Before You Buy.. RailDriver USB Desktop Train Cab Controller for Train Simulator Review
RailDriver |
My Train Sim Desktop Setup —————————————
RailDriver |
Next Level Racing Flight Simulator Cockpit: Boeing |
TrackIr Head Tracking |
00:00 – RailDriver 1- year later
00:20 – Whats in the Box
01:00 – RailDriver Build Design
01:24 – RailDriver Axis Levers
03:13 – RailDriver Horn Review
03:33 – RailDriver Buttons Review
03:55 – RailDriver Speedometer
04:15 – RailDriver More Buttons
04:50 – RailDriver Compatibility List
05:30 – RailDriver Updates?
05:50 – RailDriver Is it Worth it?
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PC Specs ——————————————————————————
Blu Games PC was Custom Built by MainGear |
My Streaming / Recording Setup |
Motherboard: ASUS STRIX Z370-E Gaming w/ Wireless AC
Processor: Intel® CoreT i7 8700K 3.8GHz/4.7GHz Turbo SIX Core CPU w/Hyperthreading 12MB L3 Cache
Memory: 32GB HyperX FURY DDR4- 2666 (2x16GB)
Graphics Card: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 Ti 11GB GDDR5x with G-SYNC
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@markp213
03.03.2024I haven’t had any problems with the build quality at all, and have been using it for several years now. The built in speaker is actually an adjustable sub and sounds great and adds realism to the rumbling diesel sounds. The trains sound tinny without using it. Give it a try! …if running diesels.
@dorcarajamanimerugu3858
03.03.2024how much the controller man ?
@Hopeless-pw8ri
28.01.2024For 200€ you would expect fully metallic, non sticker build.
@Southeastern-Train-Channel
04.01.2024This thing looks sick! And a great review 👍 also do you know how much the thing costs? I’m quite interested in buying one for TSW
@FoxBoi69
04.01.2024is there something like this that looks like a taurus cab layout?
@PragmaticTornado
04.01.2024Had one of these for a decade (yep, a whole 10 years). It's a shame they seemingly never bothered to update this one, because the levers are insanely inaccurate, almost comically so. If I move one of the levers too fast, it often doesn't register the input at all, or only partially. Been like that since day 1. Tried calibrating about a hundred times. Wiper and light rotary switches are the same – often doesn't register the inputs so I have to flick the switch 2 or 3 times before it works. Again, since day 1.It's funny because it looks decent, and has a real heft to it. Sturdy plastic chassis too. In the end it's just way too expensive for what you get, though I will admit it is better than nothing. And I never understood the point of the speaker – maybe just to increase the weight of the unit so it feels more expensive..
@xtremegta6577
04.01.2024can i play train sim 3 with this? or only for 2
@josephn944
04.01.2024DTG needs to support custom axis commands. Obviously they have some ulterior motive for not doing so. All of us in the sim hobby have an axis controller that isn’t 20 years old and TSW has to be the only PC game I’ve ever heard of with axis input that only supports one controller (excluding gamepad). Dev’s are either greedy, lazy, or some combination of both. I’m glad flight sim world was a failure or we might not have MSFS.
@WhitfieldProductionsTV
04.01.2024this is the one controller I've been wanting. still not within my price range sadly.
@Olicat100
01.01.2024Can you use this on train sim world 3
Deimax Entertaiment!
17.11.2023I have a question. Does it works in roblox game Stepford County Railway?
Hannes Weinås
06.11.2023how you get the console
Jay Beckham
10.10.2023Thanks for the video. I have had mine for about 5 years or so. However, starting last week it won't work. I contacted P.E. and was told to load the 32bit software and then the 64bit before opening Steam and Train Simulator. I reloaded the software and tried several times but it just doesn't work anymore. It did work early last week but doesn't now.
RC Ricky B
14.09.2023I want one, but not at that price! This controller should retail for $69.99 at most! There are ads out there for over $325 for this. Outrageous!
