Run 8 active train simulation

From fellow model railroad operator Rick Newton:

Many may remember Microsoft Train Simulator (MSTS), and its many vulnerabilities, or currently use Trainz, Open Rails, Railworks, etc. But the one that stands apart is RUN 8 from www.run8studios.com . I've had this software and its continual evolution since late spring 2013, introduced to it by a railroad track design engineer (David Clarke) who was teaching my Track Design Standards Course my company sent me to at the University of Tennessee Knoxville. The whole group of students were professional railroaders, either from consulting firms like myself, or from the railroads proper. About half of the 15 attendees were using the software. RUN 8 came to fruition because of the the owners of 3D Train Stuff's (a third party developer for MSTS) frustration of the limitations of other sim platforms, and the desire to have something much more realistic, so they set out on their own to develop RUN 8.

In a nutshell, its most appealing characteristics are the incredibly realistic physics model, and the multi-"player" operations (single player with realistic AI trains as well). With a host server, the entire group on this email could participate in an operating session, and that host server is simply someone's computer with RUN 8 running and configured to host, and attached to the internet. It does require a fairly robust computer to run it smoothly, and there is some investment required, minimally $50, but more realistically higher with add-ons for additional locos, cars and routes, but the results are well worth it. It comes as a base system that includes the BNSF Mojave Sub (Mojave to Barstow), UP Mojave Sub (from Bakersfield to Fleta (Tehachapi Pass)) the Barstow yard area, and the Needles Sub. Combined with TeamSpeak for voice communications, it works as a great multiplayer simulation.

There is a role for nearly everyone. Classification yards to switch, working hump yards, plenty of local industries to switch (on one route, there are in excess of 350 industries that can be switched). Engineers, conductors, brakemen, all of whom can ride in the locomotives, ride in the caboose if the train has one, or ride on cars while switching, walk or run on the ground or fly to get the 500 foot overview, with other players avatars visible. You have the ability to be MOW personnel with Form B's, Track and Time, placing appropriate flags, and issuing speed restrictions, and even cruise around on an MOW Ford pickup. And Dispatcher's of course. When set up properly, the system will supply AI trains that have cars to fill the industries, and the industries will regenerate set-outs to be picked up after a set time defined for the industry (and individual car types). Each industry is served by a defined local, which then has a dynamic switch list that updates accordingly as the moves are completed. No re-staging necessary here. The sim will do it for you...
Its not perfect, and there are limitations, but it is a heck of a lot of fun, and would be a great diversion from being stuck in our houses with little interaction with others. The graphics are pretty good, but not quite as good as some other sims. There is a bit of a learning curve, but manageable. Everything can be done from the keyboard, although those that may have a RailDriver from MSTS, or those that would like to buy one, can use it seamlessly in RUN 8 as plug and play desktop throttle, for an even better experience.

You can watch Steve Davis from Coweta, OK (Tulsa area) in an operating session:

 

It looks like everything is newer; SD40-2, GP40-2 and newer.