Train Simulator Classic
A train simulation series with yearly updates since 2009.
Train Simulator Classic is a train simulation game developed by Dovetail Games, originally released as RailWorks and later as Train Simulator. It is the successor to Rail Simulator and was released online on 12 June 2009 and in stores on 3 July. The game is notable for being a Steamworks title, requiring Steam for activation and updates, and for its long-running series of yearly releases that adjusted the game's title to coincide with major updates.
Quick Facts
- Title
- Train Simulator Classic
- Developer
- Dovetail Games
- Producer
- Paul Jackson
- Platforms
- Microsoft Windows
- Released
- 12 June 2009
- Genre
- Vehicle simulation
- Modes
- Single-player
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Train Simulator Classic began as RailWorks, released in 2009. The first major update, RailWorks 2: Train Simulator, launched on Steam on 18 October 2010 under the name RailWorks 2, adding enhanced menus, the RS Cab Control driver interface, RS Career System scenarios, Steam Achievements, Steam Leaderboards, and level crossing animations. It included only one new route: TestTraK, based on the Wegberg-Wildenrath Test and Validation Centre in Germany. Owners of the original RailWorks received a free upgrade via Steam. RailWorks 3: Train Simulator 2012 followed on 23 September 2011, introducing a new user interface, the TSX game engine with multi-core and FXAA support, graphical improvements like extended draw distance, improved lighting and shadows, superelevation for curved tracks, and particle effects such as rain drops on windows. The base package contained nine routes, with the Horseshoe Curve route included for Steam or Deluxe Edition purchasers. Owners of RailWorks 2 received a free upgrade. The RailWorks branding was dropped with Train Simulator 2013, released on 20 September 2012 (Standard Edition) and 10 October 2012 (Deluxe Edition). It added Xbox 360 Controller support, Relay Play mode (removed in Train Simulator 2014), Quick Drive mode, Steam Workshop support for user-created scenarios, and updated routes like the Ruhr–Sieg Line. Subsequent yearly releases continued through Train Simulator 2022, with the current version being Train Simulator Classic 2024, released on 21 May 2024.
Reader's Guide
The significance of Train Simulator Classic lies in its long-running yearly release model, which kept the simulation updated with new features, routes, and locomotives delivered as paid downloadable content via Steam. Each major release brought incremental improvements: from the introduction of Steam Achievements and Leaderboards in RailWorks 2, to the TSX engine and graphical enhancements in RailWorks 3, to the addition of Steam Workshop and Quick Drive mode in Train Simulator 2013. The series also pioneered features like the 'Railfan' mode in Train Simulator 2016, allowing players to simply watch trains, and a 64-bit core in Train Simulator 2019 for better stability. The game's legacy is tied to its consistent support through free core technology upgrades for owners of previous versions, and its integration with Steam for community content and third-party payware. The series eventually rebranded to Train Simulator Classic in 2024, marking over a decade of continuous development.
Did You Know?
- Train Simulator 2013 added Xbox 360 Controller support and a Relay Play mode that was later removed in Train Simulator 2014.
- Train Simulator 2019 introduced a 64-bit core for improved memory usage and stability.
More in Simulation Games of the 2000s 1-20
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