TO DOWNLOAD THE DEMO:
Downloading the demo of TrainMaster 4.x will allow you to better appreciate, as best as a desktop computer can, the visual, sound, and performance characteristics of operating real trains on real rail lines. The demo program may be freely copied and distributed.
Before proceeding, please print out these instructions for reference.
DOWNLOAD INSTRUCTIONS
The demo consists of one executable file called TM4DemoSetup.exe. It is about 11.8 megabytes in size, and can take considerable time on a dial up modem connection.
To download the update for free, click on the button displayed below.
File Size = 11.8 Mbytes
Estimated download times:
28.8 Modem 56k Modem T1 Network 1 hr, 18 min 39 min. 2 min
Your browser should display a pop up window asking whether you want to save or open the file. Save the file to a folder of your choice (C:\Downloads is a good place to store it. Create the folder if you do not already have one or save it to another folder of your choice.)
From Windows Explorer, locate the downloaded file in the folder in which you saved it. Double click TM4DemoSetup.exe to start the program. The program should then start to install the demo and place an icon on your desktop. We recommend that you install the demo in the default folder suggested by the install program. Follow the instructions on the screen.
Performance on machines with less than a 400 MHz CPU, less than 64 Megs of RAM, and no graphics acceleration card may prove to be unsatisfactory. The software is capable of rendering images of over 40 frames per second (FPS) on a machine equipped with a 750 MHz processor (CPU), 128 Megs of RAM, and a video graphics card with a GeForce 256 accelerator chipset. Newer machines and the newest accelerator chip sets will produce even better performance. Only 17-22 FPS is necessary for reasonable performance (television is about 25-30 FPS).
The average frame rate for your session is displayed at its conclusion. The most important hardware to maximizing performance is the graphics accelerator card. If you have any problems with the video display other than frame rate (which is hardware dependent), update your video drivers by going to the manufacturer's web site and downloading the correct drivers. TrainMaster is not aware of any inability of the software to run on computers less than three years old with minimum hardware requirements and the latest video drivers. You may also want to update the OpenGL drivers for improved video performance (available for free from www.glsetup.com). Your Windows video display setting should be set in the 16 bit (high color) mode. TrainMaster will not run in TrueColor (32 bit) mode. You can check this from Windows by clicking on START / SETTINGS / CONTROL PANEL / DISPLAY / SETTINGS. .
RUNNING TRAINMASTERTM
TrainMaster, Inc. cannot help you with Windows, computer hardware (including graphics cards or sound boards), or updating your drivers. Help for any of the above should be obtained from Microsoft® or the maker of your hardware.
TrainMaster is designed to be almost exclusively operated with a mouse. Many of the program's features, however, can also be operated from the keyboard. The program does not support a joystick. Keyboard operating keys are as follows:
| Key | Function |
| F3 or < | Advance Throttle |
| F4 or > | Reduce Throttle |
 (Left Arrow) |
Release Brake |
 (Right Arrow) |
Apply Brake |
 (Up Arrow) |
Lap Brake |
 (Down Arrow) |
Bail Independent (Locomotive) Brake |
| End | Apply Emergency Brake |
| Del | Apply Independent Brake |
| Ins | Release Independent Brake |
| B | Toggle Bell |
| F5 | Toggle Sand |
| F9 | Whistle (hold down) |
| D | Toggle Dynamic Brake on/off (in Idle) |
| H* | Helper on or off (to add helpers, train must be stopped and equipped with helpers) |
| A* | Advance to Location |
| V* | Toggle in/out of View Mode |
| P* | Pause Simulation and Sound |
| 0 (Zero)* | Reset Screen to Forward View |
| F7*, F8* | Pan left (F7) or Right (F8) |
| * No mouse equivalent | |
CONFIGURATION MENU
The Configuration Menu shown on the opening screen has three options that affect simulation performance. They are Train Run Options, Configure Environment, and Configure View Quality.
Train Run Options
Selecting this option opens a window with three tabs labeled Brake Types, Signal Changes and Horn Types, and Game Play.
Brake Types
The Brake Types tab gives you the option of adjusting six parameters. Unless you are familiar with these various features, leave the default settings for Maximum Time Below Continuous Rated Speed , Brake Pipe Feed Pressure, Brake Type, Pressure-Maintaining, Adhesion Limit, and Power Reduction alone.
Signal Changes and Horn Types, Etc.
The Signal Changes and Horn Types tab on the Train Run Options allow you to change the probability of getting a restrictive signal and to set the starting time of the simulation.
Restrictive Signal Probability. There are only two signals in the demo program, neither of which are active, so changing this value in the demo has no significance.
The Horn Types option allows you to select one of three digitized recordings of diesel sounds originally prepared by Five Chime Consultants (http://atsf.railfan.net/airhorns/).
Starting Time. To make it easier to run with a specific train schedule, a starting time in Hours and Minutes (HH:MM) can be specified. For technical reasons in the current version of TrainMasterTM, a gradual screen display switch between daytime and nighttime is not available.
Game Play
The Game Play tab allows you to change other penalty parameters, including running a red signal, overspeed penalty braking, and the possibility of derailment.
Ignore Signal Penalty. With this selection checked signal penalties are ignored.
Ignore Speed Penalty. With this selection checked, emergency brake applications and derailments are prevented.
No Demerits. With this selection checked, no overspeed penalty demerits are accumulated.
Environment Options
The Configure Environment submenu allows you to choose the size of the display screen, set sky color and haze (fog), or turn sound on or off.
Simulation size. The TrainMasterTM display can be rendered in three levels of resolution, depending on the ability of your graphics card and monitor. The smallest display supported is 640 pixels wide by 480 pixels high. Other supported sizes are 800 x 600 and 1024 x 768. Different graphics boards are optimized for different screen sizes.
