The U.S. focus

[Leaf85]

Vern, I think there are steam locos (at least there were back in the 70's) on display at the Science and Technology Museum in Ottawa.

Kind regards,
Dave

[VernonDozier]

Vern, I think there are steam locos (at least there were back in the 70's) on display at the Science and Technology Museum in Ottawa.

Kind regards,
Dave

Yeah locked away in a museum. Where are the running steal locos?

[lateagain]

With respect to the two moderator warnings.... Why bother? The poster is obviously in a minority and whilst he has the right to focus his own interest, is IMO deluding himself if he thinks he's speaking for the vast majority. Does he realise how international MSTS support is?! Many are put off RW because as yet it hasn't spread it's tracks wide enough internationally?

briyeo1950' s post requesting more info on US routes (I've a great starter site link to add later) and Matt (Supertux) ...as well as MATT (The boss - Neutronics) comments sum it up don't they?

I was NEVER a train spotter. I was obsessed with aircraft rather than trains. When MSTS was released it awakened an interest in railways and ever since I've become a huge railfan. Spent hundreds of pounds on books and a good few quid on MSTS and a few RW add-ons. Actually most of my purchases for RW have been US ones! I've managed to take in visits to railroads on my few holidays in the States and just got back from a holiday in Spain touring on the FEVE system. Now that would make an add-on!

OK not everyone can do that for real ....but the whole point of simulators is that you can do what would be impossible to most in many fields? Open your mind and soul Jimmyshand You're really losing out! With simulators you can travel through history AND geography in trains and planes.

To quote a line from "Field of Dreams" ......"if you build it they will come..."

briyeo1950' s question... I've so many links ....but you have Google and a bit of surfing brings them tumbling in? Start here though. A magnificent site!
http://www.rr-fallenflags.org/

Also a cheap (and huge book) that is IMHO THE best starter for anyone wanting to learn about railroading is "The Complete Book of North American Railroading [Illustrated] [Hardcover] " available from Amazon Uk for £15-£17. Astounding value for a book as well put together as this. Also check out http://www.motorbooks.co.uk/index.asp?xcat=RAILWAY who have excellent and reasonable priced titles including one on US passenger trains, US freight trains and a few on the "Golden Era" of steamliners.

I love ALL railways but living in the UK we have endless access to books and videos and web sites on Railroading.

BTW check out SPV (Steam Powered Video) who specialise in importing US books and DVDs. Some of the older US stuff which was shot by railfans on 16mm "back in the day" is amongst my favourite footage.

UK the only country with railfans? "You're having a laugh aren't you?"

Geoff

PS styckx, chill out you're amongst friends

[USRailFan]

Yeah locked away in a museum. Where are the running steal locos?

My guess would be: Out on the tracks (when they're not pendind maintenance or funding, of course).

[jimmyshand]

I apologise if I've come across a bit militant and feisty! That was not my intention, I just had a few alarm bells ringing at the direction RSC seemed to be going recently but I do hope they remain primarily UK focused because I strongly believe that's where the big market for Railworks is. You Canadian guys wouldn't believe it if you came over here, I'm not kidding we have several dozen preserved heritage railways all over the country. I would say you can't go more than 50 miles in any direction without passing one. These places are magic, living museums painstakingly preserved in historic condition running hundreds of working steam locos of all types as well as all types of classic diesels. Then there's our mainline, you can travel anywhere in the country any time of day. We have hundreds of trains running up and down the length and breadth of the country all day every day. I live in a fairly remote corner of the country but there are still intercity trains running up and down from here every 30 minutes or so. Trains are a way of life here and you can literally access any inch of the country by rail at any time on any day.

[briyeo1950]

Thanks for the link Geoff , I had several US sites bookmarked on my old computer but lost them all, I do remember the one you have linked to now you mention it. I have been on a google for US archive steam but not found anything special yet. I will have to have another try

Is there really anywhere else in the world quite like Britain for railway enthusiasts though?

[cilldroichid]

OK not everyone can do that for real ....but the whole point of simulators is that you can do what would be impossible to most in many fields? Open your mind and soul Jimmyshand You're really losing out! With simulators you can travel through history AND geography in trains and planes.

+100

Isn't that the whole point of simulators. I would love to see more of a variety of Countries represented in RW such as Russian, Japanese, Brazilian, etc, routes you know places that i'm highly unlikely to see in real life.

[jimmyshand]

With respect to the two moderator warnings.... Why bother? The poster is obviously in a minority and whilst he has the right to focus his own interest, is IMO deluding himself if he thinks he's speaking for the vast majority. Does he realise how international MSTS support is?! Many are put off RW because as yet it hasn't spread it's tracks wide enough internationally?

briyeo1950' s post requesting more info on US routes (I've a great starter site link to add later) and Matt (Supertux) ...as well as MATT (The boss - Neutronics) comments sum it up don't they?

I was NEVER a train spotter. I was obsessed with aircraft rather than trains. When MSTS was released it awakened an interest in railways and ever since I've become a huge railfan. Spent hundreds of pounds on books and a good few quid on MSTS and a few RW add-ons. Actually most of my purchases for RW have been US ones! I've managed to take in visits to railroads on my few holidays in the States and just got back from a holiday in Spain touring on the FEVE system. Now that would make an add-on!

OK not everyone can do that for real ....but the whole point of simulators is that you can do what would be impossible to most in many fields? Open your mind and soul Jimmyshand You're really losing out! With simulators you can travel through history AND geography in trains and planes.

To quote a line from "Field of Dreams" ......"if you build it they will come..."

briyeo1950' s question... I've so many links ....but you have Google and a bit of surfing brings them tumbling in? Start here though. A magnificent site!
http://www.rr-fallenflags.org/

Also a cheap (and huge book) that is IMHO THE best starter for anyone wanting to learn about railroading is "The Complete Book of North American Railroading [Illustrated] [Hardcover] " available from Amazon Uk for £15-£17. Astounding value for a book as well put together as this. Also check out http://www.motorbooks.co.uk/index.asp?xcat=RAILWAY who have excellent and reasonable priced titles including one on US passenger trains, US freight trains and a few on the "Golden Era" of steamliners.

I love ALL railways but living in the UK we have endless access to books and videos and web sites on Railroading.

BTW check out SPV (Steam Powered Video) who specialise in importing US books and DVDs. Some of the older US stuff which was shot by railfans on 16mm "back in the day" is amongst my favourite footage.

UK the only country with railfans? "You're having a laugh aren't you?"

Geoff

PS styckx, chill out you're amongst friends

You're very quick to judge aren't you? I've used many simulators over the years for the very reasons you quote, the chance to have a go at things you ordinarily wouldn't. I was only a 'spotter' as a child, I lost interest in railways for many years until MSTS was released actually which re-awakened my interest. I've also done things in the real world that would surprise many, I'm a part-trained pilot having completed many lessons before my cash ran out! I was also in 2 military forces, the army and the Navy and was a trained helicopter winchman as well as a powerboat coxswain serving in an anti-terrorist unit in Northern Ireland.

Don't be so quick to judge.

In later life I've gone full circle and my interest in railways has strengthened like it did as a kid. This was primarily by MSTS and later RW regenerating a nostalgic lost era through the recreation of UK loco's and routes of the past. Gradually my interest in other sims has faded and now my PC is solely used for RW.

[VernonDozier]

Yeah locked away in a museum. Where are the running steal locos?

My guess would be: Out on the tracks (when they're not pendind maintenance or funding, of course).

Funding is something they'll never get. the Canadian Air and Space museum was recently evicted from their facility. They house the replica of the AVRO arrow. Who knows what the fate of that will be.

[ChrisBarnes]

May I suggest to everyone that you pick up the book Locomotives: A complete history of the world's great locomotives and fabulous train journeys by Collin Garratt and Max Wade-matthews, ISBN-13:978-0-7548-1657-7, published by Lorenz Books. It's an excellent summary, basically of the locomotives all over the world, from the birth of the railway to present day, and lists 100s of amazing rail journeys in Canada, USA, Mexico, South America, Ireland, UK, Mainland Europe, North Africa, South Africa, The Middle East, Russia, Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka, North Korea, China, Japan, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Australia and last, but not least, New Zealand. Phew! So yes, there is no doubt a little something for any enthusiast from any part of the world, and it gives a valuable cultural insight into rail operation and rail heritage of the various different countries. Believe me, you can tell the American, Canadian and German enthusiasts, a few that spring to mind, are very passionate about railway heritage, in some ways more so than the UK and in other ways less so. I tend to flick through the 512 pages, glance at the thousands of colour photos, pause and read abit about one that particularly interests me, and bang, something new stored in the grey matter. Granted, you wont find anything very specific, so for example there is one picture of 4468 Mallard with a short caption and to be honest I don't know how accurate or even representative it is, but it gives you the wider view of the international railway movement. If everyone borrows this from the library, or buys it from Waterstones, Amazon etc, everyone on this forum would appreciate just how beautiful the world-wide variety in railways truly is, and then everyone would welcome something new and exotic for a change of their usual preferance. Of course, I'm biased to UK railways and nothing will ever change that, but I wouldn't mind some Wild Westerns, SAR, Canada's Vancouver to Squamish complete with preserved Royal Hudson no. 2860 providing the tourist trains through the beautiful mountains. Harz, anyone? The Soller Railway in Majorca? Puffing Billy railway in Aus? Cape Town to Pretoria with the Blue Train? Need I continue?

So, in short, as long as I get a little dose of UK every year (until there are no more classes and routes left to build!), then I welcome RSC's decision to have a wander around the Earth and bring us something new and, most importantly, beautiful.

Regards
Chris

[briyeo1950]

My Google search just paid off, found a very nice website.

http://www.railarchive.net/index.html

Must start nagging RSC for one of these

[hoytt]

Yeah locked away in a museum. Where are the running steal locos?

My guess would be: Out on the tracks (when they're not pendind maintenance or funding, of course).

When I was in Canada this summer (Rockies and Montreal - Toronto area) I didn't see any running steam locos, but I did see some of the most beautiful scenery I'd ever seen. If someone ever makes the Canmore to Revelstoke route over the Kicking Horse Pass and Rogers Pass, I'd buy it yesterday. I promised myself I'll go back some time and just waste three weeks spotting at some of the locations along the track.

I always thought that being a railway enthusiastic meant that you might prefer some trains over others, but in the end you'd still look at a train and say "Heck yeah, awesome". A german BR 01.10 doing 120 km/h, a Swiss narrow gauge crocodile (RhB), a modern Talent DMU and a three SD70s with more than a mile of freight coming down Kicking Horse Pass at 10 miles/hour are all quite different. But in the end, I'm a railway fan, so they're all awesome in their own way.

I'd love to see some continental European routes and we'll see what 2012 will bring, but in the end every new piece for RW3 means stuff gets added and the game improves. And as long as RW3 keeps improving I'm happy.

[paulz6]

Two moderator warnings! I love it. Got too add my 2p worth.
If Woodhead is this year, then it has been rushed.

[nobkins]

Let me give you a little insight to how some of these posts are making me feel right now.

ARRRGGHHHHHH!

Now that I have that out of my system let me just say the following:

If Woodhead is this year, then it has been rushed.

You can't say this unless you know how many people are working on it and how many hours they put in and what their productivity level is. That statement is just wrong.

@jimmyshand you have a PM

Thread will now stay locked. If you don't like it send me a PM but your argument better be pretty darn good!

[nobkins]

I am unlocking the topic as there has been enough time for people to calm down and on reflection the top had some very good conversations going on and only a few were getting carried away.

Please respect each others opinions. Have your say. Let others have theirs and then move the thread forward rather than getting bogged down in endless infuriating loops.

Thanks

Jim