Walter Wijnhoven

If you want to play with trains and you don’t have room for a model railway, a train simulation program (short for ‘trainsim’, from the English train simulation) is a nice alternative. “Train simmen is actually a kind of train game, but very realistic”, says Kees Plaat, a member of HCC for thirty years and trainsimmer since 2001. “You play as the driver in a virtual cabin of an existing train and drive on a track from station A. to station B. You have to stop at the stations and let the passengers get on and off. You have to pay attention to the signals, do not ignore red signals and of course drive on time. Just like it happens in real life.”

creative hobby
If you like trains, maybe have it as a hobby, or you used to have a model railroad, you can express your creativity with this hobby without getting your fingers dirty, says Kees. “You can simply drive a train, but you can also really make something. Almost all train sims have the option to build new routes and timetables themselves. In the game world they call that mud. This brings together a number of aspects that also occur in HCC as separate activities, such as programming, working with open source programs (GIMP, Blender, OBS, Shotcut), and operating systems.”

Favorite routes and trains
“I currently use train sims to be creative, but also to inform our members. For that I try out new train sims and write about them in our newsletter. In the last year I have spent a lot of time mastering Train Sim World 2, a modern train sim with new dimensions. Not only driving as a driver, but also really operating the train in more detail. I will limit myself to the routes and trains from Germany. In TS2022 I regularly drive the freeware routes from the Netherlands, in addition, my favorites are the routes and trains from Germany that are made by independent developers. For example, the Münster-Bremen Route Add-On and the Im Köblitzer Bergland Route Add-On.”

The operator’s starting point
The similarity between most train sims is the premise of the train driver. The differences between the programs can be divided into categories: open source, age and quality, content that can be transferred or not and being able to create or add it yourself. Kees explains: “Open Rails is open source and free to use, all other programs are paid publications of commercial companies. Trainz and Train Sim World 2 use modern techniques and are by far better graphically, although Open Rails is catching up. The other programs are technically outdated but contain a lot of content and will therefore still be used. The content is not transferable between the train sims, the exception is Open Rails. This usually means that if you choose a certain brand of train sim, you are bound by the content that is made for that train sim. In all train sims except Train Sim World 2 it is possible to create things yourself such as a new route. Custom content can also be added, as we have done with our add-ons.”

Special Add-ons
HCC!trainsim brings regularly add-ons (extensions) out, usually routes for one of the programs supported by the IG. The variation in add-ons within and between the train sims is great and there is ‘something for everyone’. Kees: “Besides the train simmers of HCC, there are more people in the country with the same hobby, they are (unfortunately) not organized. Some make them for free, others make some extra money with paid add-ons. Till the freeware we calculate realistically recreated railway routes in the Netherlands. As an example, the route Utrecht CS–Den Bosch–Eindhoven CS has been recreated. You can also virtually drive the route Almelo–Deventer–Apeldoorn/Zutphen. Those who use the paid add-ons from ChrisTrains and Dutch Classic can travel on these routes with modern or classic trains. You do not need to be an HCC member to purchase an add-on from us. Only the USB versions of the Berkendam-2 route and the Koningslijn route are (still) available.”

The Royal Line
The HCC!trainsim Development Team has been working on it for a long time: the Koningslijn, also known as the ‘VSM route’. The railway line from Apeldoorn to Dieren, nowadays the almost exclusive domain of the Veluwsche Stoomtrein Maatschappij, which operates museum services. The route leads through a mix of urban, village and very rural and wooded surroundings and has many places where the driver’s attention is required. Such as barrier-free crossings, places where the steam whistle has to be operated, ramps, and many more challenges await the virtual driver. The Development Team, together with other stakeholders, spent many hundreds of hours collecting information about the route, building the route and decoration, testing and developing the security system. The route is therefore not freeware and is delivered against payment (without profit motive). HCC members pay €25.00 for the USB version, non-HCC members €27.50.

HCC!trainsim shows itself
The Koningslijn is an example with which the IG likes to present itself as an active club. In addition to the periodic club days, this also happens with a newsletter and an up-to-date website. The TrainSimNieuws Newsletter is published 9 times a year (one week before a club day) and includes an activity calendar and buying and user tips. The website contains a FAQ (list of frequently asked questions), of course including answers. Downloads are also available for routes, trains, route building objects, updates from the development team and Dutch manuals. The current overview of the system requirements for train sims is handy, which is available as a PDF. The helpdesk will answer all your questions about the train simulation programs and applications. The helpdesk alone is a good reason to become a member of HCC!trainsim, because the expert ‘helpdeskers’ only help members.

Club days
Monthly (9x a year) you can see HCC!trainsim live at work during the club days in the neighborhood center De Schalm, Oranjelaan 10 in De Meern. Usually on the first Saturday of the month from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Introductions are also welcome. There is ample free parking and the location is well served by public transport. True enthusiasts come by train, of course, via Utrecht Terwijde station. The club day is a convivial gathering of members who exchange information with each other and are engaged in the train simulation hobby. There is a regular presentation on a train(sim) related topic. The development team is on hand for support and information about its projects. There are themed afternoons and there is a reading table with current magazines. Feel free to bring your PC/laptop/USB stick/external drive. The next club day is on September 10, 2022, check the website for the program and current information.

HCC!trainsim in the country
Besides in De Meern, HCC!trainsim also likes to be present at (model) railway events such as the Eurospoor model train fair and the Model train Expo On traXS! of the Railway Museum. This is often done together with HCC!m (model building automation). Many of these types of activities have been canceled for two years because of corona, but are slowly but surely starting again. If there is no hitch (or catenary), HCC!trainsim can also be visited again in the first weekend of September at the Veluwsche Stoomtrein Maatschappij (VSM) in Beekbergen during the ‘Back to Then’ manifestation on 3 and 4 September. 2022.

Management
Organizing all activities takes a lot of (administrative) power. The board of HCC!trainsim currently consists of four members: Gerrit Soede (chairman), Kees Plaat (secretary; internal and external communication), René ‘t Hooft (treasurer; management of dispatch house, event coordinator, visitor registration) and Raymond Kalousdian (board member ; development team coordinator, helpdesk coordinator). “We strive for a board of five members, after all: many hands make light work”, Kees knows from experience. “That also gives us more options for expanding future activities. Since I think (that’s how I was raised a bit) that in a club you should not only ‘take’ but also ‘give’, I decided to join the board.”

Trends
Finally, together with ‘virtual driver’ Kees, we take a look at the trends in the world of train sim programs. “A trend is for train sims to use familiar game engines as Unreal and Unity. Such as Train Sim World 2 and SimRail. No longer just driving, but also really operating the train and graphically superior. The use of these game engines also makes it easier to play train sims on a game console. Perhaps more use of virtual reality. As mobile devices become more and more powerful, the train apps will evolve into more real train sims on the smartphone or tablet, such as the Trainz version Trainz Simulator 3. A game studio in Poland has announced a completely new train sim for this year: SimRail. And the latest version of Trainz (Trainz Railroad Simulator 2022) has a much improved editor.” Finally, a nice piece of news: the new version of Railworks under the name Train Simulator 2022 (TS2022), contains a release by developer ChrisTrains of the brand new intercity that is currently still in test operation at the NS. All aboard!