So just what is G-TraX? Well, it's actually been around for awhile. Having supplied a significant amount of content to other third-party trainsim vendors over the past few years—and a bit of freeware from time to time—I decided it was time to take the G-TraX brand name public as a unique product line. G-TraX Simulations was formally incorporated in 2007, and this web site was inaugurated in October, 2008.
The focus of G-TraX is to produce add-on content for state-of-the-art PC-based railroad simulators. As some of you know, until January of 2009 I had been planning to release products for Train Simulator 2. When TS2 was canceled, many developers, including G-TraX, had to make a decision: revert to making product for MSTS or move on to one of the other next-generation simulators. Rail Simulator offered both flexibility and the promise of further development and improvement, so it became my platform of choice, and conversion of existing assets began in earnest in March of 2009. That work is now complete and in the meantime Rail Simulator became RailWorks and now it's Train Simulator 2012. The initial product offering from G-TraX consisted of two steam locomotive packages. Another well known steamer, SP 4449, was subsequently added to the roster. All of these locomotives are part of the G-TraX Preservation Series. The Preservation Series steam locomotives are being developed in cooperation with the sponsors of the actual locomotives. A significant portion of the proceeds from each locomotive package is donated to the respective sponsoring organizations.
In March of 2011, Portland Terminal, the first G-TraX route, was released. August saw the release of the first major G-TraX diesel locomotive, the Amtrak P42DC.
Planning and preparation continues for future releases of freight and passenger rolling stock items as well as for additional routes. Classic and modern eras of railroading will continue to be represented. Nobody's an expert at everything in this hobby, and as always I'll be working with a few collaborators from time to time. You've probably heard of them, and of course they'll get full credit for their efforts.
Check back here periodically for progress updates, news & views, modeling tips and information about RailWorks and G-TraX. I've included some modeling tutorials, and I'll be adding more as the community gains more experience working with RailWorks.
What—no forums? Sorry, but no. There are plenty of other railroad simulator forums out there already, so have at it. But by all means feel free to contact me. If you have general comments about this site, if you want to contribute something to it, if you discover a factual error, or if you just want to express an opinion, you can email me by clicking here.
Meanwhile, keep on 'simming and remember,
"it's all about the trains."
Alishan Ry. Lima Shay No. 13 on display in Taibei, Taiwan. Photo: 張春豊