User Guide

MICROSOFT TRAIN SIMULATOR ENGINEER’S HANDBOOK
THE ACTIVITIES | 72
BEFORE THE ACTIVITY BEGINS
After choosing an Activity and clicking the Start button on the Route & Activity selection screen,
you’ll see the train from the locomotive’s cab, with the simulation paused. The Operations Notebook
is also displayed.
As an engineer, it’s your responsibility to become familiar with the details of the assignment you’re
about to undertake. Take some time to study the contents of the Operations Notebook’s six tabs
(Key Commands, Briefing, Timetable, Work Order, Procedures, Evaluation).
Before you start driving
1. Read your briefing.
2. Review your timetable and work order.
3. Review the locomotive operating procedures and keyboard commands.
When you’ve collected your thoughts and are ready to start the run, close the Operations Notebook
and you’re ready to go!
To learn more about the Operations Notebook, see Chapter 4, Tools for Driving.
DURING THE ACTIVITY
Once underway, you’ll have your hands full. Operating a train is more challenging than most people
realize. To learn the tricks of the trade, be sure to familiarize yourself with this
Engineer’s Handbook ,
complete the interactive Tutorials, and look at the topics in the onscreen Help (press F1).
What you’re evaluated on
As you drive from station to station or complete a work order, you’ll be evaluated in four areas:
Operations
You must avoid doing things that compromise safety or your ability to complete the Activity. If
you commit a major error like passing a Stop signal without permission, breaking a coupler, or
derailing, the Activity ends immediately. Smaller mistakes are simply logged and presented as part
of your Activity Evaluation. For more information, see the onscreen Help (press F1) and individual
Activity briefings.
Timetable/Work order
Every Activity has a timetable and/or a work order that is displayed in the Operations Notebook. A
timetable is a schedule for the run and you must stop at all the stations listed. If you fail to make
a scheduled stop, arrive late, or depart early, each error is logged. A work order is a list of tasks
to complete, such as picking up or dropping off cars, delivering a consist of freight cars, or
rescuing a crippled passenger train. If you fail to complete all the tasks in a work order, each
error is logged.