MS Train Sim here. Too bad it’s no longer produced.
MSTS here too.
It’s out of date and clunky, and it wasn’t state of the art at the time, and it also has some inherent limitations, but it’s the best we’ve got, and the rail simming community has tweaked extra performance out of it, and has also provided incredible 3D models and routes that leave the Microsoft default ones for dead. The thing that I love about it is that not only am I on the footplate, but unlike a model railway, I can travel through hundreds of miles of non-repetitive scenery. Some guys have modeled the line where I grew up, and it is absolutely true to life.
In a bit of a rush to go getting links, but there’s plenty of stuff on Google, including rail simming forums. There’s a big enthusiast community out there.
There’s also a free simulator called Boso View Express (BVE). It’s Japanese, and although it is very limited in some ways (cab view only [ no external view], and next to no scenery), some say the physics of it are superior to MSTS. There are quite a few free routes and trains to download too. It might be worth trying this one before you go and buy MSTS, although MSTS is probably only $5 these days, in the bargain bin out the front of the store.
I’ve been seen MSTS at $8 all over the place. Physics are not my main concern. What I care most is about the ability to design my routes and scenery. Is that reasonably easy in MSTS, the reviews I have seen don’t focus much on that.
Yeah, but you can find copies around. Try e-bay. Also there is a load of 3rd party add-ins, and before I post this I see that TheLoadedDog has talked a lot about this in his post that makes me want to get back into the game. Can I ask you TLD, what line is it you are talking about and where can I download it?
Well, every model railroad doesn’t have to be an oval on a 4x8! My N module is going to be 3x8, but it connects to N-Trak on one end and will connect to my other modules on the other, so it is pretty linear except that I shunted the third NTrak line to the back of the module with a wye to get it’s unprototypical ass out of the way. As soon as it ducks around the scenery it becomes a staging yard. 
The railroad will be essentially point to point when it is done sometime in 2027 with some holding tracks to bring trains on and off the “stage”. If someone can recommend a decent free image host, I will post scans of my plans and construction pics from time to time.
And this is one of the reasons that I am going to use N scale in a linear series of module. N lets you use a larger scale radius and gives you the space to use some nice elongated turnouts. I am using Peco #8 turnouts and I think they look very nice, especially if you are not seeing them head on, as you won’t with a modular shelf layout. The spectator will always be seeing them from the side.
In regards to out of scale rails, as I mentioned before, Peco code 55 looks pretty fabulous in N when dressed right, and really if this is all that is keeping you out of the hobby, well, that is pretty feeble. In model railroading we always must make compromises. We selectively compress to give the impression of a place or a building without it eating up too much of our precious layout space. How artfully this is done is what separates the men from the boys, if you think about it.
I have found the book by the Disney Imagineers to be very helpful in my thinking here, although it has nothing directly to do with model railroading.
I would like to point out that one of the coolest model railroad books I have gotten is the NTrak manual. It is like sixteen bucks and is about as chock full of really great ideas, track plans, very practical and clear benchwork construction diagrams and many other things of interest as anyone could ask for. It is an unknown gem and I highly commend it to anyone who is contemplating a shelf or modular layout in any scale, and especially if you are working in N, whether you have any interest in Ntrak or not.
It is nice to know there are a few other dopers that love railroads and model railroading. I never thought I would be talking about this on the board!
People! Where are the pictures?!
All these home railway systems, and no photos to show for it?
And if anyone doubts if some really first class modeling can be done in N, they should definitely check out some of the numerous pics in the NTrak manual. Although they are in black and white 
they show off some truly great modules with LOTS of scratchbuilding in evidence.
Well, about all I’ve got now are some plans and some benchwork, but as I said, if someone can point me to a good image host I will post pics as I progress. I hope to have the benchwork done shortly after my track arrives. I have some close plywood cuts to make so I want to fit the track first. It is being sent in a day or so so in a few weeks I will have some meaningful pics to post.
Sapo and Happy Wanderer, so as not to hijack this thread further with more train sim stuff, I’ve started a thread to answer your questions over here.
Excellent.
As a parting post to this thread. Although I have no experience in model trains (other than plastic trains with smiling faces in their fronts), I did study architecture and did more than my share of models. Also, I have done some 3D modelling and many principles apply.
The smaller the scale, the more you can get away with. Very small models allow you to just block the volumes of buildings and still have a great look. Details can be painted on rather than modelled.
You could have very detailed stations, purchased or whatever, and then just block off the surrounding buildings. Trees can be done with simple foam balls. Houses can be painted cardboard. It won’t look like a kiddie science fair project. It will look like an architectural model.
Bigger models mean you need to provide more detail to be believable.
Modelling is big fun (no pun intended). Enjoy!
You’re hearing from a lot of N-scale fans on this thread, but a fact to consider is that HO is much more popular, which has lots of benefits:
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More stuff available. This means that a higher level of detail is achievable, because there’s some competition among the suppliers to provide more and more detailed buildings, and because you can get thousands of little bits (window frames, trash cans, picket fences, street lights, cows, whatever) to flesh out your scenery.
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Cheaper. More suppliers (competition), economies of scale, and, on the secondary market, more stuff showing up at swap meets.
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More support available in user forums and whatnot.
N-scale is cool, no doubt, but the majority of railroad modellers pick HO, and there are reasons for that.
It looks like a new version is being produced. From here:
And this - especially your choice of words at the end of the quote - reminded me of a link that this thread is crying out for: German model railways derailed by filth. Possibly NSFW.
And from the Spiegel Online site (NSFW, but linked to through the link above) comes this gem:
They also had two deers having sex and a set of Policemen in heavy gear ‘apparently rounding up illegal aliens’ for your train station.
But considering that these all have ‘German’, ‘Train’, and ‘Nuremberg’, as descriptions, I guess they could have been worse.
A lot of years ago, a company made ‘scale scents’ for use on a layout.
I SO wanted to get the fish odor for a whorehouse…
See, now there would be another reason to go with HO. 
I would absolutely buy those sets!