This page provides dozens of free route downloads for Microsoft Train Simulator, plus links to third parties offering routes for download. More than 100 routes are also available on CD/DVD from Amazon.com and other retailers. Please see the Train Simulator Retail Add-Ons Page for a guide to retail add-ons.
Free msts train simulator game download. Games downloads - Microsoft Train Simulator by Microsoft and many more programs are available for instant and free download. MSTS / OR Routes - Normal Topic Hot Topic (More than 50 replies) Very Hot Topic (More than 100 replies). MSTS Downloads Train,Simulator,Add-ons,for,Microsoft,Train,Simulator www.3dtrainstuff.com/ Route,and,rolling. Added to MSTSRoutes on 06 Mar 2019 06:25. USA - San Diego & Arizona Railway MSTS Route (60.25 MB) This file has been downloaded 2538 times. Added to MSTSRoutes on 15 Feb 2017 11:29. Australia - Mornington Tourist Railway v3 (10.37 MB) This file has been downloaded 1246 times.
| RailDriver - Drive your train simulator with realistic throttle, brake, reverser and switches. Works with Train Simulator 2020, Trainz, Microsoft Train Simulator (MSTS), and computer driven DCC systems. |
Adelaide, Hills and South-East v2.0 - South Australian Railways route extends from Serviceton in Victoria to Adelaide and beyond to Gawler in the north, from Mount Gambier in the south-east to Outer Harbour, and from branches such as Victor Harbour, Mount Pleasant, and Willunga to Adelaide. By Allan Lownsborough (Downloads from author's site - File size: 350 MB)
Antwerpen-Brussel v1.1 - Belgian route includes the Lijn25 from Antwerp-Central to Brussel-North, the Lijn27 from Antwerpen-Berchem to Brussel-North, and L0 from Brussel-North to Brussel-South. By Greg Celen (RailServe.com MSTS Download - File size: 51 MB)
Arkansas & Ozarks Subdivision - 40-mile mainline plus two branchlines featuring Alcos in the Ozarks in 1988. Available from the author for $29.95, download or CD.
ATSF Seligman Route - Depicts 150 miles of mid-1990's Santa Fe operations between Seligman, Arizona and Needles, California. Available from Stream Lines for download for $34.99.
Bala Sub - Recreates the southern portion of Canadian National Railway's Bala Subdivision, the start of the CNR's transcontinental rail line from Toronto to Vancouver. Includes 100 miles of mainline starting from Toronto, plus four new locomotives and many railcars. Developed by Maple Leaf Tracks for sale for $29 (US)
Bear Mountain Pass v5.0 - 27 mile route through the Colorado Mountains, with rich cattle land, two gold mines, a battlefield, lumber mill, and a ghost town. By Larry Mullett Sr. (RailServe.com MSTS Download - File size: 45 MB)
BHP Billiton Iron Ore Route - Covers more than 165 miles from Mining Area C to Port Hedland in Western Australia. By Marek Lemow (Downloads from author's site - File size: 83 MB)
Blue Mountains v4.2 - Electrified route from Penrith to Lithgow, Australia. By Mike Simpson (Downloads from author's site - File size: 53 MB)
BNSF Scenic Subdivision Route - 140-mile mainline route from Wenatchee to Seattle through Cascade Tunnel and over Stevens Pass. Available from Stream Lines for download for $29.99.
Brevikbanen - 10km electrified branchline between Brevik and Eidanger in southern Norway (RailServe.com MSTS Download - File size: 30 MB)
Bruchwald-Bahn - Fictional passenger railway route set in a forested region of modern day Germany (Downloads from author's site - File size: 33 MB)
Cajon Pass Route - Over 250 miles of accurate grades, prototype signaled mainlines, junctions, yards, stations, sidings, industrial spurs, realistic scenery, and natural terrain; developed by 3D Train Stuff for sale on CD for $37.15 (US)
Cambrian Route - A Seaside Journey - 78 prototypical miles of the beautiful Cambrian mainline, including the 57 mile coastal section from Machynlleth to Pwllheli, and the 16 mile section from Dovey Junction to Aberystwyth; developed by 3D Train Stuff for sale on CD for $32.05 (US)
Cambrian Route 2 - Covers the entire Cambrian Railway network set in the 1950s and 1960s, including 200 miles of track, branchlines, and spurs; developed by 3D Train Stuff for sale on CD for $48.95 (US)
Canadian Pacific Mactier Subdivision Route - Models 128 miles of CP's transcontinental mainline between West Toronto and Mactier, Ontario, Canada. By Kenneth Shannon and Ted Kocyla (Downloads from author's site - File size: 503 MB)
Canton-Suddenly-Thompson-Grove City - 75 mile route meant to be Anywhere USA. Based on the Georgia Woodlands RR and parts of the connecting CSX mainline through Georgia, Canton-Suddenly focuses on switching. Included are 50 industries, 22 towns, 8 yards, 12 depots, and photo-realistic textures. Available from the author for $36 (download) and $41 (CD).
