There are british steam locomotives already and they are awesome. I heard that some people complained about them, but its a game. As long as I get to drive one of those great machines, then Im happy. It doesnt need to be 1:1 simulation to enjoy them. Simply driving with them is breathtaking experience. It would be super awesome to have american or german steam locomotives, like DRB 50, or american trains like from Mafia 1 and 2 games :3 Steam trains are the golden era of the railroads, it would be super shame to avoid them in such a great game like TSW is.
DTG so far as we know have still not relented their “No more (proper) steam”, policy for TSW. So while it doesn’t hurt to ask, don’t get your hopes up.
I've got some hope that the longer the PC editor is alive, we will eventually get 3rd party steam locomotives? By who? I've got no clue.
On the US side, Smokebox would be the only one I could see making the jump, but not until DTG improve steam physics to be really good (Or if he gets persuaded enough by Gary and HIS). Other US steam devs I dont see leaving TSC.
"Smokebox" has such high standards I doubt any DTG implementation of steam will be sufficient. He only did UP's excursion locomotives to original erection drawings. I believe he is British and getting on in age. His UP switcher for TSC is making very slow progress. I believe DSGDDR and MachineRail's modeling skills should be sufficient for TSW. But proper external combution and reciprocal steam propulsion simulation is entirely a different matter. I do not have high hopes for steam in TSW, also since the majority of players are thumbstick warriors wanting quick action with one handle plastic trains on bus stop routes to score those XPs. TTTE is a toy train rendition of a comic character and doesn't really count as 'steam', does it?
It is such a wasted opportunity. I dusted off SoS to do a couple of the outstanding Journey elements and just a little more work and effort could have provided such a fantastic experience. But it’s like they did the minimum possible to appease Paul Jackson’s edict to get steam in TSW and once he moved on it was all quietly dropped. SoS itself is a tragic waste of opportunity. Those massive freight yards and complexes must have taken many hours to lay out and configure, yet totally wasted. Empty acreage everywhere. By now should have been alive and kicking with many different classes of steam loco plus additional coaching and wagon stock. My point being, I guess, is that maybe the German and US steam market were lucky they didn’t get a similar ersatz representation of their historical steam scene.
Personally I've always liked the looks of German and US steam locos more than their British counterparts. I'd welcome some German or US steamers in my TSW collection.
US Steam (including operational locos): -ATSF 4-8-4s #3751 and #2926 for Cajon Pass; also 5000, 5001, and 5011-Class 2-10-4, 3450/3460-Class Hudsons (including Blue Goose #3460), 2-10-2, and 2-10-10-2 Mallet -UP FEF-3 #844, Big Boy #4014, and Challenger #3985 for Sherman Hill and Cajon Pass; also 2-10-2, Bull Moose 2-8-8-0, 4-10-2, and 4-12-2 -For Horseshoe Curve: PRR K4s #1361, NKP Berkshire #765, N&W J-Class #611; also PRR M1/M1a/M1b; H-10, B6sb, T1 Duplex, S1, Q1, Q2, J1 2-10-4, I-1, L-1 -SP #4449 for Cajon Pass (also BNSF and American Freedom Train versions); also Cab Forwards (multiple versions), 4-10-2s, 2-8-4s, and other GS-Class 4-8-4s -B&O EM-1, Big Six 2-10-2, Pacific, and Hudson for Sand Patch Grade
