Scale Model Railroad Trains

FREE - Download Train Sims Software and Games

Nearly every aspect of railroads have been built into a computer software simulations (Sims) or games. Many of them are available as FREE games and FREE software downloads. Here’s a list of train sims that you can download for free (most of these are old [2006 vintage] or special projects):

Some of these FREE train simulation software programs and games can provide some inspiration and a quick way to try some ideas you can use on your model railroad. Some of these can be so much fun they will swallow up lots of your time. Remember to keep it all in balance, keep on building, running, and sharing your model railroad with others.

Yours hours of modeling and running your model railroad can be much more rewarding than getting totally lost in computer simulations.

Free Game: “Sid Meier’s Railroad Tycoon”
Description: Back in 1990 Sid Meier and MicroProse released Sid Meier’s Railroad Tycoon. With the release of Sid Meier’s newer “Railroads” program, “Railroad Tycoon” was released for free.

“Railroad Tycoon”
Description: “Railroad Tycoon” is a game of railroad systems and connecting to run as efficiently as possible while making your empire a ton of money. Many gamers feel that no one other railroad game has been able to capture the fun of “Railroad Tycoon.” Not even “Sid Meier’s Railroads.”
Download “Railroad Tycoon” for Free from:

* FileFront
* Official “Railroad Tycoon” Web site

“Simutrans”
Description: “Simutrans” is a transport and economic sim game. The graphics are not impressive, but very well done for a freeware game.
The goal of “Simutrans 128×128″ is to build a network of railroads and bus connections. Passengers will need to be transported from city to city, and will use the transportation that you have set up.
Game History: The game was started by one man in 1997 as a hobby. Today the game is now worked on by a large group of gamers who continue to make additions and updates. Download Simutrans 128 by 128 for free.
“D-Rose”
Description: “D-Rose is Dave’s Railroad Operations Simulation Environment. That means that this is a program to simulate running an entire railroad. You get to do any job on the railroad (like dispatcher, surveyor, president and engineer), or sit back and watch.” D-Rose Home and free download site.
“Miniature Train Simulator”
Description: Build a model train set in “Miniature Train Simulator.” The game comes with lots of tracks, trains, and decor to use in designing the tracks. Miniature Train Simulator Home Page and free download (en and fr).
“Train Dispatcher 2″
Description: This game is all about being a train dispatcher. The job is similar to an air traffic controller. Train Dispatcher 2 Home page.

Source

BVE
Description: WIRED has declared the 2007 BVE as “one of the BEST train sims programs”. It goes on to say:

BVE Trainsim totally beats Microsoft Train Simulator with its price, graphics, and realism. BVE Traimsim, formerly known as Boso View Express, is a free downloadable train simulator created by a Japanese graduate student (also known by the username mackoy). There are hundreds of downloadable routes (found at various websites) that have been created by various users throughout the world. You can drive the London Underground, the New York Subway, the MTR Hong Kong subway, or the Taipei MRT. BVE is not constrained to only subway routes. Various long distance trains can be driven. Creating new routes is somewhat difficult with the coding, so the graphics vary depending on the route. The London Underground routes are fine examples of the potential realism the BVE train simulator can achieve. Sound files are recordings of the actual trains, so the screeching of the tracks, the door close chimes, and the horns are all very similar to the sounds from the corresponding train route. One downside of the game is that other objects cannot move, so trains coming in the opposite direction are always still. But when you’re traveling at a high speed, it’s barely noticeable. BVE works with Windows 98, 2000, ME, and XP and requires DirectX.

Download BVE for free.
Source.
Have fun!

Trainguy

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