German routes are in desperate need of some (non-red) colours. Adding private train operators is the obvious way to achieve this, but there is another option too. It would improve older routes retroactively thanks to substitution, and there shouldn't be any licensing issues at all. For the longest time, DB would rather scrap old locomotives than let its competitors have them. However, in recent years, this attitude has changed, and DB now has a "DB Gebrauchtzug" ("DB used train") division that sells or rents out old locomotives -- among others, large numbers of 143s and 111s. While some of these absolutely do look like the hand-me-downs that they are, quite a few have recieved overhauls, including new paint jobs, since joining the DB Gebrauchtzug fleet. These new paint jobs are where it gets interesting, as the locos don't tend to get repainted into DB red. Instead, they recieve heritage, or "what-if" paint schemes, presenting a great opportunity for a livery and scenario pack. Paint schemes for the 143 include: DB Verkehrsrot + "Miete mich" Early DB orient-red Deutsche Reichsbahn bordeaux-red "Black Lady" what-if "Green Lady" what-if 111s have been painted in: DB Verkehrsrot + "Miete mich" S-Bahn gray & orange 103 beige/red what-if DB beige/blue Touristikzug livery These locos would add a welcome splash of colour to any modern German route, and be equally at home in passenger and freight service. In fact, even DB Regio has to hire DB Gebrauchtzug locos sometimes, so they could layer into regional services on existing routes as well as freight trains.
The thing I like about these heritage unit packs is the fact that they actually spawn rarely, giving off the same excitement as seeing one in real life.
Bring it on and for the owners of this pack if made in the game these locos count for the original versions in terms of achievements. For example, the Tourist paint DB BR103 counts for the LFR version just like how the game treats Bremen 110.3 as an LFR version SPG GP38-2 is seen as HSC version followed by AC4400CW SPG being treated as a Cane Creek AC4400CW 500 miles.
Funny and cool idea with the paintjobs. I didn't know that DB has a complete department dedicated to rent and sell locos. That seems like a new business branch - Loco-Trade and Leasing. But I think about, what could I actually do with a rented loco? Is it just discovering the wonder of is technology or... could we even drive with it and lame down the Regional Bahn and IC traffic?
