What is Microsoft Train Simulator, and does it still work on modern Windows?
Microsoft Train Simulator (MSTS) is Microsoft’s 2001 PC railway simulator, built around driving passenger and freight services on recreated routes. It is discontinued and unsupported, but it can still run on many Windows 10 and Windows 11 PCs. Expect manual setup, compatibility fixes and possible trouble with original-disc copy protection.
What exactly is Microsoft Train Simulator?
Microsoft Train Simulator, usually shortened to MSTS, is a Microsoft-published railway simulator developed with Kuju Entertainment. It includes diesel, electric and steam traction, scheduled activities, multiple international routes, and tools for creating routes and activities.
It is a separate product from Train Simulator Classic and Train Sim World. Microsoft no longer sells or supports MSTS, but the community still produces and preserves compatible content; our archive of MSTS freeware routes and rolling stock shows the range available.
Discontinued does not mean freeware. You still need a legitimate copy of the base simulator or legitimately installed MSTS assets before using its original content with another engine.
Does MSTS work on Windows 10 and Windows 11?
MSTS can work on Windows 10 and 11, but it is not a supported plug-and-play application. The game predates 64-bit Windows, User Account Control, high-DPI displays and modern graphics drivers, so results depend on the release, installation location, display configuration and original CD protection.
The main obstacle is often not the simulation engine itself. Some disc editions use legacy copy protection that modern Windows blocks for security reasons. Compatibility mode may help an old program, but it cannot restore a copy-protection driver that Windows deliberately refuses to load.
This guidance assumes a conventional x86-64 Windows PC. Windows on ARM adds another emulation layer and is less predictable.
Should I use the original MSTS engine or Open Rails?
Use the original engine when you want authentic MSTS menus, behaviour and editing tools; use Open Rails when train.exe is blocked or unstable.
| Option | Choose it when | Main limitation |
|---|---|---|
Original train.exe | You need original activities, menus or editor behaviour exactly as MSTS presents them | Legacy DRM, display and permissions problems |
| Open Rails | You want to run legitimately installed MSTS routes and trains through a modern, separate engine | It does not reproduce every MSTS activity, physics behaviour or editing tool exactly |
How do I install MSTS on modern Windows?
The most reliable approach is a clean installation outside Windows’ protected application folders, followed by the official update before any add-ons.
- Start with genuine installation media. Check both discs for damage and use a reliable optical drive. Avoid modified installers and replacement executables from unknown archives.
- Choose a simple custom folder. A path such as
C:\MSTSavoids many write-permission problems associated withProgram Files. Reinstall there rather than dragging an existing installation between folders, because registry paths may still point to the old location. - Run the normal installer first. If it does not start, right-click its setup program and use administrator privileges for the installation only. Keep the discs available when prompted.
- Apply the official patch. Install our archived Version 1.2 official update and confirm that it targets the same MSTS root folder. The update fixes original-era issues, but it cannot solve every modern DRM or graphics conflict.
- Test an unmodified installation. Launch a built-in route and activity before adding rolling stock, routes or unofficial patches. This separates a Windows compatibility fault from a broken add-on.
- Change compatibility settings individually. If
train.exefails, test Windows XP compatibility mode, disabled fullscreen optimisations or application-controlled high-DPI scaling one at a time. Running the game permanently as administrator should be a last resort, not the default.
Do not replace Windows system DLL files or install an unverified “no-CD” executable. Those shortcuts create security risks and make later troubleshooting much harder.
What if train.exe still will not run?
The exact symptom usually distinguishes a damaged installation from blocked disc protection or an old display setting.
| Symptom | Likely cause | Best next step |
|---|---|---|
| Setup stops or repeatedly requests a disc | Dirty media, optical-drive trouble or an incorrect installation path | Check the discs and drive, then repeat a clean installation into a short custom folder |
| “Please login with administrator privileges and try again” or an unexpected CD request | Legacy disc verification blocked by Windows | Apply the official update; if the check remains blocked, use legitimate MSTS assets with Open Rails rather than downloading a modified executable |
| Black screen, immediate exit or unusable menus | Fullscreen, resolution, high-DPI or overlay conflict | Start with one display and a conservative resolution, disable overlays, then test compatibility options separately |
| Settings or activities will not save | MSTS is installed under a protected folder | Reinstall outside Program Files instead of granting broad administrator access |
| Base game works but crashes after adding content | Bad folder nesting, missing dependencies or overwritten shared files | Remove the latest addition, restore the backup and reinstall one package at a time |
Do old MSTS routes and locomotives still work?
Most MSTS add-ons still work when their files, dependencies and folder structure are correct. Rolling stock normally belongs under TRAINS\TRAINSET, consists under TRAINS\CONSISTS, and routes under ROUTES.
A common mistake is creating an extra nested folder, leaving the actual .eng or .wag files one level too deep. A locomotive may also be installed correctly but remain unavailable because it has no consist, or because its cab view and sounds are aliased to stock you do not have. This folder-based Genesis locomotive package illustrates the older installation style found in many MSTS downloads.
Back up the installation before adding routes or replacing shared track files. Install and test one package at a time; bulk-copying several old archives is the fastest way to lose track of which dependency or overwritten file caused a failure.
In practical terms, MSTS remains usable on modern Windows, but the original executable is best treated as legacy software. Keep it for authentic MSTS behaviour when it runs reliably; choose Open Rails when Windows blocks the old engine or you want a more compatible way to use an existing MSTS collection.