Train Simulator and/or model railways.

[76561198219211377]

Just out of curiosity does anyone here have Train simulator because they can't afford or make room for a model railway?

Does anyone have a model railway as well as Train Simulator? If so do you derive the same satisfaction from both or are the pleasures different?

Speaking personally I have some model rolling stock but no room. I appreciate the “realness” of models, the bigger the better, but no matter how big your bank balance and spare-room, loft, shed or garden may be space, money and the time to build something are likely to become issues. I also appreciate the different perspective TS affords, the different eras and the expansiveness and variety that having even just a couple of well chosen routes offers.

[gallagher4005]

I had HO scale model trains when I was younger but now, I have Train Simulator.
Yes, it's because of room and funds.
TS lets me run on routes that I can't model. I do, however, have an idea for the worlds largest model train setup: Take 2 Walmart Super Centers, put them together length-wise and build a layout.
The light bill alone would be a hefty price tag!
It would be AWESOME though!

[Rudolf Jan]

I have a model railraod as well, but I spend far more time with train simulation, because of the driver experience.

[Mutley]

I never had a train set when I was younger. I have TS2017 and TSW now so all is good in my world at last lol. Oh and I'm still only 45 years old lol

[dcshoe]

I've always been attracted to passenger trains, having ridden the Super Chief several times and the Zephyr once (the originals, not the Amtrak.) To model these trains in HO or even N scale requires a *lot* of room, so while I have a couple of locomotives and a few Santa Fe streamlined cars, I'll never have the space to build a layout. Feather River, Britkits E9s and G-Trax lightweight passenger cars do it for me. All I need now is a set of Alco PA-1s.

[corpowat]

I had a large usa railroad now i have train simulator i also have a small house now.

[wwebb]

I have a very extensive lay out in my basement and have been in model railroading since I was a teen ager, first ho then o gauge narrow gauge

[76561198219211377]

Originally posted by gallagher4005:

I had HO scale model trains when I was younger but now, I have Train Simulator.
Yes, it's because of room and funds.
TS lets me run on routes that I can't model. I do, however, have an idea for the worlds largest model train setup: Take 2 Walmart Super Centers, put them together length-wise and build a layout.

Well it's a plan but track-laying would take... hours! It'd be good if you wanted to work in 12" to the foot scale.

Originally posted by Rudolf Jan:

I have a model railraod as well, but I spend far more time with train simulation, because of the driver experience.

I'm sure there are people who'd read that and think why would anyone need Train Simulator when they've got models? There are that many different aspects to modeling- if I was building a layout I'd be champing at the bit to get anything running but some take greater pleasure in building the scenery than running trains through it. Some people's main interest is signalling- they could have pingpong balls rolling around the track as long as the signals are right.

Originally posted by Mutley:

I never had a train set when I was younger. I have TS2017 and TSW now so all is good in my world at last lol. Oh and I'm still only 45 years old lol

Glad to hear that you've overcome your deprived childhood. Did you want a train set? Do you have models now or do you not feel the need?

Originally posted by dcshoe:

I've always been attracted to passenger trains, having ridden the Super Chief several times and the Zephyr once. To model these trains in HO or even N scale requires a *lot* of room, so while I have a couple of locomotives and a few Santa Fe streamlined cars, I'll never have the space to build a layout. Feather River, Britkits E9s and G-Trax lightweight passenger cars do it for me. All I need now is a set of Alco PA-1s.

A long freight train in Britain would have thirty bogie wagons- I've seen N-Gauge exhibition layouts that can accomodate that and very impressive they are too but most people have to compromise and a heavy freight loco' hauling ten wagons just doesn't look right.

Unless you have a layout which is just a section of line with trains running past (and there are many good examples) passenger trains compound the problem because you need to build a station long enough for them to stop at. I used to watch the Deltics hauling night mail trains through Durham with 20 on- an N-Gauge station that could take that would have platforms over 10' long.

Mmmm- Deltics.

Originally posted by corpowat:

I had a large usa railroad now i have train simulator i also have a small house now.

But you miss the layout I take it.

Originally posted by wwebb:

I have a very extensive lay out in my basement and have been in model railroading since I was a teen ager, first ho then o gauge narrow gauge

I love the way smaller scales let you model a sweeping stretch of main line or a big station- something that gives you a sense of space but the bigger scales have greater presence.

Thank for commenting everyone.

[Rev Counter]

I'm planning a model railway based on a station from the Weardale and Teesdale network DLC for Train Sim, it makes it easy to plan and visualise it! I've just started to make the baseboards this week!

[[SR] 73096]

i have a model railway and ts17 and i like having both

[mrsandman]

Since I acquired TS 20xx, I've given up on the idea of model railways, now I'm looking to disperse my Hornby Dublo and Wrenn collection......Dad WOULD NOT be happy....