Cryptic
14.09.2023What kind of keyboard we talking does it has a number pad is it all squished together
David Karaki
06.09.2023I´m speechless… You are really professional about this and I am genuinely impressed by how you are pulling this off making this review of this cheap, over priced low quality product actually making it sound really good! Kudos my friend, but NO, Na-ah! I´m gonna try to find words and be polite about this, just like you; "It´s small, feel a bit cheap, plastic and flimsy, which is not a bad thing cuz it will rise the price" (?) Really?? Rise the (over) price even more? …not Bad? – That´s EXACTLY what it is when you are expected to pay between 230-300 bucks (Only in the states, more fee´s for us over seas) for a child´s toy made for midgets (no offence to small people) And hold on to your HATS cuz it comes with BUILT IN SOUND MIND YOU!! 🤣Come on!!! Really?? However, I´m blaming DoveTail and dovetail only for not providing support for REGULAR lever controls such as traditional flight throttle lever controls instead of this expensive child´s toy which weirdly enough seem to have some kind of monopoly and priority as the only "decent controller" in the train sim as the 4th generation TSW comin up, go figure. And please don´t get me started with x-box pads and keyboards as an alternative, who are we kidding? I mean did anyone even notice how your hands so delicately and gently were fingertipping the levers … my goodness, that was sooo delicate and I can´t unsee it 😂 Makes me think of Ralph Wiggum in The Simpsons; " Im driving a train!!" -Great content man! U got a new follower!
Anthony McDonald
29.08.2023I bought my raildriver used, back in 2012. Its been awesome but over the years, the reverser and other controls arent as sesnasive as they used to be. Almost thinking about taking it apart and making it into a whole different design using the controls
Finlay O'Reilly
25.08.2023I dont like how it doesnt come with a notched axis for breaking or throttle which common on british trains
Terrance Moore
19.08.2023I’m new to this but very interested. Do u have to download anything or buy any train sim disc to operate the control stand
Gonzalo martos ruiz
11.08.2023Is it avaible in ps4
Larry Bundy Jr
06.08.2023But… has someone tried to beat Elden Ring with it yet? 😀
Carl Highsetland
06.08.2023Your are one of the best Engine Drivers that I have watched SO FAR.I love and live in your channel. I recommend that you start every "show" of yours showing that train simulator gadget.It is fantastic. When I saw you handling that, I ran to my cell phone to check whether there were something like that to sell. I loved that ! Now I am even more in love with train simulator games.Talk more about that to those like me who are newcomers – rookies.Ten years ago I thought about inventing a train simulator. I did not know that there was already train games. But only yesterday it was possible for me to watch these on my cell phone, which was a gift from my niece.Thank you for taking me on board of your train !Do not you think that there should be a virtual Engine Driver with their overalls and caps ou several for us to choose from. Send my suggestion to the Powers That Be. Tell them it was a suggestion from :Ass: The Railway Wolf.Santo Antonio de Goias/GO – BRAZIL.PS. I Prefer the word "Railway" instead of "Railroad" , What about you ?PUT ON A OVERALL TOO !DO NOT FORGET THE CAP !I love You .
WAR DADDY
02.08.2023I don’t know if I missed it. But does the rail driver work for console?
Bergen County Line Railfanner
24.07.2023Can we please have this TrainDriver Controller be usable on Xbox and Play Station this product would be bought way more frequently if this is playable on consoles
DCB229
02.07.2023it is a good product but my only complaint is that it needs to be made with quality materials and needs to be updated.
TheCujo71
02.07.2023I got one of these on ebay a few years ago. Practically new for $50. I love it. I am happy that I can use it with TSW, but it isn't a perfect solution. Much preferable to the controller.
Animal tvi
02.07.2023Love my raildriver. The only real grief I have is on TSW the button functions varies from locomotive to locomotive . Why can't they be the same as in train sim. One train the aws cancel isn't the alert button. Left and right don't always open the doors so you still stuck with the key board.
Electric Crystals
02.07.2023looks cool but it also seems very fragile because of the plastic material. Great review nonetheless! keep up the good work!
