Seeing as it's been years since I've had room or cash for a model railroad, I got involved in the MS Train Simulator when it came out back in the early 2000's. It was pretty primitive but allowed an unlimited space and many free downloads. Over the years, it's gotten pretty sophisticated, if you were willing to learn all the ins and outs of the route editor.

Now, there's an open source sim that uses all of the MSTS assets, with all sorts of new capabilities. A friend and expert 3d modeler has made several NP locos in various versions that are of high end brass quality. Some are F-1's as build, a 1902 version and a 1940 version. Also several W's with very distinctive details specific to the engine and date. Then there's the L-9 switchers also several version, quite a few freight cars and highly detailed cabooses with interiors.

Here's 1507 coming though my imaginary town of Green Creek with a train load of logs on NP skeleton flats.



This new sim in development is already a great experience, along with having some features that real photographs would give anything for. You can freeze the action, then move the camera around for the best position, change the focal length of lens, change the time of day and shadows. Also the weather can be sunny, cloudy, raining or snowing, with control over how hard it comes down, how thick the clouds are and even fog from a light haze to pea soup!

Virtual model railroading has really come of age!

Steve