I posted this on the Discord but I am chucking it here as well because why not? Why you think it's going to be fun (and the key characteristics that would make it fun)? I, for one, love a realistic experience on Train Sim World. On TS Classic, I have a couple of the expert level trains, such as the Master Key Simulations Class 460 EMU. I think it would keep it fun because for players who want that realistic experience. When I first saw the DB BR 101 from TSG, I was quite excited to see it but I have always wanted a UK train to become expert level in TSW. Suggestions from me on what expert locos? Class 91 with the Mk4s and DVTs would be awesome. Also, another one could be the class 700 EMU with ETCS simulation if someone did a London Bridge to Peterborough route. And please include the /1. Licenses included (regardless if they're available in TSW) - Whatever DTG or other third parties decide to put in. (700s are my fave EMUs so the GTR licenses (which you have)) Time Period - I would like something modern, however as I say class 91 would be awesome! What is it that makes you really want these in the game? Honestly, just more realism when driving. Yes, the random faults are coming in but I really want to get into the nitty gritty of fixing trains.
I for one would love something like that! That being said, with the UK and the US there is a bit of a difficulty here, besides getting the permission from licensors which is already very difficult: Usability. Where the 101 Expert and the to be 145 Expert really shine is in the fact that they can theoretically be used pretty much country-wide in Germany and even possibly Austria for the 101. For a loco with so much to work with, and which for some can indeed be a pretty big investment, it'd make sense that it is designed to work on as many routes as possible. With the UK and the US...There isn't so much interchangeability unless it is a freight locomotive like the Class 66 for example and maybe the one passenger exception being the Class 80X trains and that is even more pronounced in the US. We'd need to have a network of routes that are long enough for the trains to truly stretch their legs, and I imagine that's going to be rather difficult to get! Still, I do like British trains a lot, so I would still be utterly delighted to see it happen, if these challenges can be overcome!
Personally I would like to see an expert locomotive (preferably diesel or bi-mode), since the main thing I look forward to in an expert loco is the engine room. I am happy with either a vintage or modern loco, although it is probably easier to get permission for older locos. Some ideas for expert UK locos I think would be interesting: Rail Operations Group Class 37 - give it the ability to couple to more trains, and make the coupling process more manual such as connecting jumper cables and hoses manually Class 47 - is is probably the loco that can go on the most routes beside the 66 Class 66 - in addition to appearing on most UK routes it could appear on European routes as well (though it would need some changes such as the cab) Class 68 - could do both passenger (with an appropriate route) and freight services. Class 73 - one of the first bi-mode locos, and still runs in the modern day (mostly departmental use) Class 93 and/or 99 - would be cool, though it would be out of era for most routes, and they might be unwilling to give away technical details of it I would buy pretty much any expert British loco, whereas if it was a multiple unit it would depend on whether I found the specific train interesting or how many features it has. Since a multiple unit wouldn't come with an engine room I think it would need more features to make it interesting. Some things I think would be important to see in an expert multiple unit: Loco hauled mode - you should be able to attach a coupler adapter so other trains can drag it for stock moves or rescues All or almost all internal and external valves, isolation cocks, hatches, etc functional Fully functional TMS screen, including setting PIS manually Some expert multiple units I would like to see: Class 395 GNER Class 373 - not likely, but would be cool.
A Class 55 Deltic Expert loco could be great for ECML Railtours. As for the Class 68, we need it for the recently released Nuclear Train DLC. For freight power on modern UK routes, I'd suggest a Class 70, Stadler Classes 88, 93, and 99, Class 56/Rebuilt Class 69, Class 58, and Class 60.
The Class 47 is the best bet because it's been around forever, runs on basically every route, lots of access to it in real life, fewer systems to model, and it can do passenger or freight runs realistically. Yes it's common already in game, but so is the "normal" 101 on German routes, and people still bought the "expert" version as well for those extra features. Anything more modern you start running into the problem of a huge splintering into different regions. The 700s run over here, the 390s run over there, the 220s run over there, etc. MUs also limit you to passenger only. The 66 is an option as it's newer (so you get to play around with some electronic buttons), in great numbers and universal across the UK. However, it's not really suitable for passenger runs which are a huge draw in TSW. The Class 37 doesn't bring anything to the table the 47 wouldn't as well and it's even less available on regular timetables. As an aside, the US is in a similar state. Generally you don't see the same locomotives do both passenger and freight anymore. After the F series, they tended to have different car bodies even if using the same basic components. The GP 40 might be a bit of an exception, but still limited service.
I don't know why I didn't see this thread until now - but I agree that an expert Class 91 would be fantastic!
Any expert train would be fantastic. In fact, in an ideal world, every train present in the game could be expert, with a toggle allowing you to select the level of "difficulty". Back in 2017, when I saw the cab of the HST, with all the levers you could move, I thought TSW would hammered AP enhancement packs... It's 8 years ago...
