Railway Simulations

The following are simple games from the mid 1980s written for the BBC Microcomputer (also available for the ZX Spectrum). We have converted them to RISC OS applications, including transcribing and updating the documentation into HTML help files.

The applications rely on two free utilities from the ARM Club: Graphical Task Windows (!Graphtask must have been seen by the filer) and the Windopen module (in the System:Modules directory, used to prevent multiple instances of !Graphtask starting up, one with each application).

Tested on RISC OS 5 on an Iyonix PC and a Titanium motherboard (but expected to work on RISC OS 4).

To exit the games use the ESCAPE key until the program has finished (star prompt displayed). If you just close the Graphical Task window instead of quitting properly, the keyboard auto-repeat may remain switched off for all applications.

We believe all these titles were originally by Dee-Kay Systems. We have been unable to find current contact details for this organization, or the name of anyone involved. We have searched the Patent Office trademarks database, and Companies House lists past and present, with no results. Despite this, if an original author of this software comes to light and wishes the software removed from this site, please contact us and we will do so.

If anyone has copies of other titles in this range (Network Exeter, Network Waterloo?), we would be pleased to obtain these.

Paddington Control - my favourite of this set, an arresting game where there is always something to do and which is difficult to complete well, with two screens (station platforms / route diagram)
Penzance Control - less demanding alternative to Paddington Control to play, although lack of a route diagram means constant referral to the map in the help file until you are used to it
the Thames Local Driving Simulation - Paddington to Oxford loco hauled commuter train. Not likely to hold the attention beyond a minute or two, being totally text based.
Cornish Riviera Driving Simulation - as above but Paddington to Exeter express with an HST or loco. Plays as the Thames Local except it sports a graphical speedometer (wow!)
Class 50 Fleet Manager - text based with several screens, manage the workings of a fleet of locos throughout the Western region.
Depotmaster Old Oak Common - one screen; manage diesel locomotives only into, out of and within the depot

There is a more advanced and recent railway control simulation called !Rail28 for RISC OS, however this does not appear to be 32 bit compatible.