I first heard about Trainz in late April, 2002. I dropped a few birthday hints and was rewarded with my very own copy on 9 May 2002. I've been intimately involved / obsessed with the damn thing ever since.
Trainz started life as a downloadable set of files, first going beta on 24 September 2001. A very rare CD of version 0.9 was shipped out to some testers.
Trainz 1.0 was sold online from the Auran shop from 17 October 2001 for early December availability. This was known as the "Community Edition" as Auran's tribute to the online community that had built up over the previous year, assisting greatly with product development and testing.
A US publisher, Strategy First, had rights for distribution of the retail version of Trainz as of Q1 2002. A service pack had been released by then so all retail boxes were Trainz version 1.1.
The rest, as they say, is history.
Auran has had an unfortunate track record with overseas publishers of Trainz. Rights to new versions have been signed to different publishers, however agreements remain in place for the existing product. A legacy of this is the continued availability of old versions, which are still being produced and sold legally as "new, factory-sealed" by various publishers - but long past their use-by date.
A quick search on Ebay for "trainz" reveals that almost all the available product is old and deeply discounted.
Before buying Trainz, check Auran's website to ensure that you are looking at the current version. As at 10 October 2005,
Trainz TRS2006 v2.5 is current.
Dates and details will be added below in due course.
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Trainz Beta /
Trainz v0.9 |
Trainz Beta 0.9 - the one that started it all. It is significant to read the full cover art - it has some valuable
messages for the Trainz community of today. Click here to see it. |
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Trainz CE /
Trainz v1.0 |
Trainz Community Edition - the first generally available release. |
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Trainz v1.1 |
Original German release packaging. A similar artwork layout and colour scheme was used for the first
USA release. |
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Trainz v1.1 |
Halycon (NOT Halcyon!) Media released Trainz 1.1 in Germany. |
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Trainz v1.1
Trainz v1.3 |
Original worldwide release packaging.
This version is still being sold in the USA, with an additional Service Pack 3 CD included.
SP3, apart from bugfixes, saw the introduction of the Trainzscript programming language and scripted user activities called "Scenarios". Avoid due to its age. |
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Trainz v1.1 |
The Castellano (Spanish) version of Trainz Retail is still being marketed by Friendsoft. Avoid due to age. |
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Trainz Paintshed /
Paintshed v1.0 |
In early 2002, Auran released the Trainz and MSTS versions of Paint Shed, a tool to permit easy reskinning of
models supplied as part of the pack. Paint Shed is a brilliant utility and most people's introduction to creating
content for Trainz. Unfortunately poor documentation and perceived difficulty prevented content makers from coming
up with more Paint Shed templates for other rolling stock - a great pity. |
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MSTS Paintshed /
Paintshed v1.0 |
An almost identical utility was sold for MSTS, which has done good business over the years and is still available off the shelf. |
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MSTS AddOn /
MSTS Addon 1.0 |
A number of the models made for Trainz also made it into an add-on pack for MSTS. Like Paint Shed, it is still available
on retail shelves. |
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Trainz v1.3 |
This is the Australian budget-title released after TRS2004 was on the shelves. It includes SP3. Avoid. |
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Trainz v1.3 |
The same title in slightly different packaging. |
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Trainz v1.3 |
Another budget release, this time from the UK and again well after TRS2004's availability. Includes SP3. Avoid. |
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Trainz v1.4 |
Service Pack 4 was SP3 with extra language capability. This is the Polish release, distributed by CDProjekt. Earlier sales in Poland used the standard blue Trainz 1.1 box. |
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Trainz UTC /
Trainz v1.5 |
Trainz - Ultimate Trainz Collection (a bit redundant for a title!) This is a major update to the original Trainz title. By this time the code had settled down and creators were making a large amount of content available from the Download Station. Some people view this as the "purest" version of Trainz, in that it most closely follows the original idea of a virtual model railway.
