OpenBVE Train Simulator (OBTS) is a freeware OpenSource application for PCs running WindowsXP\Vista\7\8, Linux, or MacOSX; the source, compiled programs, documents, & addons are public domain without registered Copyright\Patent\Trademark, & maybe freely Used\Modified\Distributed without License\Attribution. The program runs legacy 2D BVE2TrainSim(B2TS), BVE4TrainSim(B4TS) & the latest 3D OpenBVETrainSim content from developers in a diverse user community. Subway, Tram, LightRail, MainLine, Freight & Passenger content is available, depicting worldwide historical & modern railways & rollingstock. You can operate trains with a view over cab controls of the track ahead, or from lineside roaming the 3D scenery & train exterior. The goal is to complete a selected route on schedule, obeying signals, without speeding\derailing.
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OBTS Features
- Selectable Railway & Train Combinations
- Selectable Cab, Roaming, RunBy, & Helicopter Views
- Selectable Screen Resolution, Size, & Filtering
- Realistic Railcar Sway & Derailments
- Support For Legacy BMP, GIF, JPG, & New PNG Images
- Support For Legacy B3D, CSV, & X 3D Objects, Plus ANIMATED Assemblies
- Support For Legacy WAV & New FLAC Sound Formats, Plus 3D Rendering
- Support For Legacy RW & New CSV Railway Formats
- Support For Legacy 2D Cabs & New 3D Cabs\Exteriors
- Support For Legacy Windows & New CrossPlatform DLL Custom Controls
- Viewer\Editors For Objects, Railways, & Trains
- 3D Modeling Program PlugIns (Blender, MilkShape, SketchUp...) For Generating B3D\CSV\X Objects
OBTS Recommended Minimum Hardware
- PC\MAC, P4\Sempron 2.6GHz CPU + 2GB CRAM
- Dedicated Nvidia\ATI GPU + 128MB GRAM (Integrated\Shared Graphics NOT Recommended)
- HardDrive 20MB Space For Program + 20GB Space For Addons
- 1024x768 Monitor + 104key Board + 3button Mouse + RailDriver (Optional, See http://sites.google.com/site/raildriver4openbve)
OBTS Programs & Documents
OBTS programs & addons are typically uploaded & published as ZIP or RAR or 7Z archives, which must be extracted or unzipped after download. Before downloading any OBTS files, it is recommended to first download & install the latest freeware version of 7Zip Archive Manager from http://www.7-zip.org. 7ZIP handles both new & legacy formats (ZIP, RAR, EXE, CAB, TAR, 7Z, etc). Older archivers (WinZIP, WinRAR, etc) are not recommended, as they can not read or extract many newer formats.
Stable versions of the OBTS program; carefully follow install instructions below for your operating system; specific folders & several dependencies are required:
- OBTS v1430_2013Aug28 DownLink0 or DownLink1
- OBTS v1420_2012Jun29 DownLink0 or DownLink1
- OBTS v1412_2012May06 DownLink
- OBTS v1214_2011Nov24 DownLink ~ WAV Sound Only, FLAC Sound NOT Supported!
- OBTS v1000_2009Mar23
- OBTS vBETA_2008Apr10
Developing versions of the OBTS program; install & use these cautiously, & remember to send feedback to the developer:
- OBTS v1432_2014Dec29 DownLink ~ Slower Than v1430 Due To New Features, Compatible With OBTS Addons
- OBTS v143a_2013Nov19 DownLink0 or DownLink1 ~ Faster Than v1430 Due To Disabled Features, Compatible With OBTS Addons
- HmmSim v1110_2014Sep08 DownLink ~ Only For SmartPhones & Old BVE Addons, Incompatible With Windows & OBTS Addons
Links to OBTS documents for reference by users & developers:
If an error message displays when attempting to run OBTS, such as
- "Access to path C:\... is denied"
- "Process terminated due to an unhandled exception"
it is likely UserAccessControl(UAC) is enabled or a required dependency (SDL, OpenAL, .Net, etc) is not installed proper; review the instructions below for your operating system to insure UAC is disabled, that all required dependencies are installed, & that Program+Railway+Train Folders\Files are arranged proper.
OBTS Addon Developer Tools
- http://www.flos-freeware.ch/notepad2.html ~ Editor For ANIMATED+B3D+CSV+CFG+DAT+TXT Files; Do NOT Use MS-EXCEL!
