A. The greatest effects of weather will be on rail traction and visibility. On a rainy or snowy day, you'll probably have to sand the rails to prevent wheelslip. Also, you'll have to watch more closely for upcoming signals because of reduced visibility.

Q. What aspects of Train Sim will I be able to share with other players?

A. You will be able to exchange many parts of Train Sim with others, including: routes, scenery objects, locomotives, cars, paint schemes, and Activities. We will provide more information about how to customize and share these objects, closer to our release date.

Q. I prefer the difficulty of true simulation, but my son would find it too difficult. Will Train Sim have something for both of us?

A. Absolutely! Train Sim can be configured to provide a level of challenge appropriate for anyone! It can be as easy, or as hard, as you choose to make it. If you want to enjoy the scenery and relax, you can certainly do so. If you want to struggle against the effects of weather, weight, and grade, then you can do that as well. Microsoft Train Simulator will include driving aids and realism settings so that you can configure the train operation experience to your liking.

Q. Will there be grade crossings and traffic?

A. Yes, there will! Grade crossings will function as in the real world, with functioning crossing gates, lights, and sounds, as well as traffic present at the crossing. All these will be appropriate to each route and era.

Q. Will there be goal-oriented activities?

A. Yes. There will be a variety of challenges both long and short. For instance, you can try to meet a passenger timetable on a busy metropolitan rail line or deliver freight and "empties" to local companies. As you drive, you must follow the rules of the railroad-for instance you must obey all speed limits and signals. And watch out! There will be other traffic on the line.

Q. Can I set up my own activities?

A. Yes! When you create your own freight yard activity, for example, you can set the time of day, the number and type of freight cars and their location, the order they need to be assembled in, and a time deadline by which you need to complete your "consist." You can then save and send this activity to friends, who can try it on their own copy of Train Simulator.

Q. Will I be able to explore the tracks on my own?

A. Yes. There will be an option to explore the route without worrying about railroad rules. There won't be any other traffic on the line, so you can call the shots yourself and set the switches to select which track you'll use.

Q. Can I just sit back and enjoy the ride as a passenger?

A. Yes. You can set Train Simulator so that the train drives from one end of the line to the other. During the ride, you can use any camera view you want, including one that puts you in a passenger seat to watch the world go by outside your window.

Q. Will I be able to fully control the train?

A. Yes. You control the train just like the engineer does in the real world. You will be able to operate the most relevant cab controls for train operations. This includes primary controls such as the throttle, reverser, automatic brake, independent brake, and dynamic brake, and secondary controls such as windshield wipers, headlights, ditch lights, etc. The controls and gauges are specific to each locomotive.

When you are in the Cab view, you will see the controls and gauges working, and you can use the keyboard, joystick, or mouse to manipulate the controls. (This is similar to the cockpits in Microsoft Flight Simulator.)

When you're not in the Cab view, such as when you're watching the train from the outside or sitting in one of the passenger cars, you can still use the keyboard and joystick to control the train.

Q. What are the minimum system requirements?

A. Since we're still developing Train Simulator, we have not yet set the minimum system requirements. But we do know that the train enthusiast audience tends not to be "hard core" gamers, so we're working very hard to ensure great performance on a wide range of systems and to make the visual experience as customizable as possible. As soon as the minimum system requirements are determined, we'll post them to this Web site.

Q: Since the Microsoft Simulations group is responsible for both Microsoft Flight Simulator and Microsoft Train Simulator, are you using the same technology to build both products?

A: While the two products do share a common vision, design principles, and the commitment to being "As Real as it Gets", Microsoft Train Simulator uses its own technology that is optimized for the demands of on-the-ground railroading.

Q: Will I be able to use Microsoft Flight Simulator tools and add-ons for Microsoft Train Simulator?

A: Since Microsoft Train Simulator uses a different core technology and scenery system, you will not be able to use Microsoft Flight Simulator tools. However, Microsoft Train Simulator will include its own set of graphical tools that allow you to build your own routes by shaping the terrain, laying track and signals, placing objects, and so on.

Q: I've seen different weather types in Microsoft Train Simulator, but will I be able to drive at different times of the day and night?

A: Definitely. The world of Microsoft Train Simulator runs on a 24-hour clock, so you can create activities that start at any time of the day. For example, you can watch the sun set in Montana or the moon rise in the Austrian Alps (headlights on for safety!).