Cascades Crossing - 220 mile route covering the former Southern Pacific Cascade Subdivision in central and southern Oregon. This route contains a combination of farmland, evergreen forest, and arid near-desert terrain. Developed by Maple Leaf Tracks for sale for $23 (US)
Central West Route v1.6 - 330km route captures the wide open expanses of Australia's outback. By Chris Nelson (Downloads from external site - File size: 57 MB)
Chicago Elevated Railway v0.6d Special Edition - Includes features such as loop scenery, signals, The Paulina Connector, many roads, crossover tracks, night textures, some traffic, and part of the C&NW near Lake and Harlem. Contains a batch file to copy textures from exiting routes, yielding a small download size. By Chris Cyko (RailServe.com MSTS Download - File size: 2673 KB)
Cliff Hanger MSTS Route - Fictional mountain route tests your driving abilities, the performance of the rolling stock in difficult conditions, track laying methods, and steep terrain shapes. A direct start-to-end ride of 30 kilometers (20 miles) takes about an hour, but there are endless options. By Michael Vone (RailServe.com MSTS Download - File size: 427 KB)
Coals to Newcastle - Route based on railways in the Newcastle area of New South Wales, Australia, circa 1950s, plus the Short North to Sydney, Main North to Maitland, and North Coast to Taree (Downloads from author's site - File size: 132 MB)
Cumberland - 30 mile route runs from Harlan-Loyall to Benham-Lynch in southeast Kentucky. Drive trains along the valley floor between two mountain ranges and the Poor Fork River. The route is set in the 1950s-1960s, making it an excellent choice for steam or diesel. Available from the author for $31 (download) and $36 (CD).
Denver & Rio Grande Western Cumbres Pass Route Fixes - Update to D&RGW add-on route to fix missing file errors. Replaces default activity so that additional add-ons are not required to explore the route. By Andy Miller (RailServe.com MSTS Download - File size: 850 KB)
Denver & Rio Grande Western Cumbres Pass v1.1 - Standard gauge version of the route taken by the Denver & Rio Grande Western RR over Cumbres Pass in southern Colorado and northern New Mexico. It is the route of the modern-day Cumbres & Toltec Scenic RR that runs between Antonito, Colorado and Chama, New Mexico. By Andy Miller (RailServe.com MSTS Download - File size: 19 MB)
Denver & Rio Grande Western Green River Route - 180 miles of rugged mainline railroading between Helper, Utah and Grand Junction, Colorado. Includes 27 pieces of accurate rolling stock. Download from Stream Lines for $29.99.
Donner Pass Route - High Sierra Crossing - Over 90 miles of double track mainline over Southern Pacific's historic Overland Route between Colfax and Truckee, California; developed by 3D Train Stuff for sale on CD
East Metro Rebuild - 35 mile shortline route with lots of switching and modern mainline running. Available from the author for $29 (download) and $34 (CD).
