# Rails & Trains — Model railroads: build and run > Virtual model railroad simulator for building, operating, and solving puzzles. (iPhone/iPad app by Sergey Ilyevsky.) - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/rails-and-trains/id406134605 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`) - Developer: [Sergey Ilyevsky](https://appshunter.io/developer/382246060) - Category: Games, Puzzle, Simulation - Price: Free with in-app purchases - Rating: 4.00/5 from 77 App Store ratings · 20 written reviews indexed - Age rating: 4+ - Requires: iOS 17.0 · 18 MB - Languages: American English - Released: 2011-03-16 - Data updated: 2026-10-08 - Monetization: free with in-app purchases - User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/rails-and-trains/id406134605/reviews.md ## What is Rails & Trains? Rails & Trains is a virtual model railroad for iPhone and iPad. Build and run your own railroads, or solve a hundred challenging puzzle levels! • Build railroads from track segments, switches, cars, locomotives and signals • When your railroad is ready, run it: drive trains, toggle switches, operate signals, couple and decouple cars PUZZLE MODE: • Cars and rails come in several colors: deliver every car to rails of its own color • Watch out not to crash your trains or derail them at the switches • Most levels have a timer: finish fast to earn points, Game Center achievements and a place on the leaderboards FREEFORM MODE: • Build your own railroad, with as many switches, trains and signals as you like • Run it however you like, just don't crash FREE VERSION: • 10 tutorial levels • 12 sample levels - 3 in the style of each of the 4 packs in the full version • Freeform mode demo FULL VERSION (a single in-app purchase): + 4 more level packs, 20 levels each + Unlimited track, trains and signals in freeform mode + Level creator: save your freeform layouts and share them Demo: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IeMl-e7LC80 NOTE: Railroads in this game behave close to reality, and you control a lot of elements. If you like trains, you'll love it - but it isn't simple. To start playing quickly, watch the short demo video (linked from the game's help), then continue with the in-game tutorial. ## Key features - Build railroads with track segments, switches, and signals - Operate trains, toggle switches, and manage cars - Solve 100+ puzzle levels with color-coded delivery goals - Freeform mode for unlimited railroad creation - Realistic train physics and operation - Level creator and sharing in full version ## Pricing and in-app purchases Base price: Free. **One-time purchases** | Purchase | Price | Type | | --- | --- | --- | | Full Version | $1.99 | one-time | ## Is Rails & Trains safe? Rails & Trains appears mostly safe based on user ratings. The AppsHunter Safety Score for Rails & Trains is 78 out of 100. This assessment is based on 77 user ratings, with an App Store average of 4 out of 5. Of 77 App Store ratings, 68.8% point to a safe experience, 13.0% suggest some concerns, and 18.2% point to a risky experience. ## Is Rails & Trains legit? Rails & Trains appears legitimate, with a few gaps. The AppsHunter Legitimacy Score for Rails & Trains is 65 out of 100 points across 7 verification signals from App Store and developer data. ## Recent user reviews (10 of 20) All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/rails-and-trains/id406134605/reviews.md ### 2/5 — THIS WAS SUCH A LET DOWN... SAD! *2017-02-08* OK, this model railroad kit assembles easily for making your layouts quickly! THe locomotives and the rolling stock take mass into account so there are physics at play.. So trains take a bit to get going and a bit to slow as well.. Awesome! THe problem? The developer seems to have abandoned this, nothing has been touched in years, the rolling stock could be better, tree and buildings and roads etc to go with the whole model railroad thing would make this so awesome.. Model railroading a little more casual than trains and a lot more advanced than tommy the toy train engine.... If this was fleshed more and I'm not saying make it look so high tech it loses its charm... It just could use a lot more eye candy than green. Hexagonal grass tiles ### 2/5 — tends to freeze up *2014-12-08* Fun app - however would freeze up from time to time. had to uninstall and reinstall 4 times to complete the first 10 basic levels. if they could fix this it'd be really fun. had hoped to use this to design and test track layouts prior to building my HO layout. back to searching for an app that will work. ### 4/5 — Simple, but fun *2014-02-20* Great app for running trains in puzzle-style layouts. I really wish there was a way to continue after a crash, maybe with a penalty, instead of starting over. Very frustrating to put in 10 minutes of careful movement, only to screw up with a careless accident. I'd like to see a couple more colors added to the freeform section. ### 5/5 — Addictive and challenging! *2013-12-07* The controls are a little wonky at first but this is really one of the more incredible games I've seen for the iPad/iPhone. This is really a model train set for adults. Big kudos to the game developers for putting this together! ### 4/5 — Fun, but not perfect. *2013-10-23* There are two gripes I have with this app. 1) screen rotation is locked. (self explanatory). 