With this background in computers/computer graphics and in railroad modeling, it wasn't difficult to see how I became an early candidate with the exciting developments that were coming with train simulation. In 2001 it finally came to life with the release of Microsoft Train Simulator (MSTS), which I bought the day it was available. Having just broken up my HO layout, computer train simulators would become my sole form of train modeling and for the next 5 years would totally dominate my train hobby.

After a few months of driving trains and discovering the difficulty in MSTS of building layouts, I began to follow closely the development of the then still-to-be-released Trainz program. It was advertised as a "model train simulation" and many of my MSTS friends snubbed it as a "toy" program. However, once I saw the ease of layout building I was hooked; and again I was there at the very beginning. With the release of the Community version I began an "affair" that has lasted till now (albeit with a few hiccups and the odd short-lived visits again at MSTS).

While I am a keen train enthusiast, I have always been keen on the "whole scene." My motto has been "the scene frames the loco," and that has been the basis for the development of my Pioneer Houses, my Nature Series and the Murchison Layouts.


Screenshot by Dion Riverlea.


Nature Series. Screenshot by Dion Riverlea.


Murchison Layout.


Murchison route logging operation.

A fantastic steam locomotive on a boring layout holds my interest very briefly, whereas a basic diesel on a well sceniced layout will keep me enthusiastic for a lot longer. I feel that when you add a fantastic steam locomotive to a highly detailed and realistic layout, you have a railroad modeler paradise! The Muchison Stage 2 layout took me over 3500 hours of work, but the result is that I can still enjoy the layout even though I know every inch of scenery and have been over it hundreds of times.

Another aspect of the hobby has been the many enthusiasts that I have come to know and the close friendships that I have developed with Trainzers whom I have never seen or met. One of these users (Narrowgauge) has become a close friend over the past few years and was a major help, inspiration and contributor to the Trainzone website, which continues to be a popular stopping off point for many Trainz users. Peter Pardoe-Matthews (Narrowgauge) was instrumental in fueling my passion for NG railroading, and his efforts and contributions have helped make Trainzone popular with the Trainz narrow gauge users.

I recently began working on a new "real" model layout in the garage in ON30 scale; a NG mainly-logging layout of course. This gives me a much needed break from the computer (I was spending up to 16 hours plus a day / 6 days a week on the "box"). While I am enjoying the computer break, I have retained my Trainz interest, and as I see more and more high detail layouts and models being developed, I can see that there is a long and exciting future ahead for the hobby.

For those curious about the "Sirgibby's" TRAINZONE website name and my Trainz username "Sirgibby", it comes from a series of books I have enjoyed and read a number of times by a famous Scottish author George McDonald. In the 19th Century he wrote a large series of Christian novels along the lines of Mark Twain, and "Wee Sir Gibby" remains one of my most favourite of his characters and is not only my Trainz username but the shortened version, "Gibby", is also the name of my collie dog.


The Suttons at home.

Happy TRAINZING!

Michael Sutton

Sirgibby's also provides a home for a number of Trainz narrow gauge creators, including Captain Bazza, Dirk Mewes, Greg Baker ("Gregbaker"), Peter Pardoe-Matthews ("Narrowgauge"), Mike Davis ("Whecsailor"), Max Nelson ("Elvenor"), Peter Fargo ("Peter5"), Rich Blake ("Slugmasher"), Ron Williams and, of course, Mike himself. - Ed.

John:

Thanks for letting us know about yourself Michael; it is a pleasure to visit your website and download all that wonderful equipment, scenery, buildings and the Murchison route. It is obvious that you have put tons of work into your creations and you have also made the creations of other folks available to us. Your site is a great place to visit and I’m sure everyone is grateful to you.

John