The major trend in model railroading over the past few decades has been toward smaller and smaller scales, reflecting the increasingly cramped quarters most of us inhabit.
The Railroad Works (TRW) from CBS Software takes this trend about as far as it can go, compressing an entire model railroad construction kit into the space of a floppy disk.
We might call this "binary gauge".
Some severe design compromises were necessary to compress the three-dimensional world of model trains into the two-dimensional environment of the computer display screen.
Nevertheless, this is a solidly crafted and highly entertaining product.
The best entertainment software usually combines elements of creative imagination with the competitive play features of hand-eye coordination and reaction time.
TRW is extremely flexible in this respect.
You can create your own model train layout from scratch, and operate for the sheer joy of going "chow-chow", or you can call up a ready-made array of track and scenery from the disk, and play for points as you race to deliver boxes of software, tanks of water, cattle and carloads of passengers.
On the 48K Apple version, the program has an unusually long loading time.
Your wait is rewarded with a nice bit of music an opening menu prompts you to select joystick, mouse or keyboard cursor control.
You really need a joystick or mouse, the keyboard is too slow.
The main menu selections include: Construct, Operate, Play Game, Save, Load, Clear Layout and Change Engine and Cars.
To construct a layout, you move the cursor to lay track, position scenery and locate your factories, depot water tanks and similar economic assets.
The C-64 version has a richer selection of scenery and graphics.
Any layout you create can be named, saved to disk and later recalled.
The trains themselves can only be described as cute.
You have a choice of 19th Century steam or modern diesel-electric locomotives and corresponding freight, tank, cattle and passenger cars.
Throttle control and switching are handled very nicely.
You select the engine throttle icon, which gives you a throttle display indicator at the bottom of the screen.
You then use the joystick to move between Reverse, Stop and Forward.
Your locomotive, and everything attached, moves as you command.
To throw a switch, you position the cursor at the junction of two tracks and click the joystick button.
Loading and unloading cargo is accomplished in the same way, with some very clever animation effects.
For example, to unload freight cars a tiny fork lift truck comes out and carries away boxes.
By selecting the map icon, you can view a schematic layout of all twelve screens, with the depots and the current locations of your two trains indicated.
Collisions are possible, but utterly harmless.
The trains just stop, there are no derailments in binary gauge.
TRW is not a complete simulation of railroading, or even of model railroading, but it is great fun.
It is a creative, non-violent entertainment.
The C-64 and IBM versions are rather better than the Apple version.
Younger users may need a bit of help and encouragement before they get the hang of moving among the many options and functions.
Boot up, and all aboard!