The new physics likely require certain upgrades to the existing steam engines model etc. before you could even try to implement them. Its also possible for the old engines to be set up in a way which makes rebuilding them from scratch more reasonable than upgrading them. Looking at the best case scenario, it would be just changing the system to the TSG one and then making adjustments to make it work, altough it probably still would need to be done by another 3rd party for various reasons. 1. TSG already confirmed to not do the job, which is understandable. 2. DTG has nothing to do with said changes (why would they? its just their own game and nothing more) 3. This is far away from being a simple task and also from being a copy paste situation. What i think could happen is a route with a new steam engine made by a UK 3rd party like JT and them adding a upgraded 8F and 4F to the pack, with both of them being able to substitute into old routes. This way you would also get features like suspension etc.
If those existing steam locos were included with a new steam era route or gameplay pack they would need their physics updated to the new physics system and no they wouldn't be free to exiting owners as that's not how that would work
If DTG change the locos to incorporate new controls and physics it would not only require the work on the locos but potentially rewriting the existing scenarios as well. There are four locos to do at significant cost and no new income stream from making the changes. I don’t see them going back to such old content to add in the new core systems that TSG will have made. They don’t generally go back and make changes and as steam is one of the least popular types of content in TSW it will not be a priority for them in any way. They ditched steam remember. I can’t see them spending development money on it now. The accountants would want to see a return and there wouldn’t be one to show them.
It doesn’t stop them or 3P’s layering the “old content” on new routes as railtours though, to try and increase sales or appeal. Personally I want to see a “can do” attitude from DTG on this. They took a fortune off us for SoS and PFR and as I’ve said previously, if they can afford to retain the plush office accommodation at Chatham then there’s money to spare for improvements to what shouldn’t have been left in such a dire state in the first place. Apart from the derailment bug creeping in, SoS desperately needs revisiting with a better timetable and the route bringing up to TSW6 standards. Once the Journey mode is complete, there are hardly any Crewe to Liverpool or vv passenger workings left to actually attempt!
I'd guess if anything TSG or another third party could do the "update" for a few bucks and then offer you the option to "upgrade" to the new model. To be fair you have a functioning model already in game that's fine. So this would just be a "more realistic" option and they didn't give everyone the expert 101 for free. This gives people the option to keep the old ones if they want.
I'm not 100% sure at present, I'm not a fan of a lot of the faults on the DTG stuff, most being rather unrealistic to say the least. Very few of them are even applicable to a steamer anyway. Most steamers the faults generally boil down to either poor design, poor maintenance or user error (forget to oil a bearing which promptly runs hot for example). So if their are faults it would probably be more in line with the Advanced locos with a emphasis on you forget something its your fault, rather than X randomly deceides to break every X minutes press y to magically fix.
One thing at a time if you ask me. Fix the physics first and get it working properly. Then you can look to add bells and whistles.
Bold prediction for next years core UK route… Newcastle to Leeds with York as a focal point and the deluxe loco being steam, probably the mallard.
The rate at which these faults occur is far too high as well. You’d think the world’s railways were on their last legs if TSW6’s faults were anything to go by. I don’t get the calls for them to be added to other stock like the 802 and TfW Pacer when they aren’t ironed out in the trains that do have faults instated. I’ll be quite happy if they are omitted from DB BR23. Getting the steam simulation to a good place is likely a big enough task by itself.
Not really a 'fault' as implemented in TSW6 I suppose, but towards the end of steam you'd often get steam leaking everywhere as locos became less well maintained. Perhaps if we do ever get a transition era route, there could be a random amount of steam leaking? Maybe if it's a Western region route, you could also have chance of some locos where the cabside plates and names had already been pinched!
One effect I would like to see and indeed applicable also to boiler fitted diesels, is steam heating. Typically steam would leak out of the connecting hoses between coaches and underneath the vehicles and out the vent at the back of the rear coach. I had hoped this would be introduced with SoS or PFR but never happened.
That would be a great feature for winter runs, certainly at least the 45 and 40 could do with steam heat equipment. If we do get a NTP remaster, that would be an essential feature to add.
