TrainMaster 4.0 is a Windows 95, 98, 2000,
ME based computer simulation model that realistically replicates
actual train handling and locomotive response on real North American
rail lines. 3D Out-the-cab view graphics and realistic sounds
provide a unique sense and feel of actually operating a train.
Against a moving panorama, scenery, speed restrictions, stations,
signals, and grade crossings appear. You, as engineer, must operate
the train and adhere to the operating rules, speed limits, and
signal indications. Derail the train, and you crash and burn.
If you run a red signal, your Engineer’s License is revoked
for all to see.
You can pan the moving scenery display – even look behind your train. You control the throttle, dynamic brake, train and engine brakes, horn, bell and sand. Time delays for air brakes to apply and release accurately reflect the characteristics of different trains. Braking forces realistically vary. Color spotlight signals represent those used by many railroads.
The cab-like lower screen displays a movable throttle, automatic, and independent brake handles; gauges for the train line, brake cylinder, and main reservoir air pressure; ammeter; speedometer; indicators for speed limits, location, distance traveled, fuel consumed, and acceleration. Realistic sounds replicate diesel engine noise, bell and horn.
Locomotive engineers have proclaimed the TrainMasterTM to be the most realistic PC-based retail simulator for replicating train operations and required actions by the operators.
The model includes most of the train characteristics
and features that replicate the actual response of the train being
operated over the line represented. It is the next best thing
to a commercial simulator or an actual train.
Leaving Potash (MP 37, elevation 3,952 feet), you head north, past the processing plant, with the Colorado River to your right and Utah route 279 in between. You follow the river as you head up Long Canyon with Amasa Back on your right and Jug Handle on your left. Passing several small canyons on the left you start to climb an average 1.1 percent grade and turn up Bootlegger Canyon to tunnel under Poison Spider Mesa. Coming out of the Bootlegger Tunnel, 7,068 feet long, you overlook Arches National Park on the far side of the canyon. From here to Brendel you will roughly parallel US 191. Shortly before Seven Mile (named for the Seven Mile Canyon) you crest the first summit (MP 23.2) and drop steeply to a small yard and one of the few grade crossings on this route, State route 313.
You again start a short 1.1 percent climb, passing Courthouse Rock to your left. After cresting the grade, you drop on about a 1 percent grade to Courthouse Wash on your right. Gradually, you climb up the wash, then Bartlett Wash, then Klondike Wash, ending up on a wide plain known as Klondike Flat. After passing under Route 191, you climb another summit (MP10.2) and drop down again. Your final 1.1 percent climb begins near MP5 and does not end until you turn on to the mainline at Brendel, having passed under I-70 and crossing the old highway (US 6/ US 50). The switch to the mainline is hand thrown with electric lock, which means you should stop, unlock it (wait five minutes), and throw it to line your movement. After your train clears the switch, you should again stop to allow a crew member time to re-line and lock the switch. Your run ends soon after leaving the branch, heading east on the former DRGW mainline.
What are the system requirements?
TrainMaster 4.0 is a very computational intensive program. It will run slowly on machines that do not have the following minimum hardware:
Other requirements include:
Though TM4 should run on laptops using Windows, their typical lack of graphics acceleration horsepower means that frame rates will be low, in the neighborhood of 1 to 9 frames per second. Because of display latency inherent in LCD (flat panel) screens, animation may start to appear fuzzy on LCD displays at frame rates above 18-20 frames per second.
The graphics accelerator card is most important. With a good card, you should get a frame rate of better than 20 frames per second (TV is 30 fps). On a 500 MHz machine with a graphics accelerator card containing a GeForce 256 accelerator chipset and 32 Megs of onboard memory, frame rates of 40 to 60 fps have been achieved.
In the last year, particularly the last six months, major improvements in graphics rendering have occurred. Most computers that are only 9-12 months old have an AGP graphics accelerator card included as standard equipment, for which you can expect frame rates for TM4 to range from 10 to 16 frames per second (fps). New machines purchased between June and October 2000 generally have newer version AGP cards with TM4 performance ranging from 16 to 30 fps. With the newest machines today, you can expect fps to range from 25-60, depending on the track file and particular card.
On computers that were new in 1999 or earlier, you can expect frame rates to vary from 5 to 15 fps, indicating that you may want to upgrade your video card with a new, "higher powered" card, costing from $125 to $300. Cards that use a PCI slot are not as fast as those that use an AGP slot (increasingly available on machines made since late 1999). Card display memory is also very important to maximizing frame rate (32-64MB is highly desirable). The fastest boards also use DDR (double data rate) display memory chips versus the slower SDR (single data rate) memory chips.
Though TrainMaster 4.0 will work with virtually any graphics card, it is designed to work best with newer cards. TM4 is fully positioned to take advantage of the power of new AGP hardware, as rapid advances in graphics processing speed continue to occur. We eagerly look forward to adding more trees, objects, and higher resolution objects as these advancements continue. The software itself is ready - only the files need to be updated.
It has been our experience that the nVidia graphics GeForce chipset performs best, though other chipset manufacturers are gaining ground. Many cards use this chipset, include those produced by Asus, Creative Labs, ELSA, nVidia and Hercules. The January 2, 2001 issue of PC Magazine featured a review of AGP graphics accelerator cards. You can download a summary of features and other information from them at www.pcmag.com.
What is the price and how do I order?
| Product |
|
| TrainMaster 4.0 |
$70 |
| Train Dispatcher 3 |
$45 |
|
Train Dispatcher 3 upgrade price (from Train Dispatcher 1 or 2) |
$30 |
| Track Builder 3 |
$55 |
|
Track Builder 3 upgrade price (from Track Builder 2) |
$35 |
| Train Dispatcher 2 Territories |
$5 |
| Train Dispatcher 3 Territories |
$7 |
| US Railroad Map Software |
$26 |
| Shipping Charges | |
| US residents - first item |
$4.00 |
| Non US residents - first item |
$6.00 |
| US & non US residents - each additional item |
$2.00 |
| PA residents add 7% sales tax on total purchase |
