Evening Star

Evening Star is a video game in the simulation genre and published by Hewson Consultants Ltd. originally released in 1987. It is currently playable on Commodore 64, Amstrad CPC, BBC Micro.

Evening Star is basically an enhanced Southern Belle - a steam engine simulator - with the route changed to the early 1960s Somerset and Dorset line (Bath to Bournemouth, England) and the locomotive being the standard BR 'Evening Star' class 9F (2-10-0) (number 92220, the last British steam engine built) pulling the 'Pines Express'.

The game has a demo mode and seven scenarios of increasing difficulty, with the highest level giving you full control of the train, with all the gauges to keep an eye on, more problems arising and a random timetable to follow. You start at the station with the train stationary and have to get it moving. You have to maintain different levels of speed on the track to comply with the speed limits that are posted on the track and be attentive to the signals you will see along the way. You have to use the whistle correctly and you have to make sure the water, steam and coal levels are correct to make sure you keep to the schedule.

The game is viewed from a first person perspective with you in the cab of the train with all the levers and gauges in front of you. You can see the distance in front of you and the sides. In addition to the main playing area, you can see the speed, water and coal level, signals, grade indicator and time.

It is possible that we have multiple downloads available when different versions exist.