- http://www.irfanview.com ~ Editor For BMP+GIF+JPG+PNG Files
- http://audacity.sourceforge.net/download ~ Editor For WAV+FLAC Files
- http://bveklub.hu/developing ~ Object+Train+Railway Editor Guides
- http://www.mediafire.com/view/?ru6adz4or050te0 ~ Object Editor Guide
- http://www.roman-road.co.uk/temp/tutorial ~ Train Editor Guide; B4TS Format But Still Useful
- http://web.archive.org/web/20130221235831/http://www.freewebs.com/dennislance ~ Railway Editor Guide; B4TS Format But Still Useful
- http://minos.ingyenweb.hu/keret.cgi?/BVE/Terra ~ Railway Terrain Generator Program & Demo Route
- http://shadow93.info/CT1660/openBVE_DLC_files/openbve_stable.7z ~ ObjectViewer v132a; Latest As Of This Writing
- http://shadow93.info/CT1660/openBVE_DLC_files/openbve_stable.7z ~ RouteViewer v143a; Latest As Of This Writing
- http://shadow93.info/CT1660/openBVE_DLC_files/openbve_stable.7z ~ Train.Dat Editor v1212a; Latest As Of This Writing
- http://shadow93.info/CT1660/openBVE_DLC_files/openbve_stable.7z ~ ObjectBender v1006a; Latest As Of This Writing
- http://odakyufan.zxq.net/openbveats/index.html ~ Train DLL, Windows\Linux\Mac, OBTS Default
- http://odakyufan.zxq.net/odakyufanats/index.html ~ Train DLL, Windows\Linux\Mac, Japanese
- http://railsimroutes.net/libraries/uktrainsys/index.php ~ Train DLL, Windows\Linux\Mac, British
- http://web.archive.org/web/20121231030653/http://koti.welho.com/tuusaare/OS_ATS1_3.zip ~ Train DLL, WindowsOnly, Steam\Diesel\Electric Configurable
- http://blitz3d.pnz.ru/easytool/page_e.php?cont=info_e ~ Object Editors
- http://blitz3d.pnz.ru/easytool/page_e.php?cont=rwcsv_e ~ Railway Convertor, Old RW To New CSV Format
- http://rieszj.atw.hu/txtcalc.php ~ B3D Object Image Coordinate Calculator
- http://www.zabikowo.net/kolej/BVE2/tools ~ Editors For Objects+Railways+Trains
- http://www.ruedes-bve-seite.de/switch15.zip ~ Editor For Objects
- http://www.blender.org/download/get-blender ~ Editor For Objects
- http://web.archive.org/web/20121231030653/http://koti.welho.com/tuusaare/BVE-Blender_import-export.zip ~ PlugIn For Blender
- http://routebuilder.bve-routes.com/blender-to-b3d.zip ~ Plugin For Blender
OBTS Installation Under WindowsXP
- Make a new OBTS folder with these subfolders:
- C:\Documents and Settings\YourUserName\Application Data\OBTS\Program\
- C:\Documents and Settings\YourUserName\Application Data\OBTS\Program\OpenAL\
- C:\Documents and Settings\YourUserName\Application Data\OBTS\Program\MS.NET\
- C:\Documents and Settings\YourUserName\Application Data\OBTS\Railway\Object\
- C:\Documents and Settings\YourUserName\Application Data\OBTS\Railway\Route\
- C:\Documents and Settings\YourUserName\Application Data\OBTS\Railway\Sound\
- C:\Documents and Settings\YourUserName\Application Data\OBTS\Train\
- Download OpenBVE from
- Extract the 7Z file to subfolder C:\Documents and Settings\YourUserName\Application Data\OBTS\Program\
- Download SDL from
- Extract the ZIP file to subfolder C:\Documents and Settings\YourUserName\Application Data\OBTS\Program\
- Download OpenAudioLibrary from
- To subfolder C:\Documents and Settings\YourUserName\Application Data\OBTS\Program\OpenAL\
- Extract the ZIP file & run the installer.
- Download MS.NET4 from
- To subfolder C:\Documents and Settings\YourUserName\Application Data\OBTS\Program\MS.NET\
- Run the MS.NET4 installer.
OBTS Installation Under WindowsVista
- Disable UserAccountControl(UAC):
- Click START\CONTROL PANEL\CLASSIC VIEW\USER ACCOUNTS\
- Click USER ACCOUNT CONTROL OFF
- Click OK, then REBOOT
- Make a new OBTS folder with these subfolders:
- C:\Users\YourUserName\Application Data\OBTS\Program\
- C:\Users\YourUserName\Application Data\OBTS\Program\OpenAL\
- C:\Users\YourUserName\Application Data\OBTS\Program\MS.NET\
- C:\Users\YourUserName\Application Data\OBTS\Railway\Object\
- C:\Users\YourUserName\Application Data\OBTS\Railway\Route\
- C:\Users\YourUserName\Application Data\OBTS\Railway\Sound\
- C:\Users\YourUserName\Application Data\OBTS\Train\
- Download OpenBVE from
- Extract the 7Z file to subfolder ...\OBTS\Program\
- Download SDL from
- Extract the ZIP file to subfolder ...\OBTS\Program\
- Download OpenAudioLibrary from
- To subfolder ...\OBTS\Program\OpenAL\
- Extract the ZIP file & run the installer.
- Download MS.NET4.5 from
- To subfolder ...\OBTS\Program\MS.NET\
- Run the MS.NET4.5 installer.
OBTS Installation Under Windows7\8
- Disable UserAccountControl(UAC):
- Press WINDOWS+E
- Click COMPUTER\OPEN CONTROL PANEL\VIEW\LARGE ICONS\
- Click USER ACCOUNTS\CHANGE USER ACCOUNT SETTINGS\
- Slide to NEVER NOTIFY
- Click OK, then REBOOT
- Make a new OBTS folder with these subfolders:
- C:\Users\YourUserName\Application Data\OBTS\Program\
- C:\Users\YourUserName\Application Data\OBTS\Program\OpenAL\
- C:\Users\YourUserName\Application Data\OBTS\Program\MS.NET\
- C:\Users\YourUserName\Application Data\OBTS\Railway\Object\
- C:\Users\YourUserName\Application Data\OBTS\Railway\Route\
- C:\Users\YourUserName\Application Data\OBTS\Railway\Sound\
- C:\Users\YourUserName\Application Data\OBTS\Train\
- Download OpenBVE from
- Extract the 7Z file to subfolder ...\OBTS\Program\
- Download SDL from
- Extract the ZIP file to subfolder ...\OBTS\Program\
- Download OpenAudioLibrary from
- To subfolder ...\OBTS\Program\OpenAL\
- Extract the ZIP file & run the installer.
- Download MS.NET4.5 from
- To subfolder ...\OBTS\Program\MS.NET\
- Run the MS.NET4.5 installer.
- On each OBTS program shortcut:
- RightClick PROPERTIES\COMPATIBILITY
- Check RUN AS ADMINSITRATOR
- Click OK