Welcome to the Just Trains End Of Year 2024 round up!
So! What a year it has been! Just Trains is a little bit like a Swan, looking all serene and quiet on the surface but under the surface it has had and still has, lots going on!
The Products of 2024 (and, well, one of 2023!)
Train Sim World Blackpool Branches: Preston-Blackpool & Ormskirk
To start off we will rewind a bit too late 2023 with our first ever Train Sim World release of Blackpool Branches. This came out on the 14th of November and received universal praise and is described as a “Very positive” product by Steam and still has a rating of over 90% a year after its release, one of, if not the highest rating for a TSW add-on! Originally released as the first Add-on for the then new TSW4 it has been updated for the features that are now available to use on TSW5. Set in the 1980’s the route features the unique Class 142 Pacer.
Train Sim Classic Wessex Main Line: Southampton -Salisbury Extension
Moving properly into 2024 we move back to Train Sim Classic with the release of Wessex Main Line: Southampton to Salisbury Extension which was released on the 25th of January. This route extends the Dovetail Games South Western Main Line: Southampton to Bournemouth route by around 36 miles and includes the direct route between Redbridge and Romsey as well as the line to Romsey via Eastleigh and Chandlers Ford. This extension includes 12 highly detailed stations and numerous features of interest along the route and includes 17 scenarios and, also uniquely, the route includes several updates and improvements to the Kuju Class 165/166 DMU.
Train Sim Classic China Railways DF11G Twin-Unit Diesel Locomotive & 25T Series Coaches
This was released on the 1st of February. This add-on brings you the diesel-powered DF11G locomotive used on China's national railway system as well as XL Baggage Car, YW Hard Sleeper and YZ Ordinary Seating 25T Series passenger carriages. Five Standard scenarios and a Free Roam are included.
Among the features of the DF11G locomotive are authentic start-up sequence animations and sounds, in-cab audio messages, animated cab controls, limited-function LKJ signal monitoring system, over-speed alarm, driver vigilance device and multiple lighting controls.
Train Sim Classic China Railways HXD1D Locomotive - Heavy Haul Freight Pack
This was released on the 1st of March and brings you the China Railways HXD1 'Harmony' electric locomotive as well as four types of freight wagons: the C62 open-top wagon, P64 box car, NX70A flat wagon and G60K tank wagon. Eight Standard scenarios and Quick Drives with 10 consist variations are included.
Among the features of the HXD1 locomotive are ADVS and ATP systems, anti-slip control, CTCS-3 signal control, dynamic operating pantograph with two heights, cruise control and in-cab audio messages.
Train Sim Classic Midland Main Line: Buxton and Peak Forest Extension
This was released on the 14th of March. This picturesque 25-mile extension for Just Trains' Midland Main Line: Sheffield-Derby route (with the Hope Valley Extension installed) features the steeply graded 17-mile passenger line from Hazel Grove to Buxton, the complex network of freight lines around Buxton and the connection from Peak Forest to Chinley South Junction.
The route is Quick Drive enabled and includes eight detailed stations, numerous new custom assets and eight scenarios.
Train Sim Classic 3D ZUG AI Traffic Pack 2
Released on the 20th of May, 3D ZUG's latest Traffic Pack for Train Simulator Classic provides a huge variety of 50 AI locomotives and wagons to bring colourful diversity to your tasks - high-speed, diesel and electric powered vehicles as well as passenger and freight wagons.
All cars can be driven by the player and features include realistic sounds, visible loads (and different weights) on open wagons and CarCreator Light for selected cars. Four sessions are also included if you own the Nuremberg-Bayreith and Frankfurt-Koblenz routes.
Railtraction Sggnss 80 Bundle
Released on the 9th of June Railtraction's Sggnss 80 Bundle for Train Simulator Classic provides realistic shipping containers in a variety of lengths and 20FT tanktainers - 131 different realistic versions.
Features of the hand-textured models include modern Close signals, realistic freight sounds and realistic custom lua brake sounds.
Railtraction Sggrs 80 Bundle
Released on the 13th of June Railtraction's Sggrs 80 Bundle for Train Simulator Classic provides realistic recreations of the Sggrs80 intermodal wagon in a variety of lengths and 20FT tanktainers - 82 realistic cargo versions.
Features of the hand-textured models include modern Close signals, realistic freight sounds and realistic custom lua brake sounds.
Railtraction Flirt 1 Abellio
Released on the 22nd of June Railtraction's Flirt 1 Abellio EMU for Train Simulator Classic features an authentic cab, realistic cabin wheel/bogie sounds, realistic traction simulation, animated mirrors, instrument lighting and advanced pantograph sparks which are influenced by season, weather and speed.
Other features include cruise control, advanced PZB 90, Sifa, manual door closing systems, hand brake simulation, custom throttle and brake simulation, traction lock simulation, wiper system and destination signs.
Railtraction Sdgmns 33 Bundle
Released on the 13th of August Railtraction's Sdgmns 33 pocket wagon bundle for Train Simulator Classic provides 26 versions, with a weathered wagon, trailers and 30ft, 40ft and 45ft containers.
The wagon features include custom bogey and drive sounds, realistic script-controlled brake sounds and closing signals.
