Route Length: ~45 km Rolling Stock: BR 243/143, BR 232, maybe VT 18.16 Gameplay: Diesel, electric, regional, express, port shunting Scenery: Hanseatic city of Rostock, countryside of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, ferry port of Warnemünde Licenses: DR/DB Time Period: Transition era (before 1995) Similar Add-ons: Linke Rheinstrecke (vintage German DTG route) Mittenwaldbahn (1980’s) Dresden-Chemnitz (mix of electric and diesel) Why this route: Offers a unique route set in a transition era, as DR is becoming DB. Electric locos would be seen alongside diesel locos as the line becomes electrified. It would offer a mix of regional & express services, as well as freight & shunting services, as trains bound for Gedser are loaded onto the rail ferry. It would be an opportunity to use the upcoming and highly anticipated BR 232 by TSG. If they don't want their loco included as part of a route, then it would layer on instead. It could also potentially include a VT 18.16 for the Neptune services. I am not that familiar with the area, so I don't know if Bützow being the start makes sense. At about 45 km the route would be easily doable but also very short. There may be better stations to start the route at. Era options: Pre-electrification Offers a unique DR era unelectrified route set in East Germany. Transition era Offers a period where DR branding was being replaced with DB, with a mix of electric and diesel services. Modern This offers the least amount of value, lacking a unique setting, gameplay or new rolling stock, and would likely not appeal to many. A frequent complaint is that German routes too often come with no new rolling stock (e.g. Ludwigsbahn, Dresden-Leipzig), so using the BR 442 again would likely be unpopular. The BR 243/143 is also not new, but would come with changes to suit the era. The only advantage to this era is it may be easier to get references for, such as cab rides. LAMPOIL: Licensing - DB. Anticipation - players may perceive the route as too short (so it should probably go futher than Bützow), and would likely not be happy about no new rolling stock if it were set in modern era. Mix - gameplay includes regional and express services, freight, shunting of trains onto ferries. Prominence - the unique era and setting of the 80's/90's and prominent landmark of a train ferry port would likely have more global appeal than most German routes, and opportunity to use the highly requested BR 232 would likely also be highly anticipated. Opportunity - it would provide the opