As you will know by know Train Simulator 2015 is based around DLC and DLC can be pricey, besides the Steam DLC there is also Third Party DLC and loads of freeware and unlike the Steam DLC this is something you need to install yourself. This guide will tell you the different formats used and how to install them. In order of explanation these will be
1: the installer
2: the packed RWP
3: the file/folder structure

But First things first. A little explanation of the file structure used by DTG and how this effects you.
Since the introduction of TS2014 (I believe, can be 2015 as well) DTG changed their original file format which consisted of files and folders to a so called ap format, ap standing for "Asset Pack" not Application. These ap files are nothing more or less then zip files in disquise and they can be opened by applications like winrar, winzip, 7zip and powerarchiver. Personally, if you need a good freeware application I advice 7zip, if you can affort a paid one you might like powerarchiver. Both have their pro's and cons. When installing new content this new content will not be placed in aps but they will follow the original file structure, however TS will look have a preference for files in the old format and both formats are interchangable so if you install new content the game will use the old format first and take the rest from the ap file.

Personally I always extract the app files if I have to install new content in the folder where the app resides. this is not mandatory though but, especially with reskins, it can happen that the readme asks you to copy and paste some files from a folder that is within the ap file and having it extracted makes things a lot simpler.

The easy one:
Official 3rd party developers might deliver content to you as an installer, some freeware devs do this as well. This is a simple way and involves double clicking the file, checking the file path and then hit ok. STILL READ THE README as some installers might have a bat file that needs to be clicked to finish the install. You will find these bat files with the reskins from DPsimulations for example. The readme will tell you their location. This is a straight forward methode and content installed this way often will have an uninsttaller and can be uninstalled using the add/remove programs function found in Windows

This filetype is also a zip file in disquise and can be used in either of two ways, I will explain the most common and adviced way.

rwp files commonly come paced in a zip/rar file together with readme and/or pdf so first thing is to extract them. After this and assuming you installed steam and TS in their default location browse to C:/Program Files(x86)/Steam/steamapps/common/RailWorks and locate and start utilities.exe (if you do not have a Program Files(x86) folder you have a 32 bit system and the folder is Program Files)

Go to the 3rd tab labeled Package Manager and hit refresh, 3 progress bars will run, one for the Assets folder, one for the Content folder and one for the Manuals folder, when that is done the left side area will show a list with installed add ons. There might be one or two entries the first time you start this up as DTG has a few packs installed that are listed there however you will not see your DLC from steam listed there.

After refresh click install, browse to where you extracted your rwp and select it. The file will be installed. Depending on it's content you will get see 4 to 6 progress bars after which the list is refreshed and should show the newly installed content.

Go ingame, hit settings, hit tools, clear cache. Again...ALWAYS read the documentation that comes with it as there might be additional things you need to do

And then there are skinners and developers that don't feel the need to pack their assets in an rwp but rather give you a zip containing folders and files. Unlesss the content of these folders are described as below I would stay away from those untill you know a bit more about the game and file structure. However if the file contains the content as listed below you can follow the steps.

When you open the zip/rar there should be one to three folders called Assets, Content and Manuals. These are the actual game folders that are important. extract the file to a place you can simply reach and then just copy the folder(s) and paste them inside the railworks folder. If asked to overwrite say yes.

Reskins will have you do some extra things after copy/paste or installing off rwp in most but not all cases (hence the redme is mandatory to read)

an example is following
Unzip the file to a temporary location, ie. desktop.


1. Install the .rwp file using the TS Package Manager.

2. Go to the folder: (Steam\SteamApps\common\RailWorks\Assets\AP_Waggonz)
and run the 'InstallMeDBS90036' batch file.

3. That should be it!.

Above works with a bat file, just click the file in said location and you are done

However it might happen you need to copy and paste yourself, a readme for such a reskin will read
To Install:

Go to
\Steam\steamapps\common\RailWorks\Assets\DTG\CSXAC6000CWPack01

and use 7zip, winzip or whatever program you use and extract the CSXAC6000CWPack01Assets.ap

then copy the AC6000CW_GeoPcDx from \Steam\steamapps\common\RailWorks\Assets\DTG\CSXAC6000CWPack01\RailVehicles\AC6000CW\Default\Engine

and paste it to \Steam\steamapps\common\RailWorks\Assets\DTG\CSXAC6000CWPack01\RailVehicles\AC6000CW\CSXYN2\Engine

Finally sounds
Sounds can enhance your experience very much, but they might require you to edit an xml file. Use a tool like Notepad++ or wordpad do NOT use regular notepad.

Some will already come with an xml, the readme will tell you where to put it, other need you to edit an exsisting xml again, the readme will tell you excactly what to change, if no readme is supplied there is a simple rule

DO NOT USE

There are reskins, physics mods, sounds, freeware engines and routes etc etc. Following the above you will have loads of free content in no time. The 3 top sites are
http://www.uktrainsim.com (UK)
http://www.railworksamerica.com (USA)
http://www.rail-sim.de (Germany)

Notable others are
http://www.dpsimulations.org.uk (reskins)
http://www.rail-sim.es (spanish freeware)
http://www.oldtimerklubben.dk (Danish Freeware)
http://www.wolfdenmedia.nl (my own site)

have fun