I've been following this since it was first featured on Rock Paper Shotgun's Flare Path back in August 2017, and bought it on itch.io a couple of weeks before it first appeared on Steam. Whilst not as pretty as its competitors, it is technically superior in almost every way. The big visual difference is the physics modelling of the suspension, with each individual component having been simulated, giving the vehicles a realistic sway when moving. Just as important is the modelling of the drive train: by building the simulator from the ground up, the author has been able to model the intricacies of first generation DMUs superbly, with the units featuring characteristics that their real-lifer counterparts where know for (such as creeping forward when the brakes were released and the engine idling in gear). The addition of a useful but unobtrusive tutorial is a bonus.

Sound wise, the units have a proper, throaty sound to them, with sampled high and low horn tones that a joy compared against other simulators. The two included routes (plus a demo route) are fictitious, but supply a varied and interesting range of services. Of note is the dynamic timetabling, wherein AI services can run late, causing knock-on delays to other services, meaning that the same service is never exactly the same twice.

That this has been developed mostly by one person is impressive. That they have already set out a road map for future development and appear to be delivering on it is doubly so. Even in its' current state, I believe that this simulator is worth the asking price, if you have any interest in train simulators or first generation British DMUs. Certainly worth your time, money and support.

I've been following this since it was first featured on [url=https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2017/08/04/the-flare-path-dawdles-and-drenches/]Rock Paper Shotgun's Flare Path[/url] back in August 2017, and bought it on itch.io a couple of weeks before it first appeared on Steam. Whilst not as pretty as its competitors, it is technically superior in almost every way. The big visual difference is the physics modelling of the suspension, with each individual component having been simulated, giving the vehicles a realistic sway when moving. Just as important is the modelling of the drive train: by building the simulator from the ground up, the author has been able to model the intricacies of first generation DMUs superbly, with the units featuring characteristics that their real-lifer counterparts where know for (such as creeping forward when the brakes were released and the engine idling in gear). The addition of a useful but unobtrusive tutorial is a bonus. Sound wise, the units have a proper, throaty sound to them, with sampled high and low horn tones that a joy compared against other simulators. The two included routes (plus a demo route) are fictitious, but supply a varied and interesting range of services. Of note is the dynamic timetabling, wherein AI services can run late, causing knock-on delays to other services, meaning that the same service is never exactly the same twice. That this has been developed mostly by one person is impressive. That they have already set out a road map for future development and appear to be delivering on it is doubly so. Even in its' current state, I believe that this simulator is worth the asking price, if you have any interest in train simulators or first generation British DMUs. Certainly worth your time, money and support.