Fanstock Report Or Can A Confirmed Flightsimmer Be Converted To Train-Sim?

Fanstock Report
Or Can A Confirmed Flightsimmer Be Converted To Train-Sim?

Peter James attending Fanstock 2001 to check out Microsoft Flight Simulator 2002...but couldn't help getting hooked on Microsoft Train Simulator too...

So there I was, sittin' in the cab of the big, powerful diesel freight locomotive. Not knowing what to do. Luckily, an expert was sittin' behind me. All around me, switches, knobs and levers. First, he threw this "reverser" thing into neutral position or something like that. Then he released all six, count'em six brakes.

PPPPPPSSSSSSSSSSSSSsssssssssssssss in my ears was almost deafening. I took a gander at the outside viewpoints. The tall Teton forest was all around. A switch lay ahead, with a road crossing too. I admired the long load I had behind me, panning all around to catch the glory. Away from the engine, I could hear the birds chirp, against the background of the tall Tetons against the deep blue sky. Back in the cab it was time for business. We clicked the throttle into the first detent.

Wwwwwwwaaaaaaaawwwwwwaaaaaaaa the engine behind growled to life. There was a clunk, a clank, and a clump. The cab shook a bit. Another clunk, clank and clump. Only closer together. The speedometer showed 10! Wow! I was going 10 mph with a massive load o' cars behind me. Now, almost 15 mph. I could see us tilt and sway over the switch that disappeared underneath my view. Clack, clack, clump, clump, thump, thump, cuuuuchunk! From the outside viewpoint near the crossing here we came. Some smoke pouring out of the top of the engine as we powered up some more. Then he hit the spacebar. My ears were filled with the echoey sound of a massive air horn blasting the silence out of the valley. Scouring to life the sleeping birds, enough to wake up any lazy tourists crossing the road. Blasting away the horn in spot view was a magical effect of stereo. Now, the [b] key. Clang, clang, clang, clang, clang, clang, clang, clang, clang...And then some other key to turn on the pulsing "landing lights". Wow. I marveled from this view as our entire lumbering hulk came plowing past at 20 mph.

Back inside, I was hushed by the sound of that roaring engine, the clackety clacks from outside and the fact that I was now in command of this massive machine, on its way to complete a 200 mile journey over scenery that fills the eyes with sharply decorated landscapes, buildings, train stations, crossing grades, switch yards, bridges and much, much more. Ooooohhhhhh, what a view! For the next 5 minutes we trundeled along, shaking, clanking and groping our way down a straight and slightly winding piece of track. Up ahead, I kept my eyes open for deer, moose or even Grizzly Bears. Would there be any? I dunno. I have heard rumors. But, sadly it was time to "go". Someone else wanted to try. Drat. I guess Microsoft had built this for millions, not just me. So, we throw the throttle thing into reverse for engine power to stop us. Like a low gear in a car maybe. Then applied the forward three brakes I think.

SssssppppppppSSSSSSSSTTTTTTTTTT in my ears again. We slowly wound down, clanking, and clunking to a peaceful stop. Wow! What a trip! My first mile of Microsoft Train-Sim was a blast, literally! What would the next 199 miles have in store? I could hardly wait!

Now, it was time for a different era. One which I am far too young for. There I was perched high on a hillside, overlooking the authentic Austrian village station. And next to the station was steam rising from the outlets of the Orient Express! Wow. A real life steamer at the station. We got up close for a looksie. She was beautiful. Steam pouring out, wheels lookin' ready for action. Inside, I was tamed to the fine music of a European pianist in action. In the parlor car, we looked around at the fine furnishings, thinking this is way too expensive for goobers like us. Why there was even a lit cigar smoldering in an ash tray. Maybe my dad was here :-) Now, inside the hot engine cab was an array of gauges, real "steam gauges" for you other pilots reading this - nothing close to what we make fun of in a 737 jetliner!

Time for action. Oh, but my favorite view is out the cab window where you have to "lean" out to see what's ahead. You can see the steam pouring out from this view, under the catwalk. My trusty pilot threw a million switches on the keyboard and then more steam exploding outward, and a big CLANK, and a clankclunk, and a clankclunkcuuuchunk, and another, and a another. Jolting, shaking and in a cloud of steam and smoke pouring past the window, we were off and running. A view from the trackside stand was stunning. A massive cloud of steam and smoke rising from the sides and top of the machine. You could hear her puffing as she gained speed. Maybe 5 mph now. A hit of the spacebar key filled the valley with the shrill cry of a European steam locomotive. Not like a big sound, but more a wimpy bird call or something. I loved it anyway. It was real. It was the sounds of the Orient Express! I quivered thinking of the terrain and views she would encounter on the journey that lay ahead. Unfortunately my story ends here. I will have to wait like the rest of you to complete the adventure. Time was up, and we had to go. Enough of a good thing I guess.

Throughout my Train-Sim hands-on time, I noticed once again, no pausing, stutters, nor frame rates that were less than fluid. Because it was a first time look, and a simulation never made before at this level, in some ways I was even MORE excited about this, than I was at the sights of FS2002. It's also coming out sooner, so the excitement is at a higher level.

The scenery, details around you, and of course, the train modeling is a sight to behold. I can see myself spending hours of nerve calming, relaxing rail time. Or perhaps while working on computer number two, computer number one will be my view of a virtual vacation. All the time I spend flying around the world in airplanes on autopilot, will now be joined by time glancing out the cab of a locomotive, as I get to see the real world along the tracks in these exciting locations. Why, you can even fly to Innsbruck in flightsim, and then take the family on a train journey on the Orient Express! My gosh, what a weekend! And, for the price of a movie and popcorn!

I hear a whistle blowing...in my head.

Peter James
peter@flightsim.com

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