TrainPlayer Software launches Version 3.3 of its popular line of model railroad simulation products for Windows

CASTRO VALLEY, CA, October 20, 2009 -- Earlier versions of TrainPlayer allowed users to construct working track plans and operate trains on them. This version adds the “Scenery Toolkit,” a set of tools and artwork for creating scenic backdrops and constructions. With this addition, the system provides the experience of all three aspects of the hobby -- laying track, building scenery, and running trains -- for the “armchair model railroader” who may not have the time or space to build an actual layout.

The Scenery Toolkit comes with over three hundred pre-drawn images of scenery objects -- buildings, trees, industries, roads, parks, background textures -- which can be dragged onto a plan and moved into position. It also offers a simple but complete set of drawing tools for creating arbitrary shapes filled with colors, patterns, text, or images. A dual-layer scheme allows independent editing of large background areas and small foreground objects. Like the track tools and the train controls, the scenery drawing tools are intuitive and easy to use.

“Our beta testers were quite excited about drawing their own scenery,” says company founder Jim Dill. “They were able to produce some really nice large layouts with lots of interesting detail, even before we wrote the scenery chapter of the manual. Many of these layouts are now available for download from our web collections.”

In conjunction with the 3.3 release, the company has overhauled its website and simplified its product line. There are now only two products: TrainPlayer / Operator, for running trains on pre-drawn layouts; and TrackLayer / Builder, the full system for designing, building and running layouts from scratch. Both come with extensive collections of sounds, car and locomotive images, scenery objects, and track plans, including all of Linn Westcott’s “101 Track Plans for Model Railroaders,” the best-selling track plan book of all time (copyright Kalmbach Publishing, 1956).

All products are for Windows only. With this release the company is discontinuing its Mac products, and offering Mac users a free swap for the equivalent Windows versions.

The early response to Version 3.3 has been very positive. Says beta tester Jim Schenk: “Over the years I’ve probably had every train design and operation program ever published. None of them compares to TrainPlayer for realistic operation plus design and scenario possibilities. It is possible to design and operate everything from a 2’ X 3’ tabletop layout to a series of connected modules depicting a segment of a real-life railroad. Now that I can draw scenery too, it brings computer railroading to a whole new level.”

TrainPlayer has been in business since 2005. Its products appeal to people who like to design track plans and run model trains, but don’t care to invest the effort required by high-end CAD and train simulation programs. The company prides itself on its customer support and on products easy enough for even the most computer-phobic old-timers.

Prices: TrainPlayer 3.3 / Operator, $59 (includes TrainPlayer Screen Saver, 101 Track Plans, 300 additional layouts); TrackLayer 3.3 / Builder, $99 (includes all of TrainPlayer / Operator plus TrackLayer tools, Scenery Toolkit, Premium Layouts and Cars collections). Upgrades for existing users are priced from $29 to $59, and are purchased from within the program. Products require Windows NT, 2000, XP, or Vista. All can be purchased on the website by credit card, and are available by download or on CD for a $10 shipping charge.

For more information, visit the website at www.trainplayer.com. A full-featured demo of the complete system is available by download for 30-day free trial. To request a review copy, inquire by e-mail.

Contact: Jim Dill, TrainPlayer Software, 4200 Arcadian Drive, Castro Valley, CA 94546, (707) 320-4246, jim@trainplayer.com.

Screen shots and links:

Scenery Toolkit: http://www.trainplayer.com/Site3/Scenery%20Toolkit.html
Version 3.3: http://www.trainplayer.com/Site3/Version%2033.html
TrainPlayer: http://www.trainplayer.com/Site3/TrainPlayer.html
TrackLayer: http://www.trainplayer.com/Site3/TrackLayer.html
Fall 2009 Newsletter: http://www.trainplayer.com/Site3/newsletters/oct_2009.html

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Contact Information

Jim Dill

President and Founder

TrainPlayer Software

Contact via E-mail