I never thought I'd live to see the day that I would be playing a computer game. They never appealed to me.

Then I stumbled onto this shunting (switching) puzzle-game and I'm hooked. (It helps if you like complex switching operations.) 

The game looks like it's designed for 5-year old kids, but once I started playing it and moving up to higher levels, these started turning into switching puzzles that you really have to think about. And it's giving me some good insights about better switching strategy.

HI folks,

Below is the latest version of my spreadsheet comparing Track Planning software, based on your comments. This spreadsheet is "organic", so please keep your comments coming.

Thank you!

Al

Hello virtual beings...at least we are virtual on this great website,

How about if we create an inventory of Train Simulators? I'm going to define a Train Simulator as any software program that:

1. Allows you to create your own layout, with track, locos and cars

2. Allows you to simulate switching activities by using locos to move cars to different tracks

I have to admit I have never played any Train Games, like those Tycoon-type games. Do those games fit my definition above?

Hello model railroad junkies...yes, you know who you (we) are,

This blog, named "Sitting There...", will be mostly about railroad software. Yes, we are armchair modelers.

I will not be giving reviews of railroad software. This blog will be a thorough discussion of how software programs compare against each other, and what we like or don't like about them. 

As I see it, there are four major categories of railroad software:

1. Train simulation programs

2. Layout design programs

Someone on another forum was asking about a small shelf layout he remembered from an old article.

It reminded me of one of my all time favorite small shelf layouts in Linn Westcott's classic "101 Track Plans for Model Railroaders"- the Port Ogden and Northern RR layout. When I bought Linn's book way back when it cost $2 bucks. Now it's about $16- shows you how old I am.