Learn how to install Train Simulator Classic reskins from .rwp or ZIP files, copy required geometry, clear the cache and fix missing liveries.
To install a Train Simulator Classic reskin, first install its required base locomotive or DLC. Use Utilities.exe for an .rwp package, or copy a manual download’s Assets folder into the RailWorks folder. Follow the included instructions for any .GeoPcDx file, then clear the simulator cache and restart.
What do I need before installing a reskin?
Every reskin needs the exact base model named by its author, because the download usually contains new textures and blueprints rather than a complete locomotive. Owning a similar locomotive or another version of the same class is not enough; the required developer, product and model must match.
Install and test the base DLC first, then read the reskin’s instructions before copying anything. Check for requirements such as an enhancement pack, a specific model variant or a separately supplied cab. Our guide to checking free add-ons, dependencies and package formats explains what to inspect before trusting a download.
Most reskins create a separate vehicle, but some are replacements that overwrite an existing livery. Back up any files that the instructions say will be replaced. A mistake we see constantly is assuming every repaint installs as an additional locomotive.
Which reskin installation method should I use?
Use Package Manager for an .rwp file and manual copying for an archive containing folders such as Assets or RailWorks.
| Download format | Installation method | Main advantage |
|---|---|---|
.rwp | Train Simulator Classic Utilities | Package Manager records the installed files and can usually remove them later. |
| ZIP or similar archive | Copy its supplied folders into RailWorks | Supports reskins requiring manual geometry copying or extra instructions. |
| Replacement textures | Follow the author’s paths exactly | Changes an existing livery, but requires a backup for easy restoration. |
How do I install an .rwp reskin?
- Close Train Simulator Classic. Do not install files while the simulator or its editors are running.
- Locate the RailWorks folder. Use Steam’s local-files browser if necessary. A typical installation ends in
steamapps\common\RailWorks, although another Steam library can place it elsewhere. - Open Utilities. Run
Utilities.exefrom that folder, open Package Manager and refresh the package list if requested. - Install the package. Select the installation control, choose the downloaded
.rwpfile and wait for the operation to finish. Large packages can take time to register. - Complete any extra instructions. An
.rwpcan still require a separately copied geometry file, so do not skip its readme. - Clear the cache. Start the simulator, use the Clear Cache command in its settings or tools area, and allow it to restart.
For more detail on refreshing, installing and removing packages, see our explanation of the Utilities Package Manager controls.
How do I install a reskin manually?
A manual reskin must preserve the folder structure supplied by its author.
- Extract the download to a temporary folder. Do not extract it blindly over the simulator until you have found the readme and inspected the paths.
- Identify the archive’s intended root. If it begins with
Assets, copy that folder into the realRailWorksfolder. If it begins withRailWorks, copy the contents of that supplied folder into your existing installation. - Merge folders rather than replacing them. The normal destination resembles
RailWorks\Assets\Provider\Product\.... Do not create accidental paths such asRailWorks\RailWorks\AssetsorAssets\Assets. - Handle geometry exactly as instructed. If the readme names a
.GeoPcDxfile, copy it from the specified base locomotive folder into the specified reskin folder. Copy it rather than moving it, and do not substitute a similarly named model. - Clear the simulator cache and restart. This rebuilds the asset database so that new blueprints can be detected.
The geometry step is often required because the original 3D model cannot be redistributed with a repaint. If the required file is stored inside the base DLC’s .ap archive, extract only the instructed file with a compatible archive utility and leave the original package intact.
Why is the reskin not showing in Train Simulator Classic?
A missing reskin is usually caused by an absent dependency, an incorrect folder level, missing geometry or the lack of a Quick Drive consist.
- No Quick Drive entry: the reskin may contain rolling stock but no Quick Drive preload. Look for it in the consist or scenario editor under the provider and product named in the instructions.
- Invisible body with visible cab or couplings: the required
.GeoPcDxfile is missing, in the wrong folder or from an incompatible base model. - Black, grey or corrupted textures: texture files are missing, the archive was copied to the wrong level, or the reskin was made for another version of the model.
- Asset not listed in the editor: enable the relevant provider and product in the editor’s object-set filter, then clear the cache again.
- Scenario still uses the old livery: installing a reskin does not automatically alter existing scenarios. The locomotive must be placed in a new consist or substituted using the scenario locomotive-swapping procedure.
If the files appear correct but the stock remains unavailable, work through the checks for missing base locomotives, incorrect asset folders and stale cache data.
How do I uninstall a reskin safely?
Remove an .rwp reskin through Package Manager; remove a manual reskin only by deleting the files or dedicated folder listed in its documentation.
Never delete an entire shared provider or product directory just to remove one livery. If a replacement reskin overwrote official textures, restore your backup or verify the simulator files through Steam. File verification can restore altered official files, but it may leave unrelated third-party files in place.