How is this possible? Drive the "virtual" SP&S 700 on your home computer! First, get yourself a copy of Microsoft's popular Train Simulator program (MSTS). We’ve created a detailed model of the 700 just for MSTS. Now you can operate SP&S 700 on any of the various routes that ship with MSTS, as well as on the numerous add-on routes that individual hobbyists have created. With MSTS you can make up your own consists and create unique operating scenarios ("activities") featuring the 700.

SP&S 700 for MSTS is available on CD-ROM from the on-line concession stand at this web site. See below for details.

You don't have a copy of MSTS? No problem. MSTS is also available at the concession stand.

About the Models

There are actually three models in the package. The primary model is fully detailed and will run fine on high-end PC systems. The polygon count of this model is on a par with most other well detailed steam locomotives; therefore, a minimum system recommendation might be 1.5 GHz Pentium 4 or AMD equivalent, and 512 MB RAM. The second model is less detailed, but still very presentable. You'll get better frame rates with the second model if you have a less powerful PC system. The third model is the same as the detailed version, but with the addition of two crew figures. This increases the poly count by about ten percent, but who likes to watch a locomotive run by with nobody in the cab?

All models have multiple levels of detail for conserving your computer resources in distant views.

Three cab views are provided. One is the customary engineer's view which you will use most of the time. Only the engineer's controls are accessible in this view, although you can access the fireman's controls using the usual MSTS shortcut keys. The second view is an overall one with access to both the engineer's and the fireman's controls. The third view is also from the engineer's vantage point, but it is lit the way the cab would be during night-time running.

A full complement of locomotive sounds is included. Whistle, bell and steam exhaust sounds are recorded from the prototype itself.

Physical properties used to simulate locomotive performance reflect the prototype wherever possible. This includes such parameters as mass, cylinder dimensions, tractive effort, fuel and water capacity and so forth. The fact that the 700 is fired with heavy oil poses an interesting problem since MSTS is programmed as if all steam locomotives were fired with coal. To compensate, all coal-related parameters are converted to reflect the equivalent energy content and mass of fuel oil.

SP&S 700 Tools - an added bonus

SP&S 700 Tools is a Windows application that makes it convenient for you to expand the flexibility of the model. The program, which is included with the model, consists of four modules.

• Options – lets you select among the different versions of the models and cab.
• Create a Consist – make a new consist for SP&S 700 using your existing rolling stock, without having to use the MSTS Activity Editor.
• Clone a Consist – make a copy of an existing consist and substitute SP&S 700 into the copy.
• Clone an Activity – make a copy of an existing activity and substitute SP&S 700 into the copy.

How to Get Your Model

The CD-ROM version of SP&S 700 for Train Simulator is available at our on-line concession stand (item 59) along with a host of other 700-related merchandise and memorabilia.