Ref. 28537-55Trains and railways have long held a deep fascination among children and adults alike and, for many, the ultimate rail-related hobby is the painstaking creation of amazingly detailed models.

But now train simulation computer games are giving the traditionalists a run for their money and not everybody is happy, reports KEVIN SHOESMITH.

Move over, old-fashioned train-sets, rail fans everywhere are going digital with train-simulation computer games. And former Great Western Railway workers are among some of the hi-tech games' keenest fans.

Sales of the virtual reality train sets, launched just before Christmas, are booming, with scores of Swindon train buffs having already snapped them up.

Paul Hope, store manager of Game in Regent Street, says there has been a surprise rise in the popularity of both flight and rail simulation games.

Now, with the launch of Trainz Railway Simulator 2004 by Just Trains and Microsoft's Train Simulator, even more train buffs can fulfil their childhood dream of driving rare steam engines.

For £29.99, fans can navigate their favourite locomotives, including GWR models, along routes they design themselves all from the comfort of their armchair.

Mr Hope says many of his customers are former Great Western Railway workers looking for a modern way to interact with their grandchildren.

"The other day, a man who worked at the Swindon works for 40 years bought one of the games," he said.

"This seems to be the general trend in the town. People of this age group are not into the shooting games they want something relaxing and these games provide that escapism."

Mr Hope believes the games will help raise the profile of railway modelling and memorabilia collecting.

He said: "These simulations will not see the end to traditional model making and collecting.

"Instead, it will open the hobby up to more people. Initially, it was thought that DVDs would see an end to people going to the cinema but that hasn't happened."

Neil Tiley, 47, chairman of the Swindon Model Railway Club welcomed the games.

Mr Tiley, who lives in Desborough, Freshbrook, said: "I have seen them and they look quite impressive.

"They should enhance the hobby in the same way that Harry Potter did, which included a GWR locomotive."

But not everybody is impressed by the rise of digital locos. Nick Lamkin, 52, secretary of the club, says it is impossible to recreate the marvels of the railway on a computer even with the most advanced technology.

"These games could see an end to children's train sets but the real enthusiasts will keep modelling," he said.

"After all, the men who built the locomotives all those years ago didn't use computers they used real paint and so do we."

Mr Lamkin of Olivers Close, West Swindon, who built his first model at the age of eight, added: "In modelling, if a logo happens to cover a bolt or hinge we will make it bigger or change it a little, a computer game will not have that scale of detail.

"The games have their place but our members prefer real model-making."