Railworks America

Hi Folks,

New kid on the block - at least on this side of the fence - great deal of experience with MSTS and ORTS since both their inceptions - modeler with 3D Canvas/Crafter - Paint Shop Pro texture guy - I build US steam locomotives and transition era rolling stock - kind of womdering how easily I can port stuff over here... That’s putting the cart in front of the horse - though...

First question - which version of TS to buy ? Someone mentioned that the latest software with tools for developers is TS2018 - so I would think that’s what I want - question is - is it backwards compatable with assets built for previous versions of the software ? I’d be interested in a good trasition era or something as late as the Chessie System - coal hauler route - also noted the Colorado Central fictional narrow gauge route - any recommendations would be appreciated on a good first baby step...

Thanks...

Regards,
Scott

I moved this since you posted in Train Sim World. Welcome. If you buy TS2018 Steam will automatically update you to 2019 if you are online. As far as I know all the developer tools come with 2019. I've had this thing since RW2 so I'm not sure comes with a new install. Perhaps someone else can chime in here. I do know that there have been several things brought over from MSTS

Its always nice to see new people come aboard, Welcome aboard Scott.

Hi Folks,

Thanks for the welcome - much obliged...

Hmm - so TSW is a completely different product from TS ?

Regards,
Scott

Welcome! Regardless of what version of TS, if you can even still buy older versions, you'll automatically be updated to the latest version which is TS2019. 2019 has the 64bit game and all the tools of the previous versions. It would be easiest if you went to the steam store and searched train simulator, there you can buy the latest version of TS.

TSW is an entirely different game that has NO tools for building or modding.

Green Man Gaming has the older versions really cheap.

https://www.greenmangaming.com/games/train-simulator-2016/

Buying 2016 will get you the "discontinued" UP Gas Turbine, did that over the holidays.

Harold

Hi Folks,

Thanks for the tips - I'll probably grab TS19 and see how it goes...

Someone mentioned the Donner Pass route might be a good one to get a feel for TS19 ?

I see they have a $50.00 TS19 pack with a bunch of routes - figure that might be a good start too...

For nostalgia - is the Marias Pass route any good - we never did have one with decent track work in MSTS/ORTS...

Are there any good freeware routes for TS19 ? If so - how do I get them installed - are they on Steam as well ?

Does TS19 support TrackIR ?

Appreciate the help...

Regards,
Scott

Go DTG's "Norfolk Southern Coal District" or "B&O Kingwood Branch".

Harold

Marias Pass is a excellent route if you are in the US. There are several very nice routes in the library here and on Steam in the so called Workshop. A must get is a freeware New York Division-Bergen. You will find discussion and tons of pictures it in Freeware WIP. Also on here is the RWA donation Route. Excellent and last but not least the Cascadian which is the Great Northern over the Cascades 1923-1953. Again tons of pictures and comments here.

Is Marias Pass still available? I don't see it on Steam but I may have missed it.

Routes on Steam always include all the assets they use. But freeware routes and 3rd party routes often have a list of additional dependencies that you will need to acquire. You'll have to gather these as you go. The Steam sales are great for this. Every few months the routes go up on sale at 30% to 50% off.

Two very common dependencies are the US Loco and Asset Pack, and the European Loco and Asset Pack. They used to be included with the base game so many addons depend on them. Now they are sold separately but they are also included in other DLC. For example Kingwood Branch includes both and some other routes include one or the other. So don't buy them separately, but try to acquire them with your other route purchases ( and on sale if you can ).

Those two asset packs I mentioned are very helpful if you are planning to make rolling stock content because they give you some couplers, and sound files and other bits you can use to get you started and most people have them installed.

If you are planning to build routes for distribution, you will have to decide what your dependencies are. Its very difficult to make a route that has no dependencies - the RWA fund raiser route is an example of one. But most 3rd party route builders choose another common route - like Marias Pass, etc to use as a starting point.

That's because you are in Canada Wayne. Us US'ers can still get it.

Hi Folks,

OK - thanks so much for all the additional information... I’ll look at those packs you mentioned as well - Wayne - as if I get into this - I’ll be making content at some point...

I’m officially in - purchased the bundle for $30.00 on the winter sale just now... I won’t be able to load it until the weekend...

I was looking at that Clear Creek Narrow Gauge Route - why is there a geographic division on Steam products ? It said “For USA only” ? Seems odd...

Thanks...

Regards,
Scott

I was looking at that Clear Creek Narrow Gauge Route - why is there a geographic division on Steam products ? It said “For USA only” ? Seems odd...

In polite terms, it’s called “BNSF Licencing”....

Great Route BTW.... love NG!

That's because of BNSF, they still control the Colorado and Southern Railway name and logo, etc. BNSF will not grant licenses to sell any of their logos and names outside the US, at least for train simulator developers. So some routes are only available inside the US, and some are without logos when sold outside the US. Thankfully that does not apply to freeware releases. Clear Creek is one of the best routes I've run. I may be a little biased because I love steam, but it really is fantastic.

Hi Folks,

Ahh - OK - gotcha - and I always thought Warren Buffet seemed like such a reasonable guy - LOL...

Thanks...

Yeah - I'm a Steam guy too - so that Clear Creek sounds like a good match for me...

I've built the B&M/L&HR R1-D Mountain and the L&HR Consolidation (the biggest Consolidation ever made with greater tractive effort than the Mountain) for ORTS - I plan to see what it will take to port them...

Regards,
Scott