If your Windows set up is configured for a screen size (for example, 800 x 600) which is smaller than you select in the TrainMasterTM configuration menu (say, 1024 x 768), then the TrainMasterTM screen will overflow your screen, rendering only a partial display of the controls and scenery. The Windows resolution setting must always be equal or higher than settings in TrainMasterTM to avoid screen overflow. If both settings are equal, the TrainMasterTM screen will fill your monitor screen.
Fog Density. By clicking on and holding down the left button on your mouse, you can move the fog density slider from no fog to the maximum amount the slider will permit. Setting no fog will give the most clear view (no haze) and a clear blue sky.
Play Sound. The play sound box must be checked in order for sounds to be enabled.
View Quality Options
View quality is affected by the frame rates (frames per second or FPS) and "flickering." FPS is influenced by the hardware and video driver's ability to render the animation. Flickering may occur when the computer determines that an object has moved closer and, therefore, should now appear larger. The computer, however, can not enlarge objects in a smooth, linear fashion as in real life, but must decide to increase image size in one-screen pixel increments. In some cases, a decision to increase or decrease object size may hover on a borderline decision with the result that the image may flicker. Some graphics boards are better than others at controlling or reducing flicker. TrainMasterTM can only provide the capability of making adjustments that best suit your hardware. Reducing flicker can produce a quality tradeoff between resolution and frame rate, a factor heavily influenced by the capabilities of the video accelerator card and the display resolution you have selected. You must experiment to see what works best on your computer.
Distance View Quality. The highly sophisticated 3D graphics engine in TrainMasterTM incorporates special features to improve performance. Among these is a capability to render distant objects in lower resolution to help reduce computational requirements where they have little or no impact on view quality. Checking this box affects the way the graphic engine converts distant images to the highest quality of the original object and may reduce FPS. Unchecking this box may improve FPS and reduce memory requirements.
Scene Quality. Scene quality and viewing distance (see paragraph below) work together. Lower scene quality (left most slider position) increases rendering speed (FPS) by reducing computational burden. Conversely, selecting higher scene quality (right most position on slider) increases the calculation burden with some reduction in FPS. Setting both sliders about 80 percent to the right appears to work best on most machines.
Viewing Distance. This slider concentrates on the quality of the image of objects and other features that are placed on the digitized terrain map. With the slider to the left most position, the quality of distant objects is reduced with the positive benefit of slightly increasing frame rate. If the slider is moved to the right most position, object image quality is higher at longer distance, with some sacrifice in FPS. You may choose a point somewhere in between to balance image quality and frame rate. (We recommend 80 percent to the right.)
Texture Quality. You may select one of six levels of texture quality, ranging from crudest texture quality to best texture quality. Texture is the "paint" that is "sprayed" on objects to give them the appearance of what they are. The choice of lower quality texture maps may adversely affect appearance, increasing both flicker and FPS. With some accelerator cards, best texture quality may actually reduce image quality of tracks and other objects beyond a short distance. You must experiment to find which texture quality is best suited to your environment. Generally, Average Texture Quality works well.
Load Track File into Memory. The model generally works by reading track data from your hard drive (or CD) into memory. The program will occasionally pause if the buffer becomes empty and additional data has to be read from the hard drive or CD. Checking this box will cause the program to read the entire track file into memory. If there is insufficient memory to hold the track file, the program may not run, freeze your machine, or cause Windows to crash if it overwrites vital areas of memory. If you check this box and have trouble running the program, uncheck this box until memory needs are otherwise resolved.
Once you have set configuration settings best suited to your hardware, software, and personal tastes, you are now ready to enjoy TrainMasterTM at its best. If you are not getting a good frame rate of 20FPS or better, even after tinkering with your configuration, the problem is most likely limitations with your accelerator card. A slow graphics card can choke even the fastest Pentium. A 300 Mhz computer with a fast graphics accelerator card will out-perform a 950 Mhz computer with a slow graphics card.
OPERATING SCREEN
The top of the screen shows the train you are running and the track file over which you are operating. Immediately below this is the 3D graphics display. Separating the Controls and the 3D view is an Information Bar. This bar displays cumulative Overspeed Demerits, Helper Locomotive Status, cumulative Distance Run (from the point where the locomotive started the run), current Milepost (displayed one half-mile in advance of a milepost), the current Station (displayed one-half mile in advance of a station), upcoming Speed Limit board (about 1000 feet in advance of the board, which in turn is variably posted in advance of the speed limit itself), and cumulative Fuel Consumption, in gallons.
When the simulation starts, a pop-up profile of the line ahead is displayed. The train is a red line and is drawn to scale relative to the scale shown in the top bar of the pop-up display.
The profile window can be moved by grabbing the box (place the mouse arrow on colored top bar, hold down the left mouse button) and dragging it to a new location. You can also minimize the box or close it altogether by clicking on the appropriate box in the upper right corner of the pop-up window.
The software comes with a 90+ page manual explaining Whistle and Signal Rules and train handling techniques to improve your skills. It also includes descriptions of each route and train, and provides a variety of passenger and commuter timetables to challenge your operating skills.
The demo track file is a part of the actual Potash line in TrainMaster. When starting out, pay attention to the 20MPH speed limit. It does not increase to 60MPH until you are at about MP 0.5. There is also a speed limit of 35 MPH at MP 2.1, so you speed should be down to that level. You will be notified of the upcoming speed limit on the information bar which separates the controls and the 3D view.
You are climbing a fairly steep grade soon after you leave Potash, so your passenger train will work hard to get up to 60MPH. Your freight train will struggle on the grade even more.
We hope you enjoy the demo.