2) explain the scoring and objectives more clearly. It is frustrating when you are trying to complete the sections to 100%, and there is no explanation regarding the scoring after you finish a level. You see your leftover time, and any improvement, which is good. But there are two seemingly arbitrary numbers which appear inside train cars, one car green, one car yellow. There are no explanations regarding what the "green" number means, nor the "yellow" number. It would be nice to see objectives and goals. That way you'll know which puzzles you need to revisit and attempt to get a better score. ### 3/5 — Has work to do *2013-04-14* This could be a decent game, but the buttons and controls and everything are too small. The first thing they should do though is make it so you can see the track you are placing!! Your thumb blocks it, and you have to either guess or try and see under the sides of your finger. That's a major fix for the annoyances. It's nothing special, I deleted it after a few minutes because I thought the X button meant delete selection since I placed an extra track. It deleted all of my tracks, and seeing as how annoying and tedious it was to place all of those tracks, I simply quit and deleted. ### 3/5 — Good concept but needs improvement *2012-12-23* Love the idea. The tutorials are really helpful. The controls are not that complicated. The overall user experience could be snappier, animations are unnecessarily slow, e.g. The graphics are, how do you say, inelegant. Pay a graphic designer $75 for an hours work to make some color choices and you will have a better product. Pay them $150 to provide you with some basic textures and lighting ideas and it will be even better. ### 2/5 — Timer makes me anxious *2012-11-24* iOS really needs more games like this one. It's part puzzle, part simulation, part building, part time management. My biggest wish is that the game would focus more on the puzzles (tracks, cars, signals, and switches) and less on how quickly I can manipulate locomotive controls. The controls in this game require lots of patience to master. At least once per level, the game mistakes my frantic taps on the locomotive controls for a pinch gesture, usually with catastrophic consequences. ### 4/5 — Fun and innovative! *2012-08-17* This app is very fun and innovative. I find it to be challenging but enjoyable. Build your own train tracks and solve puzzles at the same time. Other review say the controls are awkward, but I think the tutorials do a great job explaining them. You can do a lot on one screen with just two fingers and that makes this game great! ### 4/5 — Quite challenging. *2012-08-02* I like this one. It is very challenging and I enjoy that. It is rarity that I find a game tat challenges me with its complexity. Although this game is simple enough to understand, the controls are a little tough to master and that's the challenging part. ## Frequently asked questions about Rails & Trains ### What is Rails & Trains? Rails & Trains is a virtual model railroad simulator for iPhone and iPad. It allows users to build and operate their own railroads, solve puzzle levels, and create custom layouts. ### How much does Rails & Trains cost? The base version of Rails & Trains is free to download and play, offering tutorial and sample levels. A single in-app purchase unlocks the full version with additional level packs, unlimited freeform mode, and a level creator. ### Does Rails & Trains have ads? No, Rails & Trains does not contain advertisements. The monetization is solely through an optional in-app purchase for the full version. ### Can I play Rails & Trains offline? The description does not explicitly state offline play capabilities. However, simulation and puzzle games of this nature often function without a constant internet connection, though sharing features may require it. ### What devices support Rails & Trains? Rails & Trains is supported on iPhone and iPad devices, as indicated by its compatibility with iOS. ### How often is Rails & Trains updated? The latest version, 1.4.1, was last updated on October 8, 2026. While this date appears to be in the future, it suggests the developer actively maintains the application. ### What is the age rating for Rails & Trains? Rails & Trains has an age rating of 4+, making it suitable for a wide range of players. ### What are the main gameplay modes in Rails & Trains? Rails & Trains features a Puzzle Mode where players deliver cars to matching rails, and a Freeform Mode for building and operating custom railroads without restrictions. ## Version history (last 5 releases) ### 1.4.1 — 2026-10-08 A few small fixes and improvements. ### 1.4 — 2026-10-05 A complete rewrite. Rails & Trains has been rebuilt from scratch to run on today's iPhones and iPads, keeping the game as it was: the same levels, the same rules, the same railroad, and the same look, redrawn to stay sharp on today's screens. If you bought the full version, it is still yours. The rewrite also brings the game up to date with how iPhones and iPads work now, along with quite a few small improvements and fixes. ### 1.3.1 — 2014-12-29 + Bug fixes ### 1.3 — 2014-02-20 + Support for landscape left orientation on iPad + Support for 4 inch display + Animated transitions between screens + Bug fixes ### 1.2.1 — 2011-09-30 ✔ Minor fixes ## Related topics [model railway easily 2](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/model-railway-easily-2) --- *Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-10-08.*