Flatlands - Freight Yards v2.0 - Drought stricken area where freight yards are being constructed for when stock and feed can once again be raised and grown, includes 5 yards and 5 activities; requires full install of MSTS; by J. Otrzasek (RailServe.com MSTS Download - File size: 3338 KB)
Footscray to Ballarat Route v1.3 - Victorian Railways route covers the Western Main Line from Footscray (Melbourne) to Ballarat, Australia. By Russell Beer (Downloads from author's site - File size: 58 MB)
Full Bucket Line v3.03 - Fictional desert-style route with about 110 miles of track, 10 mainline stations, 2 branch line stations, and several switching yards (Downloads from author's site - File size: 27 MB)
Gisborne - Bendigo Route v2 - Covers the Northern Main Line from Gisborne to Bendigo, Australia, with branches to Redesdale and Daylesford. By Russell Beer (Downloads from author's site - File size: 197 MB)
Golden Gulch Railroad - Small shortline circa late 1890s to late 1930s. The route winds and climbs through mountains with a loop around at either end. Townsend is a quaint town on one side of the mountains and Snake Eye is a bustling industrial area in a desert scrub climate. Fort Custer which lays between is a quiet little town in the mountains. By Erik Shicotte (RailServe.com MSTS Download - File size: 15 MB)
Great Southern Mainline Route - Covers 170km of mainline from south of Kapooka to Harden, New South Wales, Australia. By Russell Beer (Downloads from author's site - File size: 151 MB)
Greater Toronto Area - Features over 230 miles of mainline commuter and freight operations, 43 passenger stations, dozens of yards, and hundreds of industrial spurs. Developed by Maple Leaf Tracks for sale for $29 (US)
Hoogdam Line v4.1 - Fictional route based in Holland with more than 120km of track and 20 stations; by Wouter Nijhof (RailServe.com MSTS Download - File size: 12 MB)
HOR-GEO-elec - Scenic European Black Forest mountain route in south-western Germany, now extended from Hausach to Sankt Georgen, revised and fully electrified to its modern status (RailServe.com MSTS Download - File size: 43 MB)
Kicking Horse Pass - Begins just east of the Rocky Mountains and follows the Bow River as it enters the Bow River Valley on its trek to the top of Kicking Horse Pass. Developed by Maple Leaf Tracks for sale for $23 (US)
KMJ 4 - 100km fictional route with distinctly Swedish scenery and buildings. By Håkan Pettersson (Downloads from author's site - File size: 108 MB)
La Perouse Tramline - Recreation of the Circular Quay - Bondi tramline in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. By Joseph Spinella (Downloads from author's site - File size: 17 MB)
LGVMed v3.0 - Mediterranean LGV (High Speed Route) located in the south east of France, joining the cities of Marseille, Nimes, and Valence. This version includes a major rework of the LGV layout using high speed curves, realistic SNCF signals, high speed AI traffic, scenery improvements, and 24 activities. Requires Xtracks 3.10 or newer, available on this site. By Lucweb (RailServe.com MSTS Download - File size: 31 MB)
Main Illawarra v3 - Based on the Main Illawarra railway lines in the coastal strip of the Illawarra region of New South Wales, Australia, circa 1950-1965. By Brian Bere-Streeter (Downloads from author's site - File size: 176 MB)
Maryland & West Virginia - Small coal switching route set in the 1940s-1950s, combining the Western Maryland and the West Virginia Railroads. Includes a Maryland & West Virgnia 2-8-0 steam locomotive. By Nick Petrus (RailServe.com MSTS Download - File size: 49 MB)
Melbourne to Seymour v1.3 - Depicts the Victorian Railways North Eastern Mainline in the 1950s between Melbourne and Seymour, Australia. By Russell Beer (Downloads from external site - File size: 148 MB)
Metro Route - Free fictional route containing major cities, mountainous areas, wide open prairie, and mostly double or triple track mainline. By Brandon Rusnak (RailServe.com MSTS Download - File size: 86 MB)
Michigan Iron Ore - Formed in 1892, the Lake Superior & Ishpeming hauls magnetite and hematite pellets from the Empire and Tilden Mines to the ore docks at Presque Isle, Michigan. Developed by Maple Leaf Tracks for sale for $22 (US)
Mid-North and Barossa Route - Covers 200 miles of mainlines connecting Adelaide, South Australia with Terowie, Angaston, Kapunda, and Truro. By Michael Cameron (Downloads from author's site - File size: 515 MB)
