Newbie seeking help

[Johnreid4]

I hope not to be a burden, but would appreciate some help.
I bought Railworks TrainSimulator 2013 not knowing what I was getting, I did not know about STEAM and bought it from a store. The box had a picture of Union Pacific Locomotive on it and upon installing it I found that I had bought a United Kingdom version with a few English Routes on it.
I also notice that many freeware addon routes have requirements for Payware which I believe was once freeware. I do not want to end up spending the price of the program all over again if I can avoid it for now. Maybe as time goes on though.
What is the least expensive way for me to add American Trains and at least one Route? I am of a limited budget, Social Security, and after spending over $50 this month I can not justify a lot of extra expense till maybe in a month or two. Sherman Hill, which the box said was included costs almost $40 and I cant spend that much at the moment. I tried to get a refund and could not, no returns on Software and the store manager was off and I do not want to drive 60 miles each way again to argue with them. RWC support is no help at all. So, I guess it is User Supported
Recommendations would be appreciated.
Once I am going well with the game I promise to try and be helpful to others, but for now I need some advise as to how to get what I wanted when purchasing the game. I will enjoy the British Routes as time goes on I am sure but do want American Trains for now.

[artimrj]

Least expensive way is to go to the File Library here, or at UKtrainsim.com or trainsim.com and download and only the stuff that is all freeware. Most items have a readme telling you if it needs payware.

Now the older routes use assets that were the "old default" items for before TS2013. These are now payware, the US and UK assets packages. However, if you invest in a route like Ohio Steel 2, you will get both of those packages. Other routes by All A board require those assets so they come with the route. By buying a route that requires them you get them for free, sorta.

As you are able to make more purchases, for rolling stock, then you could continue to download the repaints here and the other places I listed. Be advised that Railworks America is a free site, the other 2 are free but they throttle back you download speed unless you pay for a subscription to get faster speeds. UKtrainsim also makes you wait in a que, which could be for hours before you can actually download something.

[Chacal]

Welcome!
First of all, if I remember correctly, when you install your boxed game it will have (ask?) you install Steam, so that you can have the latest version of the game and any future updates.

If it says on the box that Sherman Hill is included, then you should be able to download it from Steam for free.

As Bob just said, there is a lot of free, high-quality add-ons available. Routes, scenarios, rolling stock. It is only a matter of looking around, reading people's opinions, selecting what you want. Do it a little bit at a time, so that you have time to try and enjoy what you download.

From the routes collection here in the file library, I recommend to start with the NERW North Eastern PA Division. It is a huge free route that comes with its own assets and rolling stock, and the NERW web site has tons of scenarios for it.

On Steam you can also get free scenarios for the routes you already have. For example, you should find some scenarios for Sherman Hill which don't require you to purchase more content.

When a scenario does require payware assets, you can always swap them out for freeware assets. Many people do that. You just need RW_Tools, which you can get for a donation as low as 2$. With that tool and a few minutes of work, you can play any scenario for any of the routes you own. That should keep you playing for months without buying any freeware!

[Johnreid4]

Sherman Hill is not included with the disc I got, RSC wants $29.99 for me to install it. The box does not match the contents, the disc is the UK version and has the British engine on the disc label. I think the disc did not match the box. I have been fortunate enough to have actually ridden on a lot of the UK Rail System so it will be fun to have the UK Routes I got, but being a Yank, I wanted American trains too.
The Cajon Pass RWC Route looks tempting as it comes with Locomotives too.
I will try the NERW North Eastern PA Division.
I downloaded and installed the Moscow, Camden & San Augustine and the Moscow, Camden & San Augustine 1920 Routes but they come up as an error when I try to run them, I believe I need to find a SW1200 Repaint kit if I read the descriptions correctly and maybe the US assets but if I buy the Cajon Pass I assume that will be in it.
I appreciate the help, you guys are far more helpful that RWC who just tell me to buy the program over again.

[Chacal]

The Moscow, Camden & San Augustine is a good choice, great route. MCSA 1920 is the one that is current and should work, remove the other one. For the SW1200, you need the free basic "Kit 05 Sw1200 " from Britkits at http://www.dickyjim.com/diesel.html. You will need it anyway for the NEPA route. Britkits is a good source of quality freeware, by the way.

Cajon pass is a logical choice for your first payware because it comes with assets and there are dozens of scenarios for it, because it used to be included with Railworks.

[Johnreid4]

I bought the Cajon Pass and paid for the SW1200, still awaiting the email with the link to download. How do you remove the not 1920 route? Or do I just leave it be?

[CSX2057]

There's not much railworks stuff from trainsim.com. They don't have everything like the file library here, just some old school files probably end up useless. RWA got everything you need 24/7!

[Johnreid4]

There is a learning curve, I can tell. I am getting it to work better and thanks to the folks here it is getting better too.
Thanks for all of the help and advice, it is appreciated.