Includes Trainz Paint Shed, a tool for creating your own paint schemes on an assortment of rolling stock. Until UTC, Paint Shed was a separate product that could be purchased and downloaded direct from Auran. Trainz UTC is a great game, but because of its age, avoid. |
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Trainz UTC /
Trainz v1.5 |
Australians got a version with a Queensland Railways loco on the front, and the inside cover extolled the virtues of having your favourite Aussie trains. |
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Trainz UTC /
Trainz v1.5 |
Genius Interactive of Taiwan released this version of UTC for the Chinese market. The box cover had details in Chinese script, the actual game is still the English language version. |
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Trainz UTC /
Trainz v1.5 |
Halycon Media still had the license for Trainz and shipped their own stylish version of UTC to Germany. |
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Trainz UTC /
Trainz v1.5 |
Akella Publishing released the Russian version of UTC. |
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Trainz UTC /
Trainz v1.5 |
Immediately prior to TRS2004 being released, Strategy First showed their displeasure at not gaining the distribution rights by dumping Trainz UTC. They bundled it with an average game, Rails Across America, and Trainz Paintshed (which borders on false advertising since it was included with Trainz UTC anyway), and sold the 3-pack as a bargain basement title. |
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Trainz UTC /
Trainz v1.5 |
This is a recent re-release of Trainz UTC for the UK market. It is being heavily promoted as a new game. Avoid. |
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Trainz UTC /
Trainz v1.5 |
Seven months after the retail release of TRS2006, Auran announced that Aladdin Software will be publishing the Indian version of Trainz UTC and Trainz 1.3. UTC I can understand, given that a lower required PC specification will open it to more potential customers, but isn't it time to retire Trainz 1.3? |
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TRS2004 /
Trainz v2.0 |
Trainz Railway/Railroad Simulator 2004 was a landmark release for Auran. It took the "model railway" aspects of Trainz UTC and added elements of prototype operation, plus more gameplay in the form of interactive industries and "artificially intelligent" non-player drivers. This release was rushed to market in order to meet Christmas 2003 distribution deadlines and it showed.
There have been four service packs for TRS2004. SP1 was released as soon as it could be in late 2003 to fix the most troublesome bugs. SP2 came a short time later to introduce interactive passenger industries, which were widely promised but could not be reliably delivered in the first release. SP3 was a "migod, what were they thinking!" horror that caused more problems than it fixed. It was superseded a short time later by SP4 which took TRS2004 to a stable level of functionality and extra content. |
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TRS2004 /
Trainz v2.0 |
The UK version was released by Just Trains, in conjunction with the National Railway Museum in York. A huge complaint by a lot of European Trainz users is Just Trains' insistence on copy protection which requires the CD to be inserted every time you play the game. |
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TRS2004 /
Trainz v2.0 |
Retail boxes in Australia gained an extra sticker proclaiming the inclusion of 15 Aussie locomotives. |
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TRS2004 /
Trainz v2.0 |
In the USA, Oteeva distributed TRS2004. This is the standard retail pack. |
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TRS2004 /
Trainz v2.0 |
This box was never released, it was put up as a contender during the beta phase. Pointsoft used it in their press release for TRS2004. |
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TRS2004 /
Trainz v2.0 |
This is the German retail version of TRS2004. It has a note that it is officially licensed by the DB. |
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TRS2004 /
Trainz v2.0 |
Akella Publishing released TRS2004 in Russia - quite a nice box. |
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TRS2004 /
Trainz v2.0 |
The French retail version of TRS2004. |
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TRS2004 /
Trainz v2.0 |
The Polish retail version of TRS2004 by CDProjekt. Essentially the US box with a red PL sticker. |
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TRS2004 /
Trainz v2.0 |
The Czechoslovakian retail version of TRS2004 by CDProjekt. Similar to the Polish version, with an "Includes Paint Shed" sticker on the top right. |
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TRS2004 /
Trainz v2.0 |
The Italian retail version of TRS2004. TrainzItalia.it recommends buying direct from Auran. |
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TRS2004 /
Trainz v2.0 |
The Swiss retail version of TRS2004 by Pointsoft. |
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TRS2004 /
Trainz v2.0 |
Released in anticipation of TRS2006, CDProjekt are selling a budget Czechoslovakian version of TRS2004. |
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TRS2004 /
Trainz v2.0 |
With the launch of TRS2006, Anuman Interactive have re-released a French budget version of TRS2004
called TRS Classic. |
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TRS2004 /
Trainz v2.1 |
Friendware's Spanish release of TRS2004 came out with SP1 included. |
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TRS2004 /
Trainz v2.2 |
This is the UK version released by Just Trainz which included SP2 to give it interactive passenger capability. |
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TRS2004 /
Trainz v2.2 |
Pointsoft's German retail pack of TRS2004 Deluxe Edition. This is version 2.2, patched only to SP2 "Passenger Pack" level. |
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TRS2004 /
Trainz v2.4 |
Recent budget release by Mastertronic in the UK to anticipate the arrival of TRS2006. It contains a rebranded 2 disc, SP4, v2.4, build 2370, set containing TRS2004. It is otherwise identical to the Just Trains distribution
(including copy protection).