Mornington Tourist Railway v3 - Operating railway museum based at Moorooduc station on the Mornington Peninsula about 60km from Melbourne, Australia. The main operational focus of the MR is the running of steam-hauled passenger trains, but original Victorian Railways diesel-electric locomotives are used on trains occasionally. By Craig Walton (Downloads from author's site - File size: 9791 KB)
Museispårvägen Malmköping - Route recreates a present-day Swedish tram museum. By Patrik Sundberg (Downloads from author's site - File size: 133 MB)
MV Route - Rocky Islands - This fictional route combines coasts, mountains, and underwater tunnels. A mainline coastal route connects to a single-track island route. A fairly complete tour takes about two hours, but there are many routing options and spurs to explore. Includes complete but undecorated route; route map; simple activities. By Michael Vone (RailServe.com MSTS Download - File size: 778 KB)
New South Wales North West Route - 753 miles of mainline in north-western NSW, Australia, including Main North (East Maitland to Armidale), Mungindi Line (Werris Creek to Moree), Dubbo Line (Werris Creek to Binnaway), Gwabegar Line (Gulgong to Gwabegar), and more. By Chris Nelson and Brian Bere-Streeter (Downloads from author's site - File size: 603 MB)
New South Wales Short West And Short South Route - 247 miles of mainline in NSW Australia includes the Short West from Wallerawang to St. Marys in Sydney's west and Sydney Terminal in the east, plus the Short South from Lidcombe (via Sefton) to beyond Goulburn. By Brian Bere-Streeter (Downloads from author's site - File size: 293 MB)
NewRoads v4.0 - New road textures required by many add-on routes available at this site (Downloads from author's site - File size: 17 MB)
Niagara Corridor - CNR Dundas Sub - Located in the Southern Ontario region known as the Niagara peninsula and is part of CN's Corridor from Windsor, Ont. to Montreal Quebec. High speed Via passenger service, hotshot intermodal, way freights, and Norfolk Southern daily runs. Developed by Maple Leaf Tracks for sale for $26 (US)
North Arkansas - 34 miles of track through beautiful Ozark country, with four custom painted 1900's engines and a selection of 1900's rolling stock. Available from the author for $18.95, download or CD.
North Sydney Tram Lines Route - Represents the final two years of tramways in Sydney, Australia, from 1956 to 1958. By Brian Bere-Streeter (Downloads from author's site - File size: 68 MB)
Nåttebo Mellefors Railway (NMJ) - Swedish electric route features 32 stations and two branches for both passenger and freight trains. By Håkan Pettersson (Downloads from author's site - File size: 249 MB)
Paris Rive Gauche v5.0 - French passenger train route between Paris, Chartres, and Le Mans (Downloads from author's site - File size: 90 MB)
Paris to Bordeaux v0.5 (beta test) - Includes 250 km of track, some stations (Tours, Orleans), a portion of the TGV line; maximum speed is to 220 Km/h and 270 Km/h on the TGV line; objects not included in this test version; includes installation program, directions in French; by Claude Lalau (RailServe.com MSTS Download - File size: 5473 KB)
Port Ogden and Northern v11 - Loosely based on the Port Ogden and Northern, from Kalmbach Publishing's 101 Track Plans for Model Railroaders, plan #8; includes mountain grades and branch lines, mining, logging, farming, and oil industries. Includes a self-extracting installer and requires a full install of MSTS with all routes. By Jim Ward (RailServe.com MSTS Download - File size: 20 MB)
Msts Freeware Routes List Arrow Clever Page
Puerto Rico Train v0.1 - by Luis H Gonzalez (RailServe.com MSTS Download - File size: 2803 KB)
Puffing Billy 1920s Narrow Gauge Route - Recreation of Australia's Puffing Billy line from Cockatoo to Gembrook as it would have been in the 1920s. By Simon Gray (Downloads from author's site - File size: 34 MB)
Red Arrow Trolley Lines v1.1 - 112 miles of Suburban Philadelphia trolley routes. Requires Xtracks 3.10 or newer, available on this site. By R.K. Bird (RailServe.com MSTS Download - File size: 30 MB)
Richmond, Fredericksburg & Potomac Route - CSX freight route between Fredericksburg and Washington, circa summer 2001. By Steve Dunham (RailServe.com MSTS Download - File size: 37 MB)
Rogers Pass - CPR Mountain Sub - Rogers Pass is a modern day representation of the 130 mile route from Field to Revelstoke, British Columbia, Canada. Developed by Maple Leaf Tracks for sale for $26 (US)
Rother Valley Fictional Route v0.1 (beta test) - Route is based in mid-Britain with few tunnels, lakes, rivers, valleys, cities/towns. Includes 61 miles of mainline track plus one activity for driveability. Route not yet completed. By Alan B. Heath (RailServe.com MSTS Download - File size: 1334 KB)
