Microsoft^? Train Simulator: Sybex Official Strategies & Secrets^TM

by David Chong; Rick Selby; Richard Wayne Smith

• ISBN13: 9780782129106
• ISBN10: 0782129102
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2001-07-01
• Publisher: Sybex

Summary

Microsoft Train Simulator brings the excitement of some of the world's most famous trains to your home. Harness the engines' power as an engineer, using the fully functional gauges and working controls. Sit back and enjoy the ride as a passenger, taking in the scenery as you rumble through the realistic settings. Or take on the responsibility of a railroad designer, using Train Simulator's open architecture and tools to customize and extend the game. Written with the full support of the game's developer, Microsoft Train Simulator: Sybex Official Strategies & Secrets gives you everything you'll need to stay on track. Inside you'll find: * Expert advice on operating everything from the Orient Express to The Flying Scotsman * Essential strategies for handling the game's challenging operating strategies * Hands-on tutorials covering Train Simulator's extensive track and activity building tools

Author Biography

David Chong has authored and contributed to numerous strategy guides across a wide variety of genres and platforms, including Crimson Skies: Sybex Official Strategies & Secrets. His first time behind the controls of a locomotive was aboard an F-40 at the age of 8, and he's had the bug ever since.

Rick Selby works for Microsoft as a Program Manager in Training and Certification. His lifelong interest in railroads led him to offer his services as a subject matter consultant for Train Simulator. Rick has written how-to books, as well as magazine articles and a monthly column for Model Railroader Magazine. He has numerous hours “in the cab” of diesel locomotives from various railroads.

Richard Wayne Smith was the lead designer for the original SEGA Genesis Triple Play Baseball at Electronic Arts Canada. Rick left EAC when his friend, Chris Taylor, formed Cavedog Entertainment. At Cavedog Rick was an assistant designer for Total Annihilation and later designed TA: Battle Tactics. Currently Rick is teaching C++ programming at the Center for Digital Imaging and Sound.

