I've got a new preview version ready for your evaluation!
What's new & improved
What's new but worse
So what is this software?
The train cab simulator, not surprisingly, simulates train rides from the driver's cab. A 3D view window is your view to the TrainSim World. Control the train or let the computer drive it.
There's also a Train/Track Editor which allows you to create a map of your Train Simulator World. It gives you an overview of all tracks and trains in the map, and lets you edit and expand it.
This is a hobby project so I don't have all the time in the world to spend on it.
I'm very interested in your input (just mail me at erik@digiflyer.nl or use the Webmailer applet at the bottom of this page). If you have any questions or suggestions, let me know. Your input means a lot for motivation!
The most recent version can be downloaded from this site. This web page is updated every time new versions come available. If you'd like to be informed when this happens, subscribe to my mailinglist (don't expect anything too soon though).
Development reports (before current version):
18 jun 2000
18 mrt 1999
08 mrt 1999
28 feb 1999
This is a view from the train cab at dawn, with the controls and indicators below. You can see a couple of platforms belonging to this station, and a train just arriving.
The view controls on the left allow you to zoom in or out, pan left or right, or look from the rear of the train. The select box allows you to select a train to open a view window from. This is train number 2 of line 2, as indicated here and at the top of the window.
There are two door buttons (left and right doors). Once you open the doors the yellow indicator light will light up. The departure light will turn red. Once it's safe to depart, and all passengers are done entering and exiting the train, the departure light will turn green. (NB: There are no virtual passengers to be seen in the sim.) Then you can close the doors and leave.
The indicators show the speed in km/h, distance travelled, current time, current station, compass direction.
The three buttons to the right of the indicators are the autopilot toggle switch, the reverse button and the lights switch. On the right side of the panel are the engine control and the brakes control. You can operate them at the same time but that's not a particularly productive practice.
The editor allows you to build your own networks. Track lines are based on nodes which are grouped together. The gray boxes in the picture above are node groups (GNode's). The top GNode has 7 nodes, from which 4 tracks run to the two GNode's below it. One of the tracks has a train on it. You can also see a switch: the right node in the bottom GNode.
A station is formed by a group of tracks (GTrack) as is seen in the top of the picture. There are some dashed purple lines which represent platforms. Once you've added a platform to a GTrack, it becomes a station.
Getting started with the Train map editor.
Currently I call my versions Preview Versions. This means they're not even Beta (or not even Alpha). It means I do not guarantee anything to work nor do I take any responsibility for whatever they may do to you or your computer. But what's more important is that I do not guarantee any backward compatibility. Maps you create with the current editor may not be understood by future versions!
Click here for the recent version (Win95/98/2000).
I'd appreciate any input. Please mail me your comments. If you'd like to (un)subscribe to my mailinglist, drop me a line too.
Here's a list of Asked Questions I've received.
PS: You might want to check out these links to other Railway Simulations.
PS2: Check out Flexwindow: 