User Guide

MICROSOFT TRAIN SIMULATOR ENGINEER’S HANDBOOK
OPERATIONS | 63
PASSENGER OPERATIONS
Passenger railroading is about safely moving passengers from one place to another in comfort and
on time. In the Train Simulator Passenger Activities, you operate one of seven different locomotives
on one of five different routes. There’s a big difference between steam, diesel, and electric trains,
and between landscapes in the U.S., Great Britain, Austria, and Japan. In terms of the operational
procedures you need to follow though, all Passenger Activities are quite similar.
Following the timetable
Passenger trains generally run according to a tight timetable (most freight trains don’t). In Train
Simulator, you’ll find the timetable in the Operations Notebook. In order to complete an Activity
successfully, you must stick to your timetable.
You can refer to the timetable at any time during an Activity. Just press F11 to bring up the
Operations Notebook, and then click the Timetable tab.
Instead of having to constantly refer to the complete timetable, you can also get the scheduled arrival
and departure time for the next scheduled station stop by referring to the Next Station Display driving
aid (press F10). The Next Station Display shows the distance to the next station. To learn more, see
the “Driving Aids” section of Chapter 4, Tools for Driving
Stopping at stations
As you approach a station, ring the engine bell (if your train has one) and dim your headlights (as a
courtesy to passengers on the platform). Slow down and try to stop with as many cars as possible
alongside the platform, to make it easy for passengers to get off and onto the train quickly. The ideal
stopping location depends on the size of your train; the locomotive may have to be stopped beyond
the platform.
After stopping, press the ENTER key to initiate the unloading/loading process. Based on how many
cars are next to the platform (the more the better) and the number of passengers who want to get
on and off the train, the projected “load time” appears on the Next Station Display. (Note that in
Train Simulator there are no people on the platform; the procedure just adds realism to the station
experience.) At the scheduled departure time (or as soon as all the passengers are loaded if you’re
running late), the conductor signals you to depart by sounding a whistle or a buzzer, or giving you
permission to proceed via radio. What you hear depends on which route you’re on. Never leave a
station before the conductor signals you to do so, or if the signal ahead is indicating Stop.
FREIGHT OPERATIONS
Freight railroading is about moving cargo loaded into freight cars from one place to another. In the
Train Simulator Freight Activities, you operate either a Dash 9 or GP38-2 diesel locomotive on the
Marias Pass route. In Road Activities, you haul trains along the Marias Pass main line. In Local