Run8 Train Simulator Basics - Single-player Operations

Run8 Train Simulator 2015 - We Put The TRAIN back in Train Simulator

Run8 Basics Overview - Single-Player Operations

Welcome to the Run 8 Basics Single-Player Operations page. If you just came from the Registration page we will need to merge the routes we have for Run 8.

So from the F1 menu lets go to that Other tab and look at the routes we have. In my case I have the BNSF CajonSub, BNSF NeedlesSub and the BNSF MojaveSub (the route that comes with the program). So you should have at least the BNSF MojaveSub. Now let's go ahead and highlight the routes we have and then select Merge This Route Into World. Keep in mind that you can only merge routes within a region so in this case if we had the Florida CSX ALine we would not try to merge it with the California routes as they are not in the same region.

Okay now that we have our routes merged we can now start populating our new world session with trains.

NOTE: You will also notice some other buttons in this menu as well and if you move the cursor over them a tool tip will come up explaining what each one does.

NOTE: If you load a session that you or someone else has made, Run8 will now automatically merge the routes for you as long as there is at least one piece of rollingstock on the routes that the session uses.

NOTE: We have also included a couple of extremely helpful PDFs that show the default keyboard layout and a default layout of the RailDriver buttons (if you own a RailDriver) that you can print out. You can find them in the Run 8 Train Simulator folder. The default pathway looks like this;

Computer > C: > Program Files (x86) > Run 8 Studios > Run 8 Train Simulator > Run8DefaultKeyboard.pdf

Computer > C: > Program Files (x86) > Run 8 Studios > Run 8 Train Simulator > Run8DefaultRaildriverButtons.pdf

Now we are going to learn how to populate our new session that we are making with trains and we are going to start in Barstow which is a major BNSF hub on the west coast. So press F1 to open the Other Options menu or if you still have it open from when we merged the routes go to the Spawn tab near the top of the menu (see the image to the right) and select Train. Then in the Spawn Train part of the menu make sure the BarstowYermo tag is selected and look down the list untill you find the BNSF Q-CHISTO train. This is a priority intermodal that runs between Chicago, IL and Stockton, CA and should spawn on inspection track 1 (I1) in Barstow and will be facing westbound. And if you press the F3 key and bring up the BarstowYermo dispatch screen you should now see an orange dot on inspection track 1. That is your new train you just spawned. Now you can press the Esc key to leave the dispatch screen and go back to your train.

So that is basically how you spawn a train. Keep in mind that we have included a lot of different trains that are made up from actual train lists used over these routes in the past. You can also use the TMU (Train Maker Upper) to make up your own trains as well. Just press left Ctrl + F1 to bring the menu up and follow the tool tips, and make sure you are standing on the ground (F12 key) before you spawn your train. You know creating sessions in Run8 can be allot of fun once you get the hang of it and the other cool thing is that you can then share your sessions with your friends.

One of my favorite things to do is to create a session based on a real day of railroading over these routes. And a good way to learn how to do that and to learn what goes on over these routes is to visit websites like www.railroadradio.net and listen to live scanner streams. Infact check out the Lancaster, Ca stream listed in the Western Zone Streams page and you can listen to UPLA Dispatcher 254 and BNSF DS-113 out on the Mojave subs. You will be amazed at what goes on out there and you will quickly see why we like that route. Another good source of information is a website called www.trainorders.com. There is a wealth of information over there covering all aspects of railroading which is definitely worth a visit too.

Okay next we will go over the start up procedure for the GE ES44s on our Q-CHISTO so we can get it moving again afterall it is a high priority train and would not dwell very long in Barstow just enough time to inspect, refuel, and get a new crew onboard.

Run8 Spawn Tab - Spawning a Train

NOTE: You will notice in the example to the right some trains listed that you do not have. These are just personal trains that I have saved at various places on routes that I can use for my own session creations.

Now using your mouse and the W, S, A, and D keys you can look around and move forward, reverse, and sideways (note that pressing and holding down the Shift key or the Ctrl key will speed up your movement). Left Shift + F12 will free you from the ground and put you in free flight mode and you can then fly around using the keys noted up above.

When you spawned the BNSF Q-CHISTO it should have placed you next to the headend of the train. Now click on the lead locomotive to take control of it. This will highlight the locomotive and make it a reddish color. And the Rail Unit Options window will pop up and you will notice a message on the screen saying that the Q-CHISTO is selected and now belongs to you.

From the Rail Unit Options window select the "Auto-Start All Locomotives" button which will start the locomotive and any other locomotives attached to the consist. If you have multiple locomotives in the consist then select the "Auto-MU and DP" to MU all of the locomotives on your train. If you are hearing the locomotive(s) start up then you have completed the first step in starting a locomotive but we are not quite done yet. Next we will configure the headlights down below by selecting SHORT HOOD LEAD which is the case for this train. And the H key is used to turn the headlights on and there is also a switch in the cab that can be used as well. Now to close the Rail Unit Window use your mouse and click on the ground or somewhere away from any other trains. If done right the window will go away and the locomotive will return to it's normal color.

Run8 Rail Unit Options Menu

NOTE: You can start these locomotives manually but for the purpose of this tutorial we are using the simple auto method noted up above.

Next we need to get inside the cab of the locomotive in order to finish the start up procedure and this is done by pressing Left Ctrl+F11 which will move you to the engineer seat in the cab. Now if you look to your left a little and you will see a panel with four black breaker switches on it, these all need to be set to the up postion. You will also notice four toggle switches to the right of the breaker switches which control the interior cabin lights, the exterior step lights, and the panel lights. Okay we are almost done all we need to do now is turn around using the mouse so you are looking at the wall behind the engineer seat that you are sitting on and you will notice a multi switch that is set to "isolate", click on the switch to set it to "Run" and thats it! We are done and ready to use the locomotive(s). See the images below for a more detailed look at the Run8 ES44 cabin and controls.

Run8 ES44 Control Panel

To continue with Single-Player Operations CLICK HERE

Registration - Single-Player

TRAIN SIMULATOR BY RUN8

Run8 Train Simulator - We put the TRAIN back in Train Simulator!