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A train simulator is a computer based simulation of rail transport operations.
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Like flight simulators, train simulators have been produced for railway training purposes. Driver simulators include those produced by
Signaller training simulators have been developed by The Railway Engineering Company (TRE) in the UK,[5][6] and OpenTrack Railway Technology in Switzerland.[7][8]
There are two broad categories of train simulation video games: Driving simulations and railroad-themed strategy simulation games.
Train driving simulation games usually allow a user to have a "driver's view" from the locomotive'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.[9]
Railroad-themed strategy simulation video games are focused mostly on economic part of the railroad industry rather than on technical detail. The A-Train series (1985 to present) is an early example. Chris Sawyer's Transport Tycoon (1994) was an influential game in this genre,[10] 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).[11]
Some rail simulation games focus on railroad switches rather than economics. Examples include The Train Game (1983) and SimSig. JBSS BAHN focuses on simulating a complex railroad lay out.
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