Getting Started

Where to find a proper manual, how to fix the colors, and how to drive your trains.

The manual

If you have been browsing the game files, you may have been disappointed that the readme file, the installation guide and the manual are empty. You can download the proper files at ftp:/ftp.atari.com/manuals/pc/chris_sawyers_locomotion/ .

The colors

I play this game on Windows 7.1, and pretty much anything can mess up the colors. It turns out that the windows taskbar is "stealing" the color palette from Locomotion, and one fix is to turn it off.

• Open Steam.
  
• To turn the taskbar off, click on the start button (or press your windows key) to open the start menu. Hold down Ctrl and Shift and right-click on an empty area on that menu. You will get a popup menu that allows you to close explorer. File manager windows still work normally.
  
• Play Locomotion. Use Alt-Tab to switch between programs. Or use the Task Manager.
  
• To turn the taskbar back on, press Ctrl-Shift-Esc to open the Task Manager. Open the File menu and choose "New Task (Run...)". Enter explorer.exe and your task bar is back.

(Source: via Syahmi's blog[write-code.blogspot.de])

Drive a train

You can drive any train in locomotion yourself. Chris Sawyer explains it with screenshots on his website[www.chrissawyergames.com]. The short version is this:

• To access train driving mode, bring up the train window for one of your trains,
  make sure the train is fully stopped (red flag icon), and that the train window is the topmost window on the display.
  
• Then hold down the "INS" (insert) key on the keyboard while typing DRIVER, then release the "INS" key.
  
• Now if you access the stop/go menu on the train's flag icon you should find a new third option in the menu called "Manual".

That's it, have fun, and leave a comment below if you like!

[paulytools]

I've managed to get a manual... so I've uploaded it to Google Drive if anyone wants it.
Locomotion Manual [drive.google.com]

[Nick Taken]

The FTP link is not working in 2021

[mendel]

I just tried the manuals link, and the Steam linkfilter apparently strips out the colon in "ftp:", which of course does not work. The site is up and the manual is there for you to see and download if you put it back.

[Gamez 'N' Muzic]

need a guide on how to use hamachi to run multiplayer games

[SoraTheReaper]

The only major issue I have is the window persisting after I exit the game. Like, I even use Alt+Tab, and that doesn't work. I have to completely reset my PC to get it working again. It SUCKS. But good game all around. ^_^

[Don Volta]

Thanks for this my man

[Knifepoint]

Also, if i try to use the dddraw.dll the game wont run at all

[Knifepoint]

Ive tried a few things on there. i downloaded the ddhack dll file and the game doesnt run at all now. ive tried varifying the games integrity and even deleted local content and re downloaded the game. It just wont run at all. before trying afrementioned i tried the windowed mod (cant remember what the exe is called) and that didnt help at all. tried terminating explorer.exe and didnt help. tried disabling steam overlay, compatibility settings, run as admin, nothing worked.

[mendel]

It is linked, up there in the "The Colors" section. You're using the same OS as I do.

[Knifepoint]

could you link Syahmi's blog. i most probably have tried it. im running windows 7 64 bit. nvidia 970 gtx