UKTrainSim.com

UKTrainSim.com is a website for downloading addons for Microsoft Train Simulator and Rail Simulator. It was launched on 13 August 2001, just shortly after Microsoft Train Simulator was released. The site also have a small selection of addons such as Trainz and other simulators which tend not to be popular. UKTrainSim is very familiar with many commercial MSTS add-on sites including Europeanbahn and Making Tracks, and always has kept in competition with train-sim.com and other add-on sites.

Registration
There are two types of registration available to download files, a Premium Account which gives unlimited Account, and a Free-Registration which offers a more restricted download system.

A Premium Accounts, available for a monthly or yearly fee, feature 24/7 unlimited downloads and faster transfer speeds within the download areas and lacks the queue system used in the free account. A Free Account on the other hand uses a queuing system, and at peak times, particularly during the weekends, queue can reach up to around 50 downloads. Download speed is capped at 5Kb/sec. The free-account user can only download one at a time and must wait their turn in a queue.

Available Addons
A huge number of addons are available at UKTrainSim for a number of simulators.

Microsoft Train Simulator (MSTS)
Microsoft Train Simulator is the most popular train simulator. Over 10,000 files are available.

Stock
The first few downloads available from UKTrainSim were released when it is launched in August 2001 and re-released in December 2001. The first ever is the Class 101 DMU in BR green livery by James Hunt. More add-ons began to be expanded in the collection.

Today, there are wide range of stock available for download. Through different techniques, programmes and methods, downloadable stock has far more detail than some of the earlier models. Many now require Common.cab and Common.sound files to be set up prior to use, which is the standard practice for today's standards.

Routes
There are wide range of routes available for downloading. Many routes require X-tracks, UKFinescale and/or sometimes Newroads. As a result, Global files are included with some routes to save from having to download and install any of the files separately. Many routes are British, however several come from countries further afield. Today there are even more routes to choose from, ranging from steam era or modern.

Mersey V4 and Dorset Coast v4 are the largest route files and therefore the most popular being available in UKTS. These take a long time to download for non-premium members as the files are very big and there are a lot of files. It would take approximately 48 hours to download Dorset Coast alone without stock and activities.

Rail Simulator
Stock
Around 117 stock are currently avilable to download. Most of the stock are Steam Locomotives.

Routes
Serval routes are avilable in both Fictional and Real Life Routes, however some routes require scenery objects to work properly.

Other Simulators
There are serval simulators other than Microsoft Train Simulator and Rail Simulator. They include:

Steam Express: Unfortunately not a 3D Train-Sim, only seeing signals, gradients and cabview, but it is a steam loco simulator. Steam Locomotives and Routes are avilable.

Trainz: Trainz tend not to be popular as MSTS and Rail Simulator. Choices are limited, most of which routes look very untidy or unscenerised. Some modern stock are simply mk3 stock repaints!

Rail 3D and BVE are also avilable and in most cases they are not as popular.

CD ordering
UKTrainSim has their own shop which sells add-ons for MSTS. They also sell Community CDs exclusive to UKTrainSim. Commercial add-ons are also available from the site. They also sell addons for Flight Simulator and other transport simulators.

Current Community CDs for MSTS

* BATS/EB/MT Class 89 Appeal Pack
* Blackpool Tramway inc Illuminations
* Burton Derby V2
* Cannock Chase 5
* Dorset Coast V3
* Ffestiniog
* GWR Branch Lines - Reg Furniss
* GWR: Toddington
* Manchester Metrolink and Crich Tramway
* Mark Shipmans Deltic Collection
* MT: Springfield
* Northern Rail Routes V6
* Northwest England 2.1
* Paddington to Penzance 2.5
* Severn Valley Railway: Diesel Gala (requires Severn Valley)
* Steyning Line
* Taieri Independent Timber Co.
* Talyllyn 2.0.2
* Thames Mersey 4.2 **DVD**
* Tim Courts Mid East UK - 1.4.5
* Verns 5 Route Compilation CD
* Yorkshire Coast Railway

Community CDs in Development
* Mid East UK Plus **DVD**

Community CDs No Longer Available
* Ballyshannon
* ECML 3.1
* Scottish Central: Stage 1

Community CDs are only available for MSTS - There are no community add-on CDs or DVDs for Trainz, KRS or other simulators.

Forums
UKTrainSim runs one of the largest train simulator forums on the internet. The forums contain a variety of boards ranging from Real Railway Discussion to General MSTS Discussion to Narrow Gauge discussion. The forums were upgraded to the latest update of forum software on the 8th September, 2007 and have now assumed a new look from the original. This upgrade is the first of the whole UKTrainSim website being upgraded.

UKTrainSim Roadshow (UKTrainSim Live)

UKTrainSim Roadshow Exhibition goes to places such as Exhibition Centres, Model Railway clubs, Preserved railways, etc. Although UKTrainSim Roadshow Exhibition began in 2002 it was branded as "UKTrainSim Live" in September 2003.

See Also
*Microsoft Train Simulator
*Rail Simulator

Main Menu