TrainSim.Com Train Simulator FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions About MSTS
5. REALISM QUESTIONS
CAN YOU SELECT DIFFERENT LEVELS OF DIFFICULTY?
Yes. Depending on what kind of a challenge you want, you can choose
from a wide range of activities to select the difficulty you're
looking for. Activities are rated for difficulty. You can also skip
the activities and just explore a route in free mode.
You can also control operating difficulty using the setup menus. For
example, in operating the steam locomotives you can choose to do
everything yourself or you can have an automatic fireman. There is
also a simple controls mode that is not meant to be realistic but
allows simple operation of any train. Another setting lets you
disable derailments which lets you ignore speed limits.
WHAT SIGNALLING SYSTEM(S) ARE INCLUDED IN MSTS?
Each route has appropriate signals based on the real route. These
include lighted signals that change with conditions as well as fixed
signage to indicate things like speed limits. Since the signals are
hard to see a driving aid pop-up window can be used that gives
warnings in advance. A reference card is included with the sim that
covers all the signals and their meanings.
CAN YOU HAVE RANDOM SYSTEM FAILURES IN YOUR LOCOMOTIVE DURING YOUR RUN?
No. The locomotive itself will not randomly fail. Player operating
mistakes can cause failures, such as the locomotive boiler failing
because the player failed to add water.
CAN TRACKS APPEAR UNUSED AND WEED COVERED?
No, track graphics are not that detailed.
DOES THE GAME INCLUDE TRAIN STATIONS?
Of course. All passenger trains in the game will include stops at
stations. However, it appears that not all stations found on the real
routes are present. For example, the Northeast Corridor route has
stations appropriate to Amtrak operations but does not include the
many commuter train stations.
DOES THE GAME INCLUDE MAINTENENCE OF WAY (MOW) EQUIPMENT?
MOW equipment does not play an active role in the sim. Along the
sides of the routes you'll find a wide variety of vehicles including
some that might be MOW related but they are just there for scenic
effect.
IS THERE TRAFFIC AT GRADE CROSSINGS?
Yes. You will be able to see cars and trucks at grade crossings. What
you see also varies by what route you are on. For example, in the
Japanese city scenery you'll see many motor scooters.
CAN YOU SEE ANIMALS NEAR THE TRACKS?
Yes. You will be able to see some wildlife such as deer along the
tracks. The deer quite often jump on and off the tracks.
ARE PEOPLE INCLUDED IN THE GAME?
No. Originally, people were planned to be visible at stations and
crossings, but it was decided they would decrease the performance of
the game too much. You'll find an occasional 2D person as part of the
bitmap for a building.
On passenger activities loading and unloading of passengers is
indicated by a count down timer in one of the pop-up windows since
you cannot actually see the people.
DOES MSTS INCLUDE AMBIENT SOUNDS, SUCH AS WILDLIFE OR WIND SOUNDS?
Yes. Sounds can be designed into the routes and the default routes
take good advantage of this. In the country you may hear animal
sounds while at stations you'll hear the murmur of voices or
background music. Mostly it's quite subtle.
Other objects that are specifically part of railroading activity make
sounds as well, examples being crossing gates and the vehicles
approaching them; you'll hear car and truck engine sounds and horns.
ARE THE CONTROLS FOR EACH LOCOMOTIVE ACCURATELY DEPICTED?
Yes. Each locomotive features a unique arrangement of controls,
accurate to that locomotive. Obviously, some liberty has to be taken
on many cab panels, though, to make a collection of 3D objects all
visible on a single 2D screen.
CAN YOU DERAIL OR CRASH YOUR TRAIN?
Yes. If you exceed the limits for speed around a curve for your
train, you can derail. It's also possible to derail on a switch or by
driving past the end of a track. However, this is a game option that
can be turned off. There also isn't any blood and gore, the train
just jumps the tracks; the resulting pile of cars and locomotives can
be quite a sight though.
THE TRACKS LOOK VERY SMALL WHEN LOOKING FROM WITHIN THE CAB. IS THIS
ACCURATE?
Yes. Although it does look small, you have to remember that not only
are you suposed to be sitting several feet above the track, but the
front of the train blocks much of the track right in front of you, so
you can only see the track that is further away than you might
otherwise expect.
ARE DIFFERENT TYPES OF BRAKES INCLUDED (I.E. DYNAMIC, EMERGENCY, ETC.)?
Yes, different types of brakes, accurate to each locomotive, will be
included. Up to three types are available: train brakes, locomotive
brakes and dynamics brakes.
There's some debate on whether the dynamic brakes are modeled
properly. You may want to check the file library for user created
patches.
WILL RAILROAD CROSSING SIGNALS TRIGGER REALISTICALLY SEVERAL SECONDS
BEFORE THE TRAIN CROSSES IT, AND WILL IT SHUT OFF IF YOU STOP YOUR
TRAIN BEFORE THE CROSSING?
Yes. Grade crossing signals are included on several of the routes
with automatic activation of lights and sounds.
ARE INTERCHANGES WITH OTHER RAILROADS INCLUDED AND OPERATIONAL? HOW
DO THEY WORK?
It does not appear possible to link separate routes.
ARE CARS AND LOCOMOTIVES UNIQUELY NUMBERED?
No. When one model of a default locomotive or car is depicted
multiple times in Train Simulator, each one will have the same
number. The number is just drawn onto the model's textures, and so
each car of the same model will have the same number.
However, 3rd party designers can and do create multiple versions of
the same car or locomotive. Some locomotives are available with
factory fresh paint or weathered. Some cars are available with a
series of numbers. Look in the file library.
ARE TURNTABLES MODELED AND OPERATIONAL IN MSTS?
No. The closest thing is a non-operable turntable found in the
Whitefish yard on the Marias Pass route.
HOW BRIGHT WILL HEADLIGHTS APPEAR? FROM WHAT DISTANCE WILL WE BE ABLE
TO SEE IT? WILL IT BE BRIGHT EVEN IN DAYLIGHT?
The default locomotives' headlights are quite bright when set on
high, bright enough to be visible in daylight. The area illuminated
by the lights is generally fairly large. High and low headlight
settings show noticeable differences.
The locomotive configuration file allows a great deal of freedom in
setting up lights so quite a variety of effects are possible.
CAN YOU DRIVE YOUR TRAIN AT NIGHT?
Yes. The locomotives are equipped with headlights (most have two
brightness settings) that allow you to see at night well enough to
operate. Of course signal lights are visible at night as well as some
buildings and other vehicles.
DO THE SUN AND SHADOWS MOVE ACCORDING TO SIM TIME?
Yes. The sim is on a real 24-hour clock meaning that when it is noon
sim-time the sun will be high overhead and the shadows will be short,
but near dawn and dusk the sun will be nearer the horizon and shadows
will be longer. You will see the effects as the color of the sky
changes too.
TIP: This feature is something worth considering when taking screen
shots. Just like in real photographs the object in your screen shot
needs to be properly lit for the shot to come out good. That
generally means the sun should be behind you and thus lighting up the
side of the object you are looking at.
CAN YOU MAKE WEATHER AREAS SO THE WEATHER CHANGES GRADUALLY OVER YOUR
ROUTE?
No. The season, time and weather are pre-set in activities. When in
free mode you choose them before starting and the weather and season
are the same until you quit. All four seasons can be selected and
weather can be clear, rainy or snowy.
CAN YOU RELOAD COAL/WATER/DIESEL ONTO YOUR LOCOMOTIVE?
Yes. You are able to, and in some cases have to, refuel, re-coal and
re-water the engine. On the default routes, though, the number of
places where you can do this are limited and somewhat hard to find.
One special feature worth noting is that on the Settle & Carlisle
route there is one location with a water trough between the tracks
where water can be loaded while moving.
ARE THE TRACK CONDITIONS CUSTOMIZABLE?
Yes. You will be able to select different weather conditions such as
snow and rain, which will in turn affect the train's performance.
Most locomotives have the option of applying sand to the track to
help with slippery conditions.
CAN I DRIVE THE TRAIN IN SNOW?
Yes and no. You will be able to drive with snow on the ground and
also have it affect the train's performance, but you will not
actually be able to drive through snow. It will not pile up nor will
a snowplow be necessary. The ground will just look as though it is
covered with a thin layer of snow.
CAN YOU EXCEED THE LIMIT THE COUPLERS CAN PULL?
Yes. You must be careful not to exceed the limits of the couplers
when accelerating or decelerating. However, this can be modified
through game options.