Only a true rail fan would brave blizzard conditions to get a photo like this. Rick Selby's definitely a true rail fan

Rick Selby doesn't officially work on Train Simulator but he's one of the major reasons the simulation is so realistic. In his other life, Rick works full-time for Microsoft as a training Program Manager. But for the past two-and-a-half years he's been involved on his own time with the Train Simulator team as its undercover subject matter expert.

Subject matter experts (SMEs) are a key ingredient in simulation and game development, especially with simulations, because they often act as "keepers of the faith" when it comes to how real the game is.

A good SME gently steers developers towards the real workings of the subject matter without distracting from the product's ultimate entertainment value. As such, being a subject matter expert is a full-time job. That's why Rick Selby's contributions are so noteworthy. He contributed to Train Simulator with his own time.

Here's the BNSF 4723 from an angle that makes small rodents shutter. Don't try this shot at home unless it's with Train Simulator

Rick has written several articles for Model Railroader magazine and conducted the magazine's Student Fare column for several years. He's also been modeling in HO for well over 20 years and is very familiar with real railroad operations. Rick spent hours watching the Southern Pacific Railroad's operations when he wasn't busy with studies at Chico State in Chico, CA. He even met his wife on the railroad while she was working for the Yreka Western as a conductor on their summer excursion train The Blue Goose.

When Rick found out about the possibility of a Train Simulator simulation on the level of Microsoft Flight Simulator, he threw his proverbial hat into the ring. Little did he know he wasn't to get that hat back anytime soon. Rick ended up contributing prototype research, his photography skills and his knowledge of the subject.

What a beautiful shot

One of the more important tasks a SME does is to go on location with the sound and programming people to help facilitate their getting authentic sounds and functionality. In the case of the Burlington Northern and Santa Fe Marias Pass line, Rick also acted as the eyes and ears for the programmers since Kuju, the development team, is located in England.

After a practice trip up to the BNSF facilities in Everett, Washington to scope out sound equipment fittings, a research team headed to Marias Pass in October 1999. Rick, Rod Fergusson (Program Manager), Matt Johnston and Gordon Hempton (sound artists) headed off to Montana for four days of research on the BNSF Marias Pass line.

If it isn't snowing, it's raining in Montana during winter. Rick got a lot of use out of his polarizing filter for shooting through glass from inside a warm locomotive

Weather in Montana in October is usually on the cool side but it was cooler than Rick expected. "I'd been at Comdex in Las Vegas so I flew into Whitefish wearing shorts. Let's just say I had a lot of energy when I got off of the plane until I could get some warmer clothes on." The real warmth came from the BNSF crews.

A special train with BNSF Dash 9 number 4723 pulling about ten woodchip cars and a caboose was waiting for the gang at the Whitefish yard to survey the main line. BNSF also provided the Whitefish local, complete with a crew to help out--a railfan's dream come true. Nevertheless they had a lot of ground to cover in four days, especially considering the meets and passes they had to make with other priority freights.

"The BNSF Roadmaster, Lane Ross, was very accommodating. He brought us burgers and provided transportation wherever we needed," says Selby. "They were so accommodating that they even called us 'the Microsoft train' on the radio when talking to other trains or the dispatcher. We were worried about letting the cat out of the bag but I guess there weren't too many railfans out in the cold that time of year," grins Selby.

Details, detail, and more detail. Part of a SME's job is to make sure important details, like this switch stand, are photographed for use by the developers

On the third and fourth day of the trip, Rick and the crew met up with the Whitefish local, pulled by a GP38-2. While everyone else rode the local getting sounds and video, Rick rode along with the Roadmaster in the company truck, taking pictures along the way. Chasing the local gave Rick a lot of information he was able to later use for the Activities you see in the simulation.

Because his SME duties on Train Simulator weren't what he was getting paid for, Rick had to "go dark" on Train Simulator every once in a while. "There were periods where I'd have to stay away from Train Simulator two or three weeks at a time because [I was needed at] my real job," says Selby.

Other challenges include the aforementioned in-game Activities. "For people unfamiliar with real railroads, [The Activities] give the game a little more purpose other than just running trains and going backwards and forwards," says Selby.

Cabooses are almost extinct in mainline service and only used when required by law. The Whitefish local, for backing moves, is required to use this inherited Burlington Northern hack

Perhaps Rick's biggest contribution to Train Simulator was the photographic work he did on the project. He acted as the eyes for the Kuju team back in England. Rick shot over 60 rolls of film just on Marias Pass in four days. About the only thing Rick didn't document was each individual tie.

Rick also recorded a lot of the activity involved with the creation of Train Simulator so we'll be using more of his photos as we bring you stories on the making of Train Simulator in Insider. In the meantime, let's keep Rick our little secret.