Nick D
02.07.2023I've been using "Raildriver" for quite a long time, and if you're thinking about buying it – spare your wallet, it's the most disgusting, plastic overpriced controller, (as if from a child's toy railroad set), of all the controllers I have seen (my passion is flightsims, so I had enough controllers), it's just a shame that there are no quality controllers for train simulator for a reasonable price, and what's worse Dovtail (TSW developer) doesn't allow you to use custom controllers, forcing you to use either this horrible piece of plastic from a toy train set or a gamepad, though any aircraft joystick is better for train control than this (again, I say this as someone who plugged his old dying Sitek X-52 into Train Simulator and is enjoying the BR442 ride)
PiperHawk
02.07.2023I agree with what Blu said except i had some button issues with it. They would work sometimes and not others. This thing is made with the cheapest plastic and buttons they could use. It just screams cheap. I returned it. I wish there was a better made alternative to this
Jennifer Adams
02.07.2023I like that you did a whole video on rail driver. I remember seeing one of your TSW streams and you did give a quick rundown on the controller. It's nice to see how much wobble or play is in different buttons/switches as the feel is a big factor for me. Great work
HK's flight simulations
30.06.2023I have become an official rail driver fan as well
Cholomondeley Biscuitt
30.06.2023This product is so dated considering we're now in 2023.. Sound on a 3mm Jack – Are we back in 2010? How the heck would I attach that to an All-in-One with a B&O sound system, would I even want to? The compatibility list on their poorly designed website reads like an Operating System history lesson – Windows 7, Vista… really? It's like they've thought "ah well, that'll do, they can a take it or leave it, what do we care.." Stickers too? I mean WTF?! It's as bad as my daughters Barbie house but with less rainbows 🌈. In the UK this lump of plastic retails at £275, which equates to around $330 – Sorry but NO, not at that price, not for hardware some 10 years out of date!
Cappen Boidseye
30.06.2023I have one, I don't think I have used it in over three years because of two major issues- the train brake lever keeps on drifting up slightly and applying a little bit of brakeit will not stay in the OFF position. Worse than that is the combined throttle/brake lever, which has so much backlash that it is unuseable, there is a lot of slack and flexing in the mechanism, so you need to move it maybe a quarter of the travel before anything happens, then move it a long way in the opposite direction before there is any response. This is not a calibration issue, it is a mechanical fault in the design. Having said that, I may try using some glue to eliminate the slack to see if that makes it more useable, hmmm! I keep thinking of making a video illustrating the problem, but haven't bothered even plugging the thing in for years.
Michael Newbury
30.06.2023I have had my raildriver now for 2 years and it was definitely worth the purchase. It has had made playing Train Simulator much easier than using a keyboard, since the add to Train Sim World been fun and enjoyabke. Sad the stickers cannot with stand use but that is a small issue.
That One Guy
30.06.2023Think theirs a way to rig this up for a ps5?
schweizerleague
30.06.2023it look alike toy for children 😀
dont
30.06.2023Any idea can you anything like this for ps4/5?thanks
Dot Rail
30.06.2023just wish it was not so much in aud its 313 dollars i mean im still buying it but geez any discount would help 😉
BestBaconMan45
30.06.2023Oh one question, does the reverser come out of the RailDriver or does it stay in? Just wondering.
TomBulva
30.06.2023Is there any tool/way to assign axes control for my own use (specifically SimRail). There is MacroWorks that allows you to configure all the buttons, but I would like to assign specific commands to the lever as well. And not necessarily continuously, it is enough to assign appropriate commands to the ends of the axes …
If it is possible ???
ЖД Nikitos
29.06.2023and this controller will work Train sim world 3 on ps5?
Δημήτρης Σταμπούλογλου
29.06.2023Works for ps4? or with any modification?
Christopher Jones
29.06.2023Has anyone ever experienced a electric odor coming from it
Yumpin Yiminy
29.06.2023My only issue is that they are still charging to much $ for a 10 year old design.
Cruz Garcia
29.06.2023Wish they had one for PS4 PRO
DAGemini 13th
29.06.2023I wish they made one for ps5 😢
coffeeguy 66
29.06.2023I bought one here in the UK a few months ago , I was on the fence for a while due to the cost, over £200 ! But, I use it every time I play TSW 3 now in conjunction with a Xbox Series X controller for the external camera. It is really good and gives a bit more immersion.
fiying scotsman
29.06.2023I'm so confused Does it work on playstation
David Hernandez
29.06.2023does this work for train sim world 3?