Table of Contents

Introduction	viii
Game Features	viii
At the Station	x
Game Controls	xi
On the Rails	xvi
Part I Operating the Routes
Basic Train Operating Skills	5	(38)
Train Simulator Routes	6	(1)
Train Simulator Activities	6	(1)
Terminology	7	(2)
Locomotive Types	9	(6)
General Locomotive Controls	15	(2)
Cab Tours	17	(9)
Selecting a Route	26	(5)
Operating a Train	31	(4)
Train Simulator Driving Aids	35	(4)
Switching Activities	39	(4)
Operating Amtrak's Northeast Corridor	43	(30)
Route Description	44	(2)
Route Tour: Train Simulator's Northeast Corridor Route	46	(6)
Passenger Activity Tutorial	52	(1)
Activity Crew Call: Bridge Damage	52	(4)
Activity Crew Call: Morning in Maryland	56	(2)
Activity Crew Call: Short Passenger Run	58	(2)
Activity Crew Call: Train Rescue	60	(3)
Activity Crew Call: After the Storm	63	(3)
Activity Crew Call: Riding the Yellows	66	(2)
Activity Crew Call: Summer Express	68	(3)
Off Duty	71	(2)
Operating England's Settle-Carlisle Route	73	(20)
Route Description	74	(3)
Route Tour: Train Simulator's Settle-Carlisle Route	77	(3)
Passenger Activity Tutorial	80	(1)
Activity Crew Call: Local Service	81	(2)
Activity Crew Call: Short Passenger Run	83	(2)
Activity Crew Call: After the Storm	85	(2)
Activity Crew Call: Medical Emergency	87	(1)
Activity Crew Call: Low Water	88	(3)
Off Duty	91	(2)
Operating the Burlington Northern Santa Fe's Marias Pass Route	93	(38)
The Marias Pass Route	94	(1)
Route Tour: Train Simulator's Marias Pass Route	95	(3)
Freight Activity Tutorial	98	(1)
Activity Crew Call: Columbia Falls Setout	99	(3)
Activity Crew Call: Cutbank Grain Car Sorting	102	(2)
Activity Crew Call: Dawn Tank Train	104	(3)
Activity Crew Call: Grain Train through the Night	107	(3)
Activity Crew Call: Morning Intermodal	110	(2)
Activity Crew Call: Setting Out Westbound Pickup	112	(3)
Activity Crew Call: Building and Sorting Outbound Cuts	115	(2)
Activity Crew Call: Kalispell Setout and Pickup	117	(3)
Activity Crew Call: Running with Hotbox	120	(3)
Activity Crew Call: Auto Train with Setout	123	(2)
Activity Crew Call: Noon Mixed Freight	125	(2)
Activity Crew Call: Whitefish Yard Switching	127	(2)
Off Duty	129	(2)
Operating Japan's Hisatsu Line	131	(24)
Route Description	132	(2)
Route Tour: Train Simulator's Hisatsu Route	134	(5)
Passenger Activity Tutorial	139	(1)
Activity Crew Call: Quake Damaged Track	139	(3)
Activity Crew Call: Short Passenger Run	142	(2)
Activity Crew Call: Isaburo	144	(2)
Activity Crew Call: Low Fuel	146	(3)
Activity Crew Call: Shinpei	149	(2)
Activity Crew Call: Westbound River View in the Spring	151	(2)
Off Duty	153	(2)
Operating Japan's Tokyo-Hakone Railway	155	(30)
Route Description	156	(2)
Route Tour: Train Simulator's Tokyo-Hakone Route	158	(6)
Passenger Activity Tutorial	164	(1)
Activity Crew Call: Shinjuku to Machida in the Winter	164	(4)
Activity Crew Call: Short Passenger Run	168	(3)
Activity Crew Call: After the Storm	171	(5)
Activity Crew Call: Shinjuku to Hon-Atsugi in the Summer	176	(2)
Activity Crew Call: Summer Holiday	178	(2)
Activity Crew Call: Heavy Delay Day	180	(3)
Off Duty	183	(2)
Operating Austria's Innsbruck-St. Anton Line	185	(26)
Route Description	186	(2)
Route Tour: Train Simulator's Innsbruck-St. Anton Route	188	(4)
Passenger Activity Tutorial	192	(1)
Activity Crew Call: Bar Car Set Out	192	(3)
Activity Crew Call: Royalty on Board	195	(2)
Activity Crew Call: Short Passenger Run	197	(1)
Activity Crew Call: Murder on the Orient Express	198	(2)
Activity Crew Call: Bride and Groom	200	(2)
Activity Crew Call: Replacement Locomotive	202	(2)
Activity Crew Call: St. Anton-Innsbruck in the Winter	204	(2)
Off Duty	206	(5)
Part II Game Tools
The Activity Editor: Events	211	(32)
How Best to Build a Railway	212	(1)
Train Simulator's Editors	212	(2)
The Activity Editor	214	(1)
Expanding an Existing Activity	215	(26)
Summary	241	(2)
The Activity Editor: Services	243	(18)
Building a New Activity	244	(2)
Creating Paths	246	(7)
Creating Traffic Patterns	253	(3)
How Signals Work in Train Simulator	256	(1)
The VCR Tool Display	257	(2)
Summary	259	(2)
The Route Editor	261	(28)
Building a Route	262	(2)
The Route Editor Camera	264	(2)
Editing Terrain	266	(2)
Laying Track	268	(9)
Adding Scenery Objects	277	(4)
Adding Railway-Related Objects	281	(2)
Textures	283	(3)
Flags and Yard Definitions	286	(1)
Summary	286	(3)
The Geometry Extractor	289	(12)
Extracting New Terrain	290	(7)
Editing an Existing Route	297	(1)
Conclusion	298	(3)
Appendix Train Simulator Community	301
Official Websites	302
Unofficial Websites	303