[76561198219211377]

Originally posted by SMcG Gamer:

I'm planning a model railway based on a station from the Weardale and Teesdale network DLC for Train Sim, it makes it easy to plan and visualise it! I've just started to make the baseboards this week!

Interesting- which station? I've seen a model of Bishop Auckland but an imaginary version which is part of an heritage railway. It seems to be an excuse to run anything the operator fancies (not that there's anything wrong with that). Of course the line up to Stanhope is a heritage railway now but one which does struggle to find passengers I'm sorry to say.

I arranged a TS2016+W&T offer for the Friends of Darlington Railway Centre and Museum (the Museum is in the Darlington North Road Station building) and one of the members who took it up did so because he is building a layout. It's based near Sunderland but he thought the atmosphere would help. The DLC really is quite something. I showed some screen grabs to another rail enthusiast and he had no trouble recognizing locations.

Originally posted by flyingscotsman4472:

i have a model railway and ts17 and i like having both

I like the idea of having both- I wish I had the room. And the money.

Originally posted by mrsandman:

Since I acquired TS 20xx, I've given up on the idea of model railways, now I'm looking to disperse my Hornby Dublo and Wrenn collection......Dad WOULD NOT be happy....

You have my sympathy. What model rolling stock I do have is boxed up and hasn't seen the light of day for years but I'd be loath to part with it. Perhaps you could put yours in a nice display case.

[Merlin]

I could of had a nice model railway with the amount I've spent on trainsimulator over the years. But the problem with a model railway is I have nowhere to put it.

[Rev Counter]

Originally posted by Friends of DRCM:

Originally posted by SMcG Gamer:

I'm planning a model railway based on a station from the Weardale and Teesdale network DLC for Train Sim, it makes it easy to plan and visualise it! I've just started to make the baseboards this week!

Interesting- which station? I've seen a model of Bishop Auckland but an imaginary version which is part of an heritage railway. It seems to be an excuse to run anything the operator fancies (not that there's anything wrong with that). Of course the line up to Stanhope is a heritage railway now but one which does struggle to find passengers I'm sorry to say.

I was originally going to make Stanhope, but due to various reasons I'm now going to make Broomielaw station on the Barnard Castle to North Road line. It's a rather interesting setup and I think it'll be quite fun to make and run. It allows for the general DMU along with quarry trains going up to the end of the line and back again, as well as a couple of interesting sidings.

I looked up Stanhope heritage railway when I was considering modelling it, and it did look very nice indeed, I'm sorry to hear it's suffering. If I didin't live all the way down in Devon I'd be sure to support it with visits!

[76561198219211377]

Originally posted by Merlin:

I could of had a nice model railway with the amount I've spent on trainsimulator over the years. But the problem with a model railway is I have nowhere to put it.

Books and magazines say that everyone has room for a model railway because you can always have a little branch terminus to fiddle yard thing on a shelf and that is a point but what if you don't want a little branch terminus to fiddle yard?

Someone came up with a system of magnets which would hold model trains to the track upside-down so... do you fancy a layout on the ceiling?

[76561198219211377]

Originally posted by SMcG Gamer:

I was originally going to make Stanhope, but due to various reasons I'm now going to make Broomielaw station on the Barnard Castle to North Road line. It's a rather interesting setup and I think it'll be quite fun to make and run. It allows for the general DMU along with quarry trains going up to the end of the line and back again, as well as a couple of interesting sidings.

Not to mention the traffic coming across the Stainmore line from Tebay. The station itself is quite compact too with a natural scenic break in the bridge at the east end- a good choice for a model.

Originally posted by SMcG Gamer:

I looked up Stanhope heritage railway when I was considering modelling it, and it did look very nice indeed, I'm sorry to hear it's suffering. If I didin't live all the way down in Devon I'd be sure to support it with visits!

It's largely owned by an American company and they have Polar Express trains running around Chistmas which bring in a lot of punters so I don't think it's on its uppers. From day to day though their usual run, Stanhope to Wolsingham, is pretty short and kind of out of the way. When they run to Bishop the platform is 200 yards up the line from the network station becuase the Railway Inspectorate doesn't like trains running towards each other on the same track. To get to the Weardale's platform you have to go past B&Q and the Post Office depot and along a foot path and through a hedge... that's once you've paid to park by Morrisons. (Morrisons and its car park cover most of what used to be Bishop Station and they have a lot of railway photo's and information on display- I suggested that the Weardale might get some support from if only free parking but I don't know if anything came of it.)

If you do get the chance to visit you could go and have a look at Broomielaw- it's decrepit and overgrown but it's still there.