Ask any veteran MSTS user what their favorite disc of a 6-part set is, and they will likely say "Number 5." Here is why:
When MSTS add-on creators or preservation groups release a “6 of 6” series, they are typically organizing a massive, non-compressed library of .apk (Add-on Pack) files, rolling stock, and structured activities. Parts 1 and 2 usually grab the headlines: the flagship mainline routes (like Marias Pass 3.1 or the full Northeast Corridor). Parts 3 and 4 often focus on diesel or steam locomotion libraries.
Part 5 of 6, however, plays a unique role. It is the “operational glue.” It rarely contains the flashiest locomotives or the longest routes. Instead, it provides: MSTS - Addon - Routes and Trains -5 of 6-
If the previous parts built the skeleton of your MSTS installation, -5 of 6- adds the muscle and sinew.
The addon disk includes custom environment files. Part 5 specifically introduces freezing rain. Your windshield ices over. Your sanders freeze shut. The route’s track warrant requires you to listen for "wheel slip" alerts, which sound like a dying robot. Ask any veteran MSTS user what their favorite
Before installing Part 5, make a backup of your ROUTES folder. If this addon overwrites a track database or tsection.dat file incorrectly, it can break routes you installed in Parts 1-4. Better safe than sorry!
For nearly two decades after its initial release, Microsoft Train Simulator (MSTS) has survived—and thrived—not because of the base game, but because of the community. The mantra of every virtual railroad veteran is simple: “Stock MSTS is a tutorial; third-party addons are the career.” If the previous parts built the skeleton of
Among the countless archives, file libraries, and restored forum links, one classification stands out as a crucial milestone for collectors and route builders alike: MSTS - Addon - Routes and Trains -5 of 6-. This specific part in a six-volume series represents the halfway point of a massive content dump that reshaped how enthusiasts catalogued North American, European, and narrow-gauge railroading.
In this article, we dissect the significance of this specific add-on installment, the types of routes and rolling stock it contains, and why “Part 5” is often the most overlooked yet operationally rich piece of the puzzle.
By the time you reach the fifth add-on, you already have your Class 1 road locomotives (SD40-2s, GP38-2s, maybe a Dash 9). Part 5 does not give you more leaders; it gives you followers.