We haven't seen too many historic German routes, let alone an East German one. Therefore, my suggestion is that a route set maybe in the 1970s or 1980s in the DDR (East Germany). A variety of routes could be used such as the lines around Rostock or around Magdeburg, as well the traction could be electric, diesel, or even steam hauled. I haven't fleshed out this idea completely but would welcome some further suggestions about setting a line in the DDR, and having services being run by the Deutsche Reichbahn.
Good suggestion, but it has already been said in the forum that a purely East German route before 1989 has little chance of becoming a best seller. Firstly because that time is now more than 30 years ago and we Germans are happy that we no longer have an inner-German border or a wall around an entire city. On the other hand, there are also many nostalgic train fans who like to remember the old days because they have childhood or youth memories. Even if nobody wants to resurrect the former GDR in TSW, there is still a chance of historical rolling stock and thus suitable liveries, so that a "Sonderzug nach Pankow" can still happen.
I do realise that it is unlikely to happen as people don't want to remember the Ossi und Wessi days, but here's an idea for a 'Sonderzung nach Pankow', a line set in the early 90s that crossed that inner border?
I don't see it as unrealistic in an "Ostalgia" point of view. History is history after all. Germany as a whole has got quite some more chapters in its history which are... not so bright, to put it mildly. The bigger hurdle to pass for an East German route to get made is the amount of rolling stock which needs to be created, in my opinion. As of now, we've got three locos available: the 143, 155 and 204 (or rather 243, 250 and 114 in DR nomenclature). But those wouldn't just need a repaint, but also extensive modifications to fit their historic configuration. And if that's done, what are those locos going to pull? We need period-accurate DR freight wagons and at least one type of fitting passenger car. That's lots of work for one route. This being said, on a personal level I'd love to see such a route getting made! And I'm not even from the former GDR, but their rolling stock and style of routes and stations has got some charm to it Perhaps a smaller, more enclosed route could be made, which doesn't need a big variety of rolling stock? Similar to Niddertalbahn, but different enough to stay interesting and relevant? *cough*Usedom line*cough*
Bring them on and I've been saying this since 2021 to 2023 East German retro locomotive back oddly they continue the use of steam locomotives all the way to the reunification. That meant 65.10 52.80 locos the trick for them is simple you need to be operating steam locomotives like a British one however you have Deutsche Bahn Österreicher Bundesbahn Punktförmige Zugbeeinflussung rules apply to them since German steam locomotives are fitted with it since the 1930s.
That’s what I was thinking about as well. It should be a prime candidate for TSW in terms of size and required rolling stock.
If memory serves me correctly, weren’t the DR equivalent of the UIC coaches even more uncomfortable than the DB ones? But yes, if done tastefully a pre-unification East German route would be an interesting and potentially informative experience.
That's actually a great route and a great idea. Also to address other comments it would need to be done in a tasteful, and respectful manner as it can be a touchy subject but I believe that it can easily act as an historical and informative manner for us all to learn about what life was like behind the iron curtain.
At first I thought about that too, and it would be a blast to drive on for sure But on the other hand it would require a newly-built loco in addition to the other new rolling stock, and especially a loco which can't be used on any other future or past routes. Plus, I think, the Usedom line would add a little bit more variety and value overall. And it could be run by the already existing 204
True, true. If you did it in the modern day, you'd actually have more variety: 185, EuroDual, Blue Tiger and 285...
That's right, the Usedom route has something special. It's just a single-track branch line that runs across the island. In Heringsdorf there's even a terminus station, which was built over 130 years ago for the German Kaiser to travel from Berlin to the Baltic Sea resort. In GDR times the route was still isolated, today there is a rail connection to the mainland network via a new bridge near Wolgast and you can travel eastwards as far as Stettin in Poland. So you could also make a modern TSW route out of it, which would even make it cross-border. The branch to Peenemünde could also be incorporated into the modern version, then you would also learn something about the world's first industrial rocket production facility for the A4 or V2. But in GDR times it was a restricted area because there was a military base here. The BR 204 or 114 never drove on Usedom because with 1500hp it was overpowered for the short passenger trains and the flat terrain, so BR 201s or 110s with 1000hp were sufficient. It would definitely be a small but nice project for the TSW editor!