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TRS2004 /
Trainz v2.4 |
For the Christmas 2004 market, Auran released a version of TRS which included SP4 and two extra CDs with
country-skewed content from the Download Station. Deluxe Edition is the preferred TRS2004 product and if you look around it is being discounted due to the introduction of TRS2006.
In terms of what's in the box and what's on the Download Station, this is definitely the best-value Trainz available today. |
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TRS2004 /
Trainz v2.4 |
TRS2004 Deluxe Edition in Spanish (Castellano) by Friendsoft. |
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TRS2004 /
Trainz v2.4 |
TRS2004 Deluxe Edition for Switzerland. |
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TRS2006 /
Trainz v2.5 |
TRS2006, which is the renamed TRS Engineers Edition, was released in September 2005. It is an incremental upgrade to TRS2004,
with a number of bug fixes, a number of new bugs, a whole new utility to manage downloaded assets from the Download Station, and a huge amount of
third-party content. Much of the extra content is not new, as it has been included as dependencies of the new routes developed
by Trainz Partner groups. The game is supplied on five CDs.
While the majority of users have no problems with the game, some are having a lot of teething troubles. Fortunately it
coexists
on the same PC with TRS2004 so you can have the best of both worlds. |
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TRS2006 /
Trainz v2.5 |
Auran also released a Limited Edition DVD version, in a metal case and with a larger manual (printed in colour).
Available only from the Auran website. In common with the Franklin Mint Philosophy of 45 Firing Days (eg as many
million limited edition plates as can be churned out by multiple factories running 24x7), Auran have
announced a second and possibly third re-run of the original once-only never to be repeated get-in-before-sold-out
Limited Edition. |
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TRS2006 /
Trainz v2.5 |
CDProjekt's Polish edition. Very stylish addition to the box art! |
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TRS2006 /
Trainz v2.5 |
Just Trains' UK release of TRS2006, on both CD and DVD. Maintains the same copy protection as TRS2004, you have to leave the disc in the drive.
Interestingly, this example is also a DVD version - not to be confused with the Auran (un)Limited Edition. Purchase from the Auran UK co-ordinator to get the unrestricted version. |
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TRS2006 /
Trainz v2.5 |
TRS2006 is being released in German by BSI (BlueSky Interactive). BSI have a somewhat mixed reputation as a supplier of payware add-on packs for Microsoft Train Simulator (MSTS) under their ProTrain label. With the demise of MSTS2, BSI are now throwing their considerable retail presence behind Trainz, to be promoted as ProTrain Perfect, and will be developing further payware routes for it. |
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TRS2006 /
Trainz v2.5 |
The Dutch version will be sold in November by Easy Computing. This is a pre-release image of the box. |
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TRS2006 /
Trainz v2.5 |
The first of two competing French releases of TRS2006. This is by Anuman Interactive. |
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TRS2006 /
Trainz v2.5 |
The second is by Simware Simulations. This version with the DDA40X on the cover will be available in both French
and English. |
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TRS2006 /
Trainz v2.5 |
Simware are also releasing on 7 November a special French edition called TRS2006 Gold. It includes bonus content
described as the most famous SNCF trains. Interestingly, both this and the above Simware release claim to include
TrainzMap, which isn't released yet. If anyone has larger images of these covers, please let me know! |
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TRS2006 /
Trainz v2.5 |
Merscom's North American retail release is scheduled for January 2006. This appears to be Photoshopped rather than an actual box, if so I'll update the image later.
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TRS2006 /
Trainz v2.5 |
A very interesting release by Just Trains in the UK. Rather than being an add-on pack, Train Driver is a cut-down version of
TRS2006 with just the route and rolling stock (five steam locos, a Hymek and a DMU) for the West Somerset Railway. Twenty
sessions are included. I'd be interested to hear from anyone
who has this version and can fill in more details! |
