train sims!

[JamesM]

Are there any train sim fans here?
If so, do you use Railworks, Trainz, or something else?
~what about flight sims, boat sims, farm sim 2010?
~any sim people here?

[BigBearSteve]

Microsoft Train Simulator, is the only one I've tried.

[alstonj1]

can tell you for a fact if you've spent 10 min with microsoft train simulator and have a decent 1/4 flat screwdriver you could take our brand new trains for a joy ride with no problem ...

[owennewton]

can tell you for a fact if you've spent 10 min with microsoft train simulator and have a decent 1/4 flat screwdriver you could take our brand new trains for a joy ride with no problem ...

I like MS train myself and I don't need the screwdriver, I ended up with a set of keys from the Willamette&Pacific Railroad a few years ago. Some kid was walking around with them and was asking $20 for them saying he found them in a switch, he took me there and flipped the switch then went over to the derailer and put it on the track. I said I only had $5 so we made a deal, he left, I switched things back where they should be and got the heck out of there. The keys went onto my jailers ring with my collection (including a key for a back loader and a road grater) and a month or so later I saw all the locks on all the switches on the main line had been replaced. Around 3 years after that I was chatting with someone that worked for that line at the time and asked about it and she said she remembered very well her coworker that lost his keys and job.

[BigBearSteve]

Is the Willamette & Pacific RR, still around?

[alstonj1]

well ive voiced my concerns about the safety of these new cars but im sure its gone on deaf ears . all ready had one kid killed on the roof of one of them (electrocuted by pantograph) just a matter of time till they get inside and figure out how to start one .

[owennewton]

Is the Willamette & Pacific RR, still around?

yes, as well as her sister line Portland & Western, they are owned by a company back east that runs 12 or 13 short lines

[BigBearSteve]

yes, as well as her sister line Portland & Western, they are owned by a company back east that runs 12 or 13 short lines

I thought with all the mergers, that short lines had all but dissappeared.

I was always a SP fan, then they took over D&RGW and I thought that was Cool (I liked them both), then SP got eaten up by UP.

And then BN & SF, the list goes on and on.

I think my favorite railfan time was around 2000, when all the merging companies had not yet painted all the rolling stock in their parent companys colors.

With leasing and mergers, you could see all kinds of different companies locomotives on the rails. (Norfolk Southern, Conrail, even Canadian National )

[alstonj1]

I know what you mean still not use to seeing southern engines up here in p.a.

[owennewton]

WPRR has around 60 miles (i think) of old Southern Pacific branch line from Hillsboro to Mcminnville (home base) and a bit south and mostly runs scrap metal to the steel mill in town here. PWRR runs on another SP branch and I think they may have some old UP right of way in Portland