In June 2001 Microsoft released Train Simulator, which immediately gained a huge fan base around the world. Almost immediately, I started doing “environments” for it, distributed free to the users (http://www.train-sim.com). I was one of thousands of people contributing add ons.
From the Cambrian Coast line, a commercial route of the train line on the western coast of Wales.
Environments in Microsoft Train Simulator comprise the sky and the sea, the sun, moon, rain, snow. Few people were doing development on environments, so that when I released the free add on “Kosmos” in Jan 2004, it was hugely successful, with over 15,000 downloads to date. It's become a generic tool in the MSTS toolbox.
From the Albula line, a free route add-on by Michael Vone. This train route depicts the incredibly engineered railways in a small section of the Swiss Alps. Michael was one of the people who first opened the internal intricacies of MS Train Sim to the users.
Rugged mountain railway on the Albula line.
A small Swiss town on the line.
In the incredible engineering of the spiral loop system of the train route.
At the north end of the 6 kilometer long Albula tunnel.
From the Seaview line, an incredible fantasy train route by Bill Burnett. Seaview, now in its fifth generation, is one of the masterpieces of the MS Train Sim community, contributed to by literally hundreds of people. I was honored when Bill chose my environment files, sky and water, as the default distributed versions. Seaview has been downloaded by upwards of 20,000 users around the world.
This is another shot from Bill Burnett's Seaview using one of my Stormy Weather environments.
From the Silverton line, by Charlie Leveritt. This train route depicts the actual narrow gauge line in southwestern Colorado between Durango and Silverton, which still operates today. The environment here featured an incredibly complex water texture, perhaps my best, and sadly never released.
Another shot of the Silverton line, with its great water. This is early morning, with the valley in shadow.
From the Red Arrow line by R.K. Bird, a train sim route featuring the Philadelphia interburban trolley system in the 1940's. This is a clear day on a winter evening.
Another shot on the Red Arrow line.
