Rail Simulator (Kuju Rail Simulator) is a train simulator released on Friday October 12, 2007. It is made by UK based Kuju Entertainment the company which developed Microsoft Train Simulator for Microsoft.

Features

* Train Jumping – you will be able to jump to any passing train and gain knowledge of the various trains on the route as well. Once you have jumped trains you are now in full control of your new engine.
* Passengers – "They will be able to avoid obstacles such as benches and lampposts on the platforms. When the train arrives the doors can be opened and passengers will walk off the train while those on the platform walk towards the doors."
* Fully functioning turntables and traverser.
* Cargo loading.
* Dynamic Weather – "As you are driving along the weather can change from a nice sunny afternoon to a torrential downpour!"

KRS uses the PhysX SDK (software development kit). The SDK is capable of handling all the train physics, particle effects, collision detection etc. The SDK has been chosen by Kuju over other similar products such as HAVOC, NEWTON, etc. The actual physics processing is done by the CPU, using the SDK's runtime library routines.

The AGEIA PhysX Hardware accelerator card can optionally be fitted and used to reduce the load on the CPU. The specific features of KRS that are enhanced by the AGEIA card are not yet known, however, it can theoretically increase frame rates, or alternatively increase eye candy such as smoke particles, or free the CPU for other tasks. The card is definitely NOT required in order to run KRS.

Routes

Currently Five routes have been officially announced. These will include:
* The Somerset and Dorset Joint Railway (UK), circa early 1950s.
* Oxford to London Paddington (UK), circa 2000[8] – approximately 65 mi in length.
* York to Newcastle, circa 1970, approximately 70 miles long.
* Hagen to Siegen (Germany)[9] – approximately 100 km in length.
Kuju announced Rail Simulator will also feature one route in the United States. This route will contain content from Union Pacific.

Locomotives

Rail Simulator will feature 10 locomotives, 2-3 for each route, 10 of which have been announced:
* LMS Stanier Class 5 4-6-0 (black five)in BR and LMS colors.
* BR High Speed Train, in First Great Western colours.
* DBAG Class 101 (Deutsche Bahn BR101).
* Deutsche Bahn BR294.
* British Rail Class 55 Deltic.
* British Rail Class 47.
* S&DJR 7F 2-8-0.
* ES44AC.
* SD40-2.
* British Rail Class 166 in First Great Western colours.
* HST in the original livery British Rail applied in the 70s, blue/grey.

Track system

The system is in prototype and uses predominantly procedural curves and straights and is non spline based. Includes transition curves (spirals).
The system uses 'track rules' which allows for the creation of pre-defined data on a per-route basis. Track rule parameters include:
* Track property defaults e.g. speeds, electrification
* Track cross section definitions e.g. the visual look of the track
* Track gauge
* Parallel track distance
* Easement K values
* Different track rules can be set up within a single route. Tracks of different gauges and parallel distances etc within a single route are supported, ie mixed gauges within a route will be possible.
* Superelevation (track banking) is NOT supported but may be added in a later service pack.
* Automatic lineside object placement, eg end of track section buffers or lamposts or fences is available by defining individual track sections.
* Gantry placement is enhanced over MSTS, with automatic placement and manual editing available.
* Gradients are specified by a variety of input methods eg 1 in X, angles (mils) and %. The track can be adjusted after placement so that gradients can be smoothed out. Terrain can be snapped up to the track using a terrain brush tool that gives control over the cutting/embankment angle.

Editors

World (Route) Editor
The World Editor will allow the user to create and edit the following using advanced manipulation tools:
* Track laying
* Infrastructure e.g. signals, mileposts, speed signs
* Lofted objects e.g. roads, fences, walls
* Terrain sculpting
* Terrain texturing

Scenario Editor.
The Scenario Tool is part of the World Editor Suite and will be available in the box. The user will be able to create and share their own missions of prototypical operations for both the player and AI trains.

The main principle is that each train has a driver who is then given a set of instructions. This applies to both the player and AI trains so you will be able to set up for example an AI train to deliver a set of rail vehicles to a depot for you to then come along and break down.

You will be able to give the driver instructions for stopping at destinations, picking up passengers, picking up freight and fuel and coupling/uncoupling to other rail vehicles. You can also mix and match the instructions. So you can instruct a driver to pick up passengers at a variety of stations then go to the depot, uncouple from the carriages, pick up fuel and then go to the shed for the night.

The scenario system carries out the instructions in order for each driver allowing you to create a whole network of interleaved prototypical operations.

Authoring these complex scenarios is as simple as adding the driver and instruction to the train in the 3D world. For ease there is a 2D map that can be flipped to, so selecting the stations you want a driver to stop at is just a few clicks.

Scenarios rely on signalling and dispatching. Those systems have been designed to deal with a whole network automatically based on a set of parameters entered when creating track. So creating a scenario only requires setting combinations of instructions like destinations and pick up freight and the rest is done automatically utilising the signals and dispatcher correctly.

The Scenario Tool includes preview tools to enable the scenario to be viewed and played through at different speeds in the 3D world and on the 2D map. A slider is provided to get to a specific time in the scenario to see how the signaling and dispatcher systems are handling the set of trains and instructions authored.

Driver properties can be set, driver class for example. Driver instructions are combined with signals and dispatching systems to enable Rail Simulator to create a fully working network with realistic priorities and prototypical operations.

Scripted activities will be created using the Lua programming language.

Note: Wikipedia