Rotterdam (beta test version) - This is the route between Rotterdam and Hoek van Holland (Holland). This beta release contains the route from Schiedam to Vlaardingen only. By Sebastiaan van der Vliet (RailServe.com MSTS Download - File size: 1498 KB)
Roussillon Line v4.1 - French route for Microsoft Train Simulator (Downloads from author's site - File size: 88 MB)
San Diego & Arizona Railway - 70 mile route through Carrizo Gorge in California, featuring many trestles and tunnels (Downloads from author's site - File size: 64 MB)
Sherman Hill - Features over 100 miles of mainline including the southern portion of the Laramie Subdivision between Cheyenne and Laramie, Wyoming, plus a portion of BNSF's Front Range subdivision from Cheyenne toward Denver, Colorado; ; developed by 3DTrains for sale for $25 (US)
Shuswap - CPR Shuswap Sub - Covers 130 miles of Canadian Pacific mainline from Revelstoke to Kamloops, British Columbia. Developed by Maple Leaf Tracks for sale for $26 (US)
Soldier Summit - Over 100 mainline miles of joint rail operation of the Utah Railroad and Denver & Rio Grande Western Railroad over the Wasach Mountains to Provo, Utah. Developed by Maple Leaf Tracks for sale for $29 (US)
SP West Colton Route - Includes 40 square miles around SP's West Colton Yard in Southern California, plus sections of four different subdivisions; developed by 3D Train Stuff for sale on CD for $34.95 (US)
Swanage Route - A Preserved Railway In Southern England - Representation of the former LSWR branch from Wareham to Swanage in the county of Dorset; developed by 3D Train Stuff for sale on CD for $32.05 (US)
Swiss Lines v1.1 - 101 km fictional route in Switzerland, with new scenery, 35 stations, 10 activities, and more; by SpeedCom (RailServe.com MSTS Download - File size: 8084 KB)
Switch Back Gravity Railroad Route - The 18-mile round trip from Mauch Chunk (Jim Thorpe) to Summit Hill, Pennsylvania, vintage 1900. Includes Switch Back Summer Car. Requires Xtracks and New Roads, both available in the Utilities section of this website. By Walt Niehoff (RailServe.com MSTS Download - File size: 27 MB)
Sydney-Nowra Route - Route based on the Main Illawarra railway lines on the coastal strip of the Illawarra region of New South Wales, Australia circa 1950-1965. By Brian Bere-Streeter (Downloads from author's site - File size: 176 MB)
SydWest Stage 1 - 40-km corridor between Seven Hills and Richmond in western Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. By Ben Johnson (RailServe.com MSTS Download - File size: 15 MB)
Tehachapi Pass Route II - California Gateway Edition - Route located in Southern California, developed by 3D Train Stuff for sale on CD for $37.15 (US)
The Bridge Line - Follows the operations of the Delaware & Hudson Railroad in the late 1970's through Upstate New York. Developed by Maple Leaf Tracks for sale for $22 (US)
Trollhättan 2 - Route features multiple passenger train lines from Gothenburg and Oslo, Sweden. By Totte (Downloads from author's site - File size: 240 MB)
Tumulla Bank Route v1.6 - 22km route portrays the climb from Perthville to Gresham on the Main West line in NSW, Australia. By Chris Nelson (Downloads from external site - File size: 45 MB)
Valley Railway v5 - Includes automatic installation tool; by Niall Wallace (RailServe.com MSTS Download - File size: 2968 KB)
VBSR 7 - 1,350km route features four Swedish railways - Vestfoldbanan, Bratsbergbanan, Sørlandsbanan, and Ransfjordbanan. By Jan Kristensen (Downloads from author's site - File size: 1257 MB)
Very Short Line RR - A fictional railroad based on model railroading with a continuous loop track (RailServe.com MSTS Download - File size: 33 MB)
Western Pacific Feather River Route - Representation of WP's 3rd Subdivision between Oroville and Portola, California, which includes the scenic Feather River canyon; developed by 3DTrains for sale on DVD for $50 (US)
XTracks 3.20 - Extra track sections for route developers, also required before using many add-on routes available at this site (Downloads from author's site - File size: 18 MB, or 30 MB for developer version)| Sponsored Links | Related RailServe.com Categories Search 19,000+ sites in all 180 categories! |
'Stand-alone' Open Rails Installation
The Tweed railway can be installed using the Open Rails (OR) railway simulator and does not require MicroSoft Train Simulator (MSTS) to be installed. The following method is recommended for users who do not have MSTS already installed.
Note: No responsibility is accepted for any damage done to your computer. This install is done at your risk.
It should also be noted that the operation of other routes, following these instructions, may or may not be succsessful, as they may be missing key MSTS files necessary for the Route or Rolling Stocks correct operation.
It is highly recommended that you follow the KISS (Keep it simple St....) method of installing software. This method suggests that you only do single installs of software or a small number of steps before you test what you have done. This will make it easier to test your progress and ensure you don't have too many issues to 'fault find'. Run the 'tests' described at various point below to ensure that all is well.
If you would like to provide any feedback in regard to these instructions, please contact me through the contact page.
Base Software Required
This software must be installed on your computer first. Check and install software as required.
Step 1 - Download and install DirectX 9c or higher.
Msts Freeware Routes List Arrow Clever Games
Step 2 - Download and install NET Framework 3.5 SP 1
Step 3 - Download and install XNA Framework 3.1
Open Rails Software Required
Note: You will need to create an appropriate folder structure to hold all relevant content installs. The recommended folder root structure is << C:Open Rails Train Simulator >>. (Where C: is the name of the drive that you wish to install OR on.) Copy ('Ctrl-C') this path code and then paste ('Ctrl-V') it into the following steps wherever you are requested to enter a path name.
Step 4 - Download the latest version of Open Rails - 'Ready to Run' Program.
Step 5 - Unzip Open Rails files and copy into << Open Rails Train SimulatorProgram Files >> folder.
Test Open Rails Base Install
Step 6 - Create a desktop start icon to the file 'Menu' in the << Program Files >> folder.
Step 7 - Run Open Rails, you should get the Open Rails Menu screen up, and you may get an error message. To fix the error, select 'Add' under Options => Folders, then browse and select << C:Open Rails Train Simulator >> folder, name the folder 'Open Rails'. Naturally there will be no routes or activities showing. If you get this far, it appears that the base install of OR is working. Next is to start adding Train Content, see Step 8 below.
Install Base Train Simulator Content Required
Remember to copy the above path into the installer when asked to confirm the installation folder.
This is the minimum content required to successfully run a train in OR for this route.
Step 9 - Download and install Newroads v4.0 for End-User - select 'Standard', and install in << Open Rails Train Simulator >> folder.
Step 10 - Download and install Xtracks v3.20 for End-User, in << Open Rails Train Simulator >> folder. The exe may not work unless MSTS is installed. You will need to download zip version (xtracksf.zip) unzip and extract the << Global >> folder into the << Open Rails Train Simulator >> folder.
Msts Freeware Routes List Arrow Clever Words
Step 11 - Download and install NSWGR Buffer Extras (NB: When installing into OR only instance, the batch file may indicate an error. This is ok and should still allow OR to operate)
Step 12 - Download and install NSWGR Steam Locomotive Smoke Extras
Step 13 - Download and install Diesel Smoke file. You will need to unzip the file and install the dieselsmoke.ace file into the Textures folder under Global folder.
Step 14 - Download and install Tweed Railway Rolling Stock
Step 15 - Download and install D5270 Locomotive file to install the core D50.
Step 16 - Download and install NSW C35 and D50 Alternate Tenders file to install the 5074 required for core consist.
Step 17 - Download and install C30 Tank Locomotive (3112) file (AU_nswC30_MSTS1_Setup.exe) to provide a cabview for your locomotive.
Step 18 - Download and install CHG Brakevans file (AU_hv_CHG_MSTS1_Setup.exe).
Step 19 - Download and install soundsets for NSW Bogie Freight Wagon Sounds
Step 20 - Download and install soundsets for NSW 4 Wheel Coal Wagon Sounds
Step 21 - Download and install 2 Cylinder Sound Set (Steam) to provide appropriate sounds for your steam locomotives.
Test Open Rails with Train Content
Step 22 - Run Open Rails Train Simulator. Now you should see the route and default activities.
Msts Freeware Routes List Arrow Clever Items
Step 23 - Select 'AU NSW Tweed' in the Routes window, and '- Explore Route - ' in the Activities Window, then press the Start button. In the next window that appears, select the 'Condong Mill - Sth - Casino' path and the 'D50-5074-Cane-Loaded' consist and press the ok button. Note the default activities refer to a consist file that is not availble to non-MSTS users and therefore it will not run in an OR only installation.
To start the train you will need to release the train brakes (';' -key, until fully released), adjust the reverser ('W' key - until fully forward), apply throttle ('D' key - to around 50%). Refer to the section below for some of the more common key commands for OR. You can also swap between different views by pressing the number keys - 1, 2, 3, 4, etc.
You should now have a base working version of Open Rails for the Tweed Route. When Open Rails starts, it creates a log file called 'OpenRailsLog.txt' which is located on your desktop. This file can be used to try and identify major faults and assist in their correction.
Refer to detailed Open Rails Operational Manual for more information on Open Rails.
In OR, you will be able to select different activities, paths and consists, but not be able to create them at the moment as you will require access to MSTS to enable you to easily build new activities and paths.
Expanding your 'World'
Adding or Changing Stock
Now that you have a working copy of OR you can start to add additional rolling stock or try some of the previously created activities. Most of the stock currently available was develped for MSTS, which means that it may refer to MSTS files that were provided with the original MSTS game and replacement files may not be readily available from the Internet, so you may need to edit stock to get it to work. In adding stock remember the KISS principle, try and only add a small number at a time and do regular tests to confirm all is ok. Also remember that you may need to change the path to the installation folder, ie << Open Rails Train Simulator >>.
When adding stock, unless a consist (CON) file has been created for it, it will not appear in OR. Consist files are located in the << Consists >> folder under the Trains folder in your folder structure.
It is highly recommended that you create or modify consists by using the Consist Editor function of Route Riter. (RR)
To install RR you will need to install Java first. A useful link to assist in installing RR is on the Steam4me Route Riter Installation page.
The RR Help files can be downloaded from here and inserted in the Route Riter folder.Start RR. When you first run RR it may advise you that it can't find Train Simulator'. To overcome this problem, find your << Open Rails Train Simulator >> folder and double click on it. Then go to 'MSTS Path' under 'Files' on the index bar and click on the 'Select' button. This will ensure that RR functionality is maintained as much as possible. You may get an error message about the 'Train.exe' file, but this is only advisory (I think).
RR can be used to do the following types of things:
- Build Consists - Once you have loaded a new locomotive, if there is no Light engine consist for it, use the RR Consist Editor. Click on the 'Consist Editor' button under the 'Activities/Stock' tab. This editor can also be used to create additional train consists for use in OR.
- Check for Activity and Consist problems - The tools on the 'Activities/Stock' tab can also be used to check for problems such as missing stock, etc in activities and consist files. Also use the OR log file to identify any problems.
Further Information
If you need to find more information on different types of problems, try looking at at the OR FAQs, or alternatively these sites, as they are a veritable mine of information and may provide some insights into any issues that you are graplling with:
If you have a specific Tweed or CTN related problem them use the contact page.
Basic Open Rails Command Keys
Camera Controls
Move the camera with the arrow keys, or hold right click and move mouse to rotate camera
- 1 - cab ( simulated for now ) - left and right arrows shift position
- 2 - front of train
- 3 - rear of train
- 5 - passenger view
- 6 - brakeman view - home and end move to front and back of train
- 8 - free camera
- ALT + ENTER - toggles fullscreen on and off
Basic Train Controls
To operate the train, use the following keys (for more controls and details, refer to Open Rails documentation):
- W - Forward
- S - Reverse
- D - Increase Throttle
- A - Decrease Throttle
- ‘ (quotation mark) - Apply Train brakes
- ; (semi-colon) - Release Train brakes
- [ (Left Bracket) - Apply Engine brakes
- ] (Right Bracket) - Release Engine brakes
- G - Change turnout (point) – AHEAD of Direction
- SHIFT + G - Change turnout (point) – BEHIND Direction
- X - Sander On/Off
- Press & Hold ‘U’ Key and mouse click on coupler - Coupling/Uncoupling
- H - Press key to move to Dim, then Bright - Engine Lighting – Off, Dim, Bright
- Ctrl + H; Press key to move to Dim, then Off - Engine Lighting - Bright, Dim, Off
Basic Information Views
To view relevant information, use the following keys (for more details, refer to Open Rails documentation):
- 0 - Compass
- F1 - Information Monitor - this provides a detailed list of key commands.
- F4 - Track Monitor
- F8 - Switch Monitor
- F9 - Train Operations Monitor
- F10 - Activity Monitor