UKTrainSim.com
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| UKTrainSim.com | |
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 UKTraimSim Logo & Homepage. |
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| URL | http://www.uktrainsim.com/ |
| Commercial? | Mixed |
| Type of site | Download Site |
| Registration | Required to Download |
| Owner | Atomic Systems IP LTD |
| Created by | Matthew and Peter Peddlesden |
| Launched | 13 August 2001 |
| Revenue | N/A |
| Current status | Online |
UKTrainSim.com is an online trainsim community website for downloading addons for Microsoft Train Simulator and Rail Simulator. The site also have a small selection of addons for Trainz, plus other simulators. UKTrainSim is very familiar with many commercial MSTS add-on sites including Europeanbahn and Making Tracks, and always has kept in competition with train-sim.com and other add-on sites.
UKTrainSim was launched on 13 August 2001, shortly after Microsoft Train Simulator was released.
Contents |
[edit] Registration
There are two types of registration available to download files, a Premium Account which gives unlimited Account, and a Free-Registration which offers a more restricted download system.
A Premium Accounts, available for a monthly or yearly fee, feature 24/7 unlimited downloads and faster transfer speeds within the download areas and lacks the queue system used in the free account. A Free Account on the other hand uses a queuing system, and at peak times, particularly during the weekends, queue can reach up to around 50 downloads. Download speed is capped at 5Kb/sec. The free-account user can only download one at a time and must wait their turn in a queue.
[edit] Available Addons
A huge number of addons are available at UKTrainSim for a number of simulators.
[edit] Microsoft Train Simulator (MSTS)
[edit] Stock
The first few downloads available when UKTrainSim launched in August 2001 were four Class 55 in different liveries by Matthew Peddlesden (no longer available, but it is still available at Train-Sim.com) and a green Class 101 DMU by James Hunt. More addons began to be expanded and released. Today, there are wide range of stock available for download. Through different techniques, programmes and methods, downloadable stock has far more detail than some of the earlier models. Many now require Common.cab and Common.sound files to be set up prior to use, however some stock also require a purchase of commercial addons.
[edit] Routes
There are wide range of routes available for downloading. Many routes require X-tracks or UKFinescale and sometimes Newroads. As a result, Global files are introduced with some routes recently to save from having to download and install any of the files separately. Many routes are British, however several come from countries further afield. Today there are even more routes to choose from, ranging from steam era or modern. Routes released nowadays are larger than the routes as they were in 2002. Thames Mersey V4 and Dorset Coast v4 are the largest route files and therefore the most popular being available in UKTS. These take a long time to download for non-premium members as the files are very big and there are a lot of files. It would take approximately 48 hours to download Dorset Coast alone without stock and activities.
[edit] Rail Simulator
[edit] Stock
Just around 50 stock are avilable, most of which are repaints, however some steam locos & wagons are 3rd party stock.
[edit] Routes
Serval routes are avilable, both Fictional & Real Life Routes. Some routes require scenery objects to work properly.
[edit] Other Simulators
The following simulators are other than Microsoft Train Simulator and Rail Simulator, and in most cases they are not as popular.
[edit] BVE
Most Stock and Routes are London Underground (most popular for BVE).
[edit] Rail 3D
Most of the contents are Narrow Gauge. UKTrainSim currently have a few steam locos and 11 Routes, all of which are Narrow Gauge.
[edit] Railroad Tycoon 3
Only 4 files in UKTS of far. Not very popular.
[edit] Steam Express
Unfortunately not a 3D Train-Sim, only seeing signals, gradients and cabview, but it is a steam loco simulator. Steam Locomotives and Routes are avilable.
[edit] Trainz
Trainz tend not to be popular as MSTS and Rail Simulator. Choices are limited, most of which routes look very untidy or unscenerised. Some modern stock are simply mk3 stock repaints!
[edit] CD ordering
UKTrainSim has their own shop which sells add-ons for MSTS. They also sell Community CDs exclusive to UKTrainSim. Commercial add-ons are also available from the site. They also sell addons for Flight Simulator and other transport simulators.
[edit] Current Community CDs for MSTS
- BATS/EB/MT Class 89 Appeal Pack
- Blackpool Tramway inc Illuminations
- Burton Derby V2
- Cannock Chase 5
- Dorset Coast V3
- Ffestiniog
- GWR Branch Lines - Reg Furniss
- GWR: Toddington
- Manchester Metrolink and Crich Tramway
- Mark Shipmans Deltic Collection
- MT: Springfield
- Northern Rail Routes V6
- Northwest England 2.1
- Paddington to Penzance 2.5
- Scottish Central: Stage 1
- Severn Valley Railway: Diesel Gala (requires Severn Valley)
- Steyning Line
- Taieri Independent Timber Co.
- Talyllyn 2.0.2
- Thames Mersey 4.2 **DVD**
- Tim Courts Mid East UK - 1.4.5
- Verns 5 Route Compilation CD
- Yorkshire Coast Railway
[edit] Community CDs in Development
- Mid East UK Plus **DVD**
[edit] Community CDs No Longer Available
- Ballyshannon
- ECML 3.1
Community CDs are only available for MSTS - There are no community add-on CDs or DVDs for Trainz, KRS or other simulators.
[edit] Notable Errors and Events
[edit] File library problems, 30 January 2004
On 30 January 2004, There was an issue with the file library as a result of new download system, which caused many people downloading empty zip files. It took some couple of days to rectify the situation, although the problems were found and it was completely resolved on 3 February 2004.
[edit] Withdrawals of CDs in January 2006
In January 2006 due to copyright issues related to several to scenery objects and stock contained within them certain Community CDs had to be withdrawn from publication. After approximately 15 Months all but two of the Community CDs involved in the situation were restored to publication and sale. Commercial CDs were unaffected by this incident.
[edit] Downtime
Occasionally, UKTrainSim suffers downtime at peak times (mainly at weekends). Some evenings people are unable to access the website, due to the number of people that have a non-premium account. This ment that there are so many people downloading files that the site cannot handle the sheer volume of traffic.
[edit] Forums
UKTrainSim runs one of the largest train simulator forums on the internet. The forums contain a variety of boards ranging from Real Railway Discussion to General MSTS Discussion to Narrow Gauge discussion. The forums were upgraded to the latest update of forum software on the 8th September, 2007 and have now assumed a new look from the original. This upgrade is the first of the whole UKTrainSim website being upgraded.
[edit] UKTrainSim Roadshow (UKTrainSim Live)
UKTrainSim Roadshow Exhibition goes to places such as Exhibition Centres, Model Railway clubs, Preserved railways, etc. Although UKTrainSim Roadshow Exhibition began in 2002 it was branded as "UKTrainSim Live" in September 2003.
