OpenBVE

Latest version: 1.4.3

Download OpenBVE from here and extract anywhere.
Download SDL and install correctly.
Download OpenAL from somewhere and install correctly, or compile yourself from here.
Download Mono 2.8.1 or higher and install correctly.

Search the internet for compatible routes and trains, then download and install them correctly.
Routes and trains for openBVE currently follow a certain folder structure. This folder structure can be present anywhere on your hard disk as long as everything is kept together.
The folder structure for route and train addons should be as follows:
- Railway
  - Object (contains CSV/B3D/X objects, BMP/PNG textures)
    - each object directory located under BVE \ RAILWAY \ OBJECT and nowhere else.
  - Route (contains CSV/RW routes)
    - each route directory located under BVE \ RAILWAY \ ROUTE
    - it is possible under BVE \ RAILWAY \ ROUTE to sort the routes (for instance per country).
  - Sound (contains WAV sounds)
    - each sound directory located under BVE \ RAILWAY \ SOUND and nowhere else.
- Train
  - One folder per train (contains configuration files, textures, sounds)
    - BVE \ RAILWAY \ TRAIN
    - it is possible under BVE \ RAILWAY \ TRAIN to sort the trains (for instance per country).

Start OpenBve.exe.
If you want to select a route in the main OpenBVE menu, open the Railway\Route folder and then click on any of the files listed in there.
In order to select a train in the main main OpenBVE menu, open the Train folder and then click on any of the folders listed in there.
The distribution of openBVE does not contain this folder structure by default. When downloading routes and trains from the internet, make sure that the downloads either employ this folder structure, or create the folders manually, and then copy the routes or trains you downloaded into the correct places.
To test if all is fine, you could start with Chashinai Railway.
If needed, the OpenBVE documentation is available here.