Freeware) - Densha de Go!
- EEP / Eisenbahn.exe
- Microsoft Train SimulatorMicrosoft Train SimulatorMicrosoft Train Simulator is a train simulator for Microsoft Windows, released in July 2001 and developed by UK based Kuju Entertainment, and is available for purchase through Amazon.com.-Gameplay:...
- Train Simulation Framework (Open source, formerly known as openBVEOpenBVEopenBVE is an open source train simulation framework for the Windows, Mac OS X, and Linux platforms. Written largely in C#, Development began on 10 April 2008, and the first stable version, 1.0.0.0, was released on 23 March 2009. openBVE uses both the OpenGL graphics renderer and the OpenAL audio...
from 2008-2011) - Rail SimulatorRail SimulatorRail Simulator is a train simulation published by Electronic Arts . It was produced by UK based Kuju Entertainment, the company which developed Microsoft Train Simulator with Microsoft...
- RailWorksRailWorksRailWorks is a train simulation game. Developed by Rail Simulator Developments. It is a successor to Rail Simulator, and was released online on 12 June 2009 and in stores on 3 July 2009....
- RailWorks
- Train Simulator seriesTrain Simulator seriesTrain Simulator is a Japanese train simulation game series produced by Ongakukan. The game is significant as it is was one of the earliest of its kind since the series started in 1995...
(Railfan) - TrainzTrainzTrainz is a series of 3D train simulator computer games developed by Australian game developer N3V Games . First released in 2001, the series has a large online community that creates and shares user-created content. The game has been released in several versions, including localized versions...
- World of Subways
The PC game 3D Ultra Lionel Traintown
3D Ultra Lionel Traintown
3D Ultra Lionel Traintown is a 3rd person railroading game by Sierra Entertainment. It consists of train layouts, some of which you can edit. Some of the locomotives include: Union Pacific EMD SW1500 switcher, an Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway F3A diesel locomotive , a generic 2-8-4...
, amongst some others, give a different experience to driving, by being in a 3rd person omniscient
Perspective (visual)
Perspective, in context of vision and visual perception, is the way in which objects appear to the eye based on their spatial attributes; or their dimensions and the position of the eye relative to the objects...
perspective, controlling the trains from a bird's eye view.
Peripherals specifically designed for use with driving simulations include RailDriver
Raildriver
RailDriver is a desktop cab controller for train simulation software. It replaces keyboard and mouse operation as far as possible to provide a more realistic train driving experience. It is designed to be compatible with Microsoft Train Simulator, Auran's Trainz, Rail Simulator's RailWorks, BVE...
by US manufacturer P.I. Engineering is a programmable desktop cab controller with throttle, brake lever and switches designed to work with Trainz
Trainz
Trainz is a series of 3D train simulator computer games developed by Australian game developer N3V Games . First released in 2001, the series has a large online community that creates and shares user-created content. The game has been released in several versions, including localized versions...
, TrainMaster, Microsoft Train Simulator
Microsoft Train Simulator
Microsoft Train Simulator is a train simulator for Microsoft Windows, released in July 2001 and developed by UK based Kuju Entertainment, and is available for purchase through Amazon.com.-Gameplay:...
and Rail Simulator
Rail Simulator
Rail Simulator is a train simulation published by Electronic Arts . It was produced by UK based Kuju Entertainment, the company which developed Microsoft Train Simulator with Microsoft...
.
Strategy simulation
Railroad-themed strategy simulation video games are focused mostly on economic part of the railroad industry rather than on technical detail. The A-TrainA-Train
is a series of Arcade train simulation video games, originally developed and published by Japanese game developer Artdink in Japan. The first game in the series was published in 1985. The first release in the United States was Take the A-Train II, published in 1989 by the Seika Corporation under...
series (1985 to present) is an early example. Chris Sawyer
Chris Sawyer
Chris Sawyer is a Scottish computer game developer who is best known for designing and programming Transport Tycoon and the RollerCoaster Tycoon series.-Career:...
's Transport Tycoon
Transport Tycoon
Transport Tycoon and Transport Tycoon Deluxe are computer games developed by Chris Sawyer and published by MicroProse in 1994 , and 1995...
(1994) was an influential game in this genre, spawning remakes such as Simutrans
Simutrans
Simutrans is a cross-platform simulation game in which the player strives to run a successful transport system by transporting goods, passengers, and mail between places. Along with OpenTTD, Simutrans is an open source remake of Transport Tycoon...
(1999), OpenTTD
OpenTTD
OpenTTD is an open source remake and expansion of the 1995 Chris Sawyer video game Transport Tycoon Deluxe. It is an "urban planning and simulation game" in which the player aims to earn money through transportation of passengers and freight by land, water and air.OpenTTD duplicates most of...
(2004) and Sawyer's own Locomotion
Chris Sawyer's Locomotion
Chris Sawyer's Locomotion is a computer game by independent game developer Chris Sawyer. In his words, it is "the spiritual successor to Transport Tycoon"....
(2004). Sid Meier
Sid Meier
Sidney K. "Sid" Meier is a Canadian programmer and designer of several popular computer strategy games, most notably Civilization. He has won accolades for his contributions to the computer games industry...
designed two railroad simulations: Railroad Tycoon
Railroad Tycoon
Sid Meier's Railroad Tycoon is a business simulation game. There are five versions; the original Railroad Tycoon , Railroad Tycoon Deluxe , Railroad Tycoon II , Railroad Tycoon 3 , and Sid Meier's Railroads! .Railroad Tycoon was written by game designer Sid Meier and published by MicroProse and...
(1990) and Railroads!
Sid Meier's Railroads!
Sid Meier's Railroads! is a business simulation game developed by Sid Meier on the Gamebryo game engine that was released in October 2006 and is the sequel to Railroad Tycoon 3. Although Sid Meier created the original Railroad Tycoon, subsequent versions were developed by PopTop Software...
(2006). The Railroad Tycoon series itself inspired other rail games such as Rails Across America
Rails Across America
Rails Across America is a railroad simulation game released in late 2001 by developer Flying Lab Software and publisher Strategy First. It received generally positive reviews...
(2001).
Some rail simulation games focus on railroad switch
Railroad switch
A railroad switch, turnout or [set of] points is a mechanical installation enabling railway trains to be guided from one track to another at a railway junction....
es rather than economics. Examples include The Train Game
The Train Game
The Train Game is a simulation video game originally published by Microsphere for the ZX Spectrum in 1983.-Gameplay:The player assumes the role of a chief operations manager at a railway. Two different track layouts are included, A and B, each viewed from overhead on a single screen. Trains must be...
(1983) and SimSig
SimSig
SimSig is a donationware Windows-based train simulator of modern railway signalling systems in Great Britain, from the point of view of a railway signaller. Users have also had success running SimSig on Linux using Wine. The program was written in Delphi 6, a dialect of Object Pascal, by Geoff Mayo...
. JBSS BAHN
JBSS BAHN
JBSS BAHN is shareware railway simulation software made by Jan Bochmann, a tramdriver in Dresden. The name of BAHN is written in capitals to make a distinction with the German word for railways Bahn...
focuses on simulating a complex railroad lay out.
See also
- Flight simulatorFlight simulatorA flight simulator is a device that artificially re-creates aircraft flight and various aspects of the flight environment. This includes the equations that govern how aircraft fly, how they react to applications of their controls and other aircraft systems, and how they react to the external...
– contains reference to flight simulators - Strategy computer game
External links
- 2TRAIN Benchmarking Report on computer-based Railway Training in Europe
- RailServe.com (Directory of train simulator sites)
- VR Reading Room: Hundreds of articles covering all train simulators