Trainz Railroad Simulations are Addictive.

My mini-review

When I'm at my computer and have some free time I often load up Trainz Railroad Simulator.

*Auran Trainz Manual*

Here's a computer program that's fun, addictive, and educational about railways around the world. I have the 2006 edition that I picked up as an impulse buy at a train show. I'm glad I did. First of all, driving a steam engine or a diesel on a railroad somewhere in the world and picking up and dropping off loads will kill an hour or two before you know it. You have the choice of easy control or full-blown access to the locomotive's controls. You can change turnout direction, couple and uncouple, and just have a ball. Or you can can let someone else do the driving. Watching the Canadian transcontinental in the 50s negotiate trackage through downtown Toronto or jumping aboard the modern Maglev train is awesome. There are so many routes and options.

Building your own virtual empire

This is where things really get interesting. The program includes the option called "Surveyor" where you can build your own route, scenery and trains. You are limited only by your imagination.

The Trainz Manual
is a basic introduction.

I'm still a novice at this. However, I've started building a virtual extension of my basement model railroad. This is really taking the "beyond the basement" idea to a whole new level. Not only can you interchange cars with other modelers in your area (and some people do this by mail), you can interconnect with others worldwide.

Trainz Exchange

Built into the program is the ability to download images from a global library. You can purchase additional assets and you can upload your own images if you become a creator. There are some amazing people sharing their work.

I decided to add this page after receiving an email from Auran about the next release:
"Trainz Simulator 2009: World Builder Edition (TS2009) is the core program designed primarily for content creators and route builders and Trainz Simulator 2009: Engineers Edition (TEE) which is designed more for those who enjoy driving and controlling trains. Both editions will be totally compatible so will operate seamlessly when both are installed." You can often find Trainz Simulator being demonstrated at Train Shows at a dealer's booth. Try it for yourself.

I'll definitely be buying the Engineers Edition.

Time to get serious about Trainz!

OK, it's September, 2009 and I've bought and installed the 2009 World Bulder Edition. I use my Mac 99% of the time, but I've kept my older PC running XP (not Vista). The graphic capabilities and RAM are probably minimal for building routes in Surveyor. Time will tell.

Fellow Nottawasaga Model Railroad Club (NMRC) member, Bill Payne, found an article in an old Model Railroader planning book with a Chapter 14 entitled Collingwood and the Meaford sub. I couldn't find the trackplan in the Model Railroader database accessible from their website. I think it was in 2002. Bill gave me a photocopy. It doesn't show the name of the publication, only page numbers.

We are considering making several modules on our travelling show layout based on the Collingwood harbour and grain terminal.

*Collingwood grain terminal*

Collingwood was a major port on the Great Lakes until the St. Lawrence Seaway was opened to ocean-going ships. The harbour is now being turned into condos, homes and shops but the landmark grain terminal building remains. We think it would make a great and recognizable module for folk who know Ontario and attend train shows.

What has this got to do with Trainz? Well, I've not about to rip out my HO Utopia Northern Railroad. However, I thought it would be fun and educational to build a virtual Collingwood and Meaford sub railroad. The Barrie-Collingwood railroad exists today but it doesn't extend to Meaford and most of the track has been ripped up and turned into nature trails. The railroad moves a few cars a week between Collingwood and the CP connection at the real Utopia.

You can find some pictures of the former CN station at Craigleith on my page about the historic landmark on the shores of Georgian Bay.

My eventual Trainz plan is to recreate my fictional Utopia Northern with a connection at Utopia to the real Collingwood and Meaford sub. The chapter Bill gave me shows a model trackplan based on the railroad and also contains several drawings of the previous real trackage at both Collingwood and Meaford. To top it off, Bill and NMRC member Dolf Roelofsen, have blueprints of the Collingwood trackage and Dolf has done quite a bit of research into the railroad.

So that's the plan. I'm new to Surveyor and have only fooled around with it a little in the past. This time I decided to start out in the forums. I'm glad I did. I have found a fantastic set of tutorials that covers everything from track-laying to signalling and running trains. If you are new to the Trainz Surveyor module as I am and also want to get serious about building your own virtual layout, check out Chuck's Trainz tutorials.

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