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Introduction Microsoft Train Simulator is obviously a train simulator, and very good one at that. Actually, the best one out there. It's also old. It has some DirectX driver issues, but surprisingly works good in general. If you don't have at least XP machine, you'd be better off. The Game starts off with the menu, which consists of Chinese American and Japanese routes. You drive electronic, diesel and steam locomotives. Each route has its own characteristics and character as every route has its own beauty. For all the graphics, I still today cannot stop dropping my jaw at the visuals this game offers. This is the only train simulator, that stands true to what it tries to deliver - realism. It really does accomplish the realism, but not every simulator is near the real thing, but it's still a good practice if you're looking for a carrier in a locomotive engineering. Interface Tools and Speed Limits The interface is simple but of course has a steep learning curve. Even if you have no idea how to drive a train or you don't understand the lows of the tracks and signs, this game helps you out. It's an effective learning tool and you'll gradually learn how to drive a train, learn the railroad systems and be on your way to becoming an actual locomotive engineer. There are different tools such as your track monitor is your most important and useful tool. It shows you the upcoming speed limits on the tracks, your current speed, your tracks speed limit, and the projected speed the train is going at. This tool is going to be your eyes. The graphics, even though they are great looking, won't help you see the train signs most of the time. So, it's useful to known when you're believe slow down and correspond to the speed limit. If you go over the speed limit, you are endangering the train of derailing. It's fun to really go fast, since it's an emulator, believe me I did go crazy to see how fast these locomotives can really travel. That won't hurt, but if the train derails because of a sharp turn, the activity ends on the spot. If you'd like to put your hands on this only in flash version I suggest you visit our online train games website. Switch Window The Switch Window is useful as well. When you start off in Tokyo and or some reason the tracks go straight for a collision disaster, turn on the switch windows by clicking an arrow and tracks switches to the direction of your choice, and instead of going straight you'll turn. This gives you full control of the direction you want your train to head at. Usually, this is the conductors job in real life, but since we don't have an actual conductor, you're doing both jobs in this simulator. Next Station Window The next station window helps you out when you're doing an actual scenario. This window helps you determine how many miles away you have to travel from your next stop. At what time you need to be there, at what time you need to be parked at that station, and so on. Arriving at stations earlier is a good thing, as will show in your evaluation. In order to stop at the station, you hit enter key to unload passengers, and then move on. Train operations let you decouple cars. Just click on the car you want to decouple, and say goodbye to it. You can also recouple the train cars, by slowly reversing into the car and moving forward again. Some activities will actually have you do this and may look hard but believe me it's not that hard. Just don't punch the acceleration too hard or you will derail your train. Operations notebook is also a useful tool. The briefing covers what you have to do. Reading this will help you fully understand the task you must undertake. The timetable which is also listed in your next station window, so make sure you know your timetable. The game also teaches you how to drive locomotives. In the tutorial section, you can learn how to drive an electronic,a diesel and a steam locomotive. If you're very new to the whole train simulator thing, this should be your first stop. This tutorial covers the controls, the cab controls, how to get the train moving and so on. Steam locomotives I am not particularly interested in steam locomotives. Reason being, not so many steam locomotives are being used today. Also they are the most overly complicated pieces of metal on the planet. You have to make sure water stays in the train, so you have to stop at water facilities to refill the train with water. You have to stop the train for coal and so on. If you don't do all of this nonsense, the steam pipes will burst if the train has no water. Electronic and diesel locomotives are commonly used today. Steam trains are terribly difficult to maintain and you have to baby these trains a lot more, while traveling at maximum speed of 60mph. Conclusion I recommend Microsoft Train Simulator. It's the best train simulator out there, hands down. If you can find the copy - buy it, you'll be doing yourself a great favor. So as a new sequel is taking its time coming out, play this one, you won't regret a single cent paid on this awesome game, or should I say - learning tool. sayonara. Author is a webmaster of train online train games like Coal Express 5 and a big fan of trains and train simulators.
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