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I've just installed TrainSim 2021 for my PC, having picked it up as part of a discount package with Humble Bundle.
That said... I'm utterly new to the game, and have no idea where to begin, or how to progress. The Academy tutorials are fairly helpful, but I'm really feeling the absence of a paper manual and tutorials!
I wondered if anybody here has any very basic steps and suggestions for me to ease myself into playing, and to make the most of it?
Trains have a reverser (similar to a gear stick in an automatic car), with generally three selections: Neutral, Forward, Reverse (and Off too, but that isn’t always simulated). Move the reverser to forward when you’re ready to set off.
Press T to open the doors at stations. Generally you’ll see ‘x Car Stop’ markers at stations, where X is the number of carriages. Try to stop where the number matches your number of carriages.
For older multiple units, you’ll have seven notches of power and three notches of brake. You’ll want to avoid using full service (notch three) unless you really have to, and never use emergency unless it is that. You won’t want to go into full power straight away as that can overload the engines/traction motors, and can cause wheelslip. I tend to do notch three to start, notch five as we start to move, then notch seven about 10/15 mph. I’ll change this if it’s raining or snowing or autumn as there’s more of a chance of Wheelslip.
Braking, I’ll use notch one and two depending on speed/track/weather conditions. I’ll go into notch one when about to stop to ensure a smooth ride.
Ultimately, every train handles differently and has different controls. Some have four notches of power, some have no notches and instead have smooth controls. You’ll learn how a train performs in the game and can adjust to how it performs.
Once you learn, I highly suggest looking at Armstrong Powerhouse to upgrade the trains you do have. They add features that Dovetail regularly miss out, and make trains drive how they should do. The default 150/1 used to be horrific to drive if you didn’t have the AP pack.
Further to the link above for the manual on the Steam site, if you look in Steam\steamapps\common\RailWorks\Manuals\EN then there will be a set of manuals for the content you own.
You’ll see the full manual from TS2020 and any other routes/trains you have or later acquire.
(The Short Guide first can be a little confusing, using terms like HUD without explanation! DLC is downloadable content.)
When I started, the Academy tutorials were very helpful in learning the basics.
When you load TS, it opens in career scenarios - ignore that and click on the tab to the left, Quick Drive. Select a route, the stations in the adjacent box, then choose a simple train like an old diesel.
if you press F4 to get the full Head Up Display (HUD), you can use the same basic controls irrespective of train:
the reverser (forward, neutral, reverse), brake to right, and throttle to left.
When you use these, look in the cab to see which handles move, and you can start to identify the controls.
Just play around driving, starting and stopping. The HUD shows the distances to upcoming signals, speed limits and stations.
As you progress, you can move to the F3 simpler HUD, using your mouse to manipulate the controls, or keyboard shortcuts. And if you know a route well, get rid of the HUD altogether!
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I would also recommend the forums devoted to Train Simulator at DTG:
Train Simulator Classic 2024 - Deluxe EditionThe Deluxe Edition of Train Simulator Classic 2024 includes an exclusive ‘15th Anniversary Scenario Pack’. Celebrate 15 years of the simulation with 15 new scenarios and three iconic locomotives. The futuristic looking Pennsylvania Railroad Class GG1...
Would just add as well, when you want to get more routes and locos, there’s a sale on Steam, DTG, Humble Bundle, and other stores usually a good many times a year, so put those thing you have your eye on on a list, and you could save 20-70% on them in some sale.
You will notice that most scenarios/ reskins require additional add-ons from Armstrong Powerhouse and Just Trains, so here are links to those websites:-
Welcome to Just Trains, one of the leading publishers and developers of Train Simulation add-on content, including Routes, Locomotives, Wagons, DMUs, Scenario Packs and more...
YouTube videos helped me get going initially on TSW. I made notes for the steps to take when starting up the train for example and then follow until I remember it by rote.
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