Contents: January 2003

Train Simulation Craftsman Magazine™

Volume 2 Number 1

Title

Author

Description

Welcome

Brian Eckard

Brian introduces the current issue.

What Train Simulation Means to Me

Alfred Barten

Al kicks off an open forum. Readers are encouraged to contribute their thoughts.

Mass Central Interchange: A Layout You Can Build

Alfred Barten

Al describes a hypothetical layout based on the real-life Palmer, Massachusetts interchange crossing of the Central of Vermont and Boston & Albany railroads. The layout is designed for train sim operation.

Writing and Submitting Articles

Alfred Barten

Al gives tips and strategies for writing train sim articles. 

MSTS News

Brian Eckard

Brian covers the latest MSTS news.

Park Observation Car Part 2

Gaetan Belanger

Gaetan illustrates the technical concepts behind his 3D model.

German Railroad
Volume 2

Brian Eckard

Brian reviews this latest payware release for MSTS; includes slide show.

Mideast UK V1.0

Brian Eckard

Brian reviews Tim Court's Mideast UK route for MSTS; includes slide show.

How to Create Activities Part 2

Brian Eckard

Brian continues his series on creating activities for his BHRR route for MSTS.

Timesaver Route Free Play: Adding Realism

Alfred Barten

Al adds realism in the form of structure to the free play scheme developed in the last issue. The article is written around Ron Paludan's Timesaver Route for MSTS, but the concept applies as well to Trainz.

Dale Junction in MSTS
Part 2

Brian Eckard

Brian continues this series on building the Dale Junction route for MSTS.

The Far North Line

Brian Eckard

Brian reviews this great freeware MSTS route by Vern Moorhouse. The route represents ScotRail's line from Inverness north to Wick. A slide show is included.

Trainz News

Brian Eckard

Brian covers the latest Trainz news.

A Collaboration: NYO&W

Brian Eckard

Brian tells of the collaboration between Woodbridge Softworks and Trainz Assistance Community to build the New York, Ontario & Western route in Trainz. A slide show is included.

Houston Great American Train Show

Brian Eckard

Brian describes his weekend in Houston at the combined Trainz/Woodbridge booth.

Introducing TrainzProRoutes

Brian Eckard

Brian introduces TrainzProRoutes. Several members of TPR have joined our editorial board and will be contributing articles on a regular basis.

Prospector Lines for Trainz

Jeff Ritter

Jeff, a member of TPR and our editorial board, describes his imaginative Prospector Lines route for Trainz. This route features narrow and standard gauge lines working in consort in the Colorado mountains.

What Virtual Model Railroading Is

John Keenan

John describes the liberating effects of train simulation. John uses Trainz, but his observations apply to all train sims.

Basic Scenery Techniques on the Monon

Brian Eckard

Brian details his efforts to build scenery on his Monon route for Trainz; includes slide show.

Mixed Freight Line
Part 2

Brian Eckard

Brian continues work on his Centralia - Columbia, Missouri line for Trainz. He covers track adjustments for smoother running and adding scenery and operations. A slide show is included.

Saguenay Railway 1.2

Brian Eckard

Brian introduces the slide show of this impressive Trainz layout by MonsieurMax.

BVE News

Brian Eckard

Brian covers the latest BVE news.

Populating BVE Routes

Alfred Barten

Al tells how to make BVE people objects from photographs.

Heavy Coal

Brian Eckard

Brian describes a BVE classic route: Heavy Coal by Bruce Kennewell.