Railtraction Rbns 646 Bundle
Released on the 10th of November Railtraction's Rbns 646 freight wagon bundle for Train Simulator Classic provides 39 cargo versions, with an empty weathered version and and assortment of different freight loads.
The wagon features include custom bogey and drive sounds, realistic script-controlled brake sounds and closing signals.
Railtraction Rns 1 Bundle
Also released on the 10th of November Railtraction's Rns freight wagon bundle for Train Simulator Classic provides 30 cargo versions with a variety of loads and an empty version.
Wagon features include custom bogey and drive sounds, realistic script-controlled brake sounds and closing signals.
Train Sim World: West Coast Main Line: Preston – Carlisle
This was released on the 26th of November after much anticipation. For TSW5 the route is based in 1986 and gives you over 90 miles to drive, with eight highly detailed stations, Class 08, 87/0, 47/4 and 101 locomotives in a variety of liveries along with various passenger carriages and freight wagons.
This superbly detailed route features several signal boxes with modelled interiors, accurate signalling, five scenarios, locomotive training modules, real-world 24-hour timetable with numerous AI workings, Conductor Mode, Collectables in varied locations for you to find and countless unique landmarks and buildings along the route. The response to our second TSW route has been overwhelmingly positive with people enjoying driving the iconic Class 87/0 along the route with its challenging Neutral Sections adding to the realisim.
TSC v/s TSW releases
As you can see from the above list we have released/published many more Train Sim Classic products than those for Train Sim World. This is down to three things really; 1) The vast majority of the TSC items have been created by external developers which they ask us to sell and/or publish, whereas 2) the Train Sim World products are solely developed in-house and 3) The development time for creating a TSW product is much more intense and longer than developing for TSC and so the number of TSW products that we can create is less than we could for TSC.
Support
We have a dedicated customer support team as we have always been very keen to offer good support to our customers, and throughout the year we have offered various product updates for free and send out emails to that effect to registered customers.
Train Sim World is dead! Long Live Train Sim World!
Train Sim World continues to evolve. When we started developing Blackpool Branches Train Sim Train Sim World 4 did not exist! We started developing using the previous version and transitioned over to TSW4 during the development process. The exact same thing happened with West Coast Main Line: Preston-Carlisle. We started developing in TSW4 and transitioned over to TSW5 halfway through the development. The skill, speed and experience of the Just Trains team has continued to grow as we have spent longer developing. When we started developing Blackpool Branches, we had zero knowledge of developing for TSW and so it was a steep learning process and of course we are still learning, as is the way of life. As an indicator of progress, our second TSW route WCML Preston-Carlise took about a 1/3rd less time to develop than Blackpool but is around twice as long in route length!
Worth noting that until January 9th 2025 you can still pick up the Starter Pack for TSW 5 free of charge. This allows you to bring over your current products and to start using and adding to your TSW5 range of products. Now might be the best time to act. All the details are
here.
Train Sim Classic – Rumours of its death have been greatly exaggerated!
Although internally The Just Trains Team no longer develop for Train Sim Classic as our sole focus is on Train Sim World, we still continue to work with and publish products from external developers and will continue to do that moving forward.
How Just Trains bring top quality, highly authentic Train add-ons
Hopefully, your experience with Just Trains has always been a positive one. We believe that our products and customer service and technical support are second to none. Everything that we do we try to achieve in a professional way. Because of that some think that we are a large company, but the fact is that the actual Just Trains core development team only number 6. The secret is that this team are highly skilled dedicated and have a good working knowledge of the Railways. All those ingredients are vital but the last point probably more than most because the team’s knowledge of the Railways, which is very deep, allows them to ensure that what we bring you is very authentic and realistic. Its relatively easy to create models and routes but doing that without the knowledge, brought by a passionate interest in the subject, then results in making that work become a true to life experience of the real thing for all you users.
Future thoughts
We always appreciate your feedback, thoughts and suggestions and please do feel free to send them to us. We hope that the choices that we make are positive. It would be great to produce every route train and loco that you want but sadly we have to be realistic as to what our small team are able to devote our time but hopefully, we are able to build on the wish list one bit at a time to help build your experiences.
Buying direct really helps
Many Just Trains products are available from a variety of locations but the simple honest fact is that if you kindly choose to buy direct from Just Trains that is an enormous help and you also earn Just Rewards that you can use to get discounts on future products and also as a registered user we can offer you exclusive deals that may be unavailable elsewhere from time to time.
Are you a Developer for Train Sim Classic or Train Sim World?
Would you like to have your work published by Just Trains? Could we help you achieve that? That would be fantastic if we could! Please drop me a mail at alex@justtrains.net and we can discuss how we could move forward together. I look forward to your mail.
Moving into 2025
What’s coming in 2025? Well, we have many plans for routes, locos and wagons underway but unfortunately we are unable to say what they are at this stage but have no fear we will reveal them one by one as their time to shine moves closer, but the next TSW Add-on is the already announced
Class 86/2 and Mk2F Coaches, and here exclusively are two brand new, not seen before in-dev screenshots of the 86/2 for you to view.
Thank YOU!
Thank you all so much for purchasing our add-ons and your kind and very positive feedback on what we do. It means so much to us to be able to bring you software that you really like and appreciate and helps you to enjoy Train Simulation at its best. Here’s to a great 2025!