Trainz
Australian train simulator series with user-created content and dual gameplay modes.
Trainz is a long-running series of 3D train simulation games developed by the Australian company N3V Games, which was originally known as Auran. The first game in the series came out in October 2001. Each release lets players run trains in realistic or fictional settings (called Driver mode) and also build their own custom maps (called Surveyor mode). The games include a large library of real-world rolling stock that users can drive on their own routes. A key feature is the support for content made by players—such as trains, scenery, and maps—which first appeared in version 1.1.1 but was not officially supported until the *Ultimate Trainz Collection*.
**Gameplay**
In Surveyor, the route editor, players can shape the terrain, apply ground textures, lay tracks, and place buildings and roads. In Driver mode, they can operate trains freely or follow a pre-set scenario known as a Driver Session (called Scenarios in early versions like *Trainz*, *Ultimate Trainz Collection*, and *TRS2004*). These sessions range from beginner to expert difficulty. CAB mode offers more advanced train physics than DCC mode, including realistic effects like wheel slip and how the weight of a train affects acceleration and braking. Players can also set any train to be driven automatically by the computer.
**Other Software**
The games are supported by a large library of freeware assets available for download from N3V’s servers, called the Download Station (DLS). Download speeds on the DLS—both through the Content Manager and via FTP on the Trainz website—are limited unless users pay for a First Class Ticket. PaintShed is a simple program that helps players “reskin” train cars by recoloring them and adding new logos. The Content Manager (CM) is a Windows tool for managing the game’s database files; in *TRS2006* it was renamed Content Manager Plus (CMP). Trainz rolling stock was also used in a Microsoft Train Simulator expansion called the “Regional Add-On Pack,” which let players drive Trainz locomotives in MSTS maps. Some locomotives in that pack had not appeared in Trainz before, such as an ATSF Dash 9, a UP DD40AX, and a Penn Central GG1. Another add-on, “MSTS Paintshed,” was a reskinned version of Trainz’s PaintShed, allowing users to create reskins of the same templates and export them to MSTS. Both add-ons were made by N3V (then Auran).
Quick Facts
- Title
- Trainz
- Developer
- N3V Games (formerly Auran)
- First Release Date
- October 2001
- Latest Release Version
- Trainz World Tour XBOX
- Latest Release Date
- 2025
- Platforms
- Microsoft Windows, MacOS, iPad, Android, iPhone
- Genre
- Train simulation
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The first version of Trainz began as downloadable files in 2000, becoming Trainz 0.9, a CD-ROM beta mailed to testers by Auran. The beta cover featured a SBB Ce 6/8 II 'Krokodil' locomotive, which later became an official addon. Microsoft Train Simulator released roughly one year after the beta, and both games became fierce competitors. As a rebuttal to MSTS's GE Dash 9-44CW, Auran created their own version for Trainz, but it and many other 3D models went unused in the final release. Trainz Community Edition was released in December 2001, with service packs updating it to versions 1.1, 1.2, and 1.3. The Ultimate Trainz Collection (UTC), also known as Trainz 1.5, was released on 26 November 2002 as a 3-CD set, the first to include PaintShed and support for RailDriver, and the first to incorporate user-developed freeware content. TRS2004, released in September 2003, introduced interactive industries and loadable rolling stock, and was the first version with built-in steam engines. TRS2006, released in September 2005, introduced Content Manager Plus (CMP) and was the last version to include PaintShed.
Reader's Guide
The Trainz series is significant for its early and robust support of user-generated content, which became a defining feature of the franchise. The ability to use custom content was introduced in Trainz 1.1.1 and officially implemented in the Ultimate Trainz Collection, setting a precedent for community-driven expansion. The series' two core modes—Surveyor for map creation and Driver for operation—allowed players to both build and experience railways. TRS2004's addition of interactive industries and dynamic loading added depth to gameplay, while TRS2006's Content Manager Plus streamlined asset management. The series also saw cross-compatibility with Microsoft Train Simulator through the 'Regional Add-On Pack' and 'MSTS Paintshed', both created by N3V. The Download Station provided a large library of freeware assets, though download speeds were throttled without a paid First Class Ticket. The series' legacy includes its influence on train simulation and its sustained support for user creativity.
Did You Know?
- The first Trainz beta, Trainz 0.9, was mailed to testers on CD-ROM and featured a SBB Ce 6/8 II 'Krokodil' locomotive on its cover.
- Trainz rolling stock assets were used in a Microsoft Train Simulator expansion pack called the 'Regional Add-On Pack'.
- TRS2004 was the first version of Trainz to include built-in steam engines.
- TRS2006 was the last version to incorporate PaintShed, which was later outmoded by third-party programs.
More in Video Games of the 2000s, Part 2 1-24
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