Flight sim convert :)

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"Flight sim convert :)"

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insomnia (4 posts)
Apr-02-01, 11:11 PM (EST) "Flight sim convert :)" Hey. I'm an avid flightsim addict and to tell you the truth, I wasn't at all into trains until I heard about the MS Train Sim... At this point you can bet that I will be. Alert Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top
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Subject Author Message Date ID RE: Flight sim convert :) Nels_Anderson Apr-03-01 1 RE: Flight sim convert :) spets Apr-11-01 2 RE: Flight sim convert :) ianm42 Apr-12-01 3 RE: Flight sim convert :) GZR_Frenchy Apr-12-01 4 RE: Flight sim convert :) Nels_Anderson Apr-12-01 5 RE: Flight sim convert :) djaquay Apr-24-01 6

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Nels_Anderson (74 posts)
Apr-03-01, 10:34 AM (EST) 1. "RE: Flight sim convert :)" I think there will be a lot of flightsim converts A train-sim offers the same sort of challenge...getting a chance to try operating a large vehicle and do something you'd never get to do in the real world. And if you take it seriously it can be a real learning experience, just like flightsimming is. How many flightsimmers have learned to do things like IFR landings and other challenges? Pretty soon we'll have people picking up the same sort of railroading challenges. It's going to be fun.
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spets (12 posts)
Apr-11-01, 02:20 AM (EST) 2. "RE: Flight sim convert :)" I am a fligth-sim convert myself, but I still have a puzzling question. why go from a 3D enviroment of an airplane, (move up down left right accelerate slow down), to a, for all intents and purposes, a 1D enviroment? (go forward, go back). I find the logic escaping me. Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top
ianm42 (1 posts)
Apr-12-01, 05:56 AM (EST) 3. "RE: Flight sim convert :)" OK, fair enough, a train crew does not have much control over where they are headed, but there is much more to getting from one place to another than moving the throttle to and fro, particularly with a steam locomotive. The fire has to be carefully controlled to ensure you have plenty of steam pressure, and plenty of steam being produced to get you up to the top of a hill, without wasting too much through the safety valves when going downhill or standing at stations or signals. Waste too much water and you won't reach your destination. Waste too much coal and you get your pay docked. Run out of steam on a steep gradient with a heavy train and you might not be able to restart.The water level in the boiler it critical too. If the top of the firebox is not covered, your fire will burn through it, and if there is too much water, there is not room for a good volume of steam. And don't forget as you go up or down hill, the water level shifts between the front and the rear of the boiler.Also, heavy use of the brakes needs more steam to recreate the vacuum to pull the brakes off again. All this, plus blowers, drain cocks, shovelling 5 tons of coal and keeping an eye out for signals that you go past (no automatic warning systems, if you miss one, catastrophe could be around the next bend).Airline Pilot Training - 6 months
Top-Link locomotive driver apprenticeship - 20 years
'nuff said?Ian Morgan
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GZR_Frenchy (2 posts)
Apr-12-01, 01:41 PM (EST) 4. "RE: Flight sim convert :)" I agree with that completely. But, then I really like steam locomotion. Try to ride as many as possible -- read me as ----> "Steam RailFan."My favorite ride was "Cass Scenic Railway" in West Virginia. Rode right behind the engine. It was one of the larger Shays. Got cinders all over me.Should be fun to see what can be done with this Sim.GZR_Frenchy -- out. Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top
Nels_Anderson (74 posts)
Apr-12-01, 02:41 PM (EST) 5. "RE: Flight sim convert :)" It's also worth mentioning that controlling a diesel locomotive is not as easy as it looks either There's other challenges to deal with, such as dealing with dispatching and signals...sort of like how you have to deal with air traffic control when flying IFR. Switching is also a challenge, though perhaps more along the lines of puzzle solving.
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djaquay (9 posts)
Apr-24-01, 04:03 PM (EST) 6. "RE: Flight sim convert :)" For starters, the idea of moving and being in control of that much bulk at one time has a strong appeal to me. Can't wait to hang my head out of the cab and look back over my train. Also, I'm greatly looking forward to working in the train yard, making up the beasts and seeing them head out. Am very interested in seeing what MSTS has in store for us there. Same for locals, to be the one delivering the goods to the right place.I'll admit that until about a year ago, I was much more interested in the strategy side of railroad games/programs. I loved Railroad Tycoon, although I still feel it didn't go nearly far enough. (I'd love to write a more sophisticated version of it; maybe someday...) I never really wanted to bother with a driving sim, for the same reason you mentioned: front and back, how exciting.Then I got one of the freebies. A demo of Rail3d, I think. Getting the timing right to stop at the right spot at the station platform is quite a challenge. Paying attention to the signals is neat, too, and knowing when to stop and how fast to go. I got BVE and ran a few of the lines there, and (except for not having pause or save options) really enjoy it. That experience, plus the yard and local switching options that MSTS promises, have me anxiously awaiting its arrival. (Already ordered it from Amazon...)I've flown MSFS since version 2. I've gotten to several points where I said "okay, I know all there is to know about this sim, I'm bored, forget this". I was wrong, every time. There's always another level of realism that's possible w/MSFS, and I feel that'll be the case w/MSTS as well, like layers of an onion, always waiting to be pealed back.I can't wait.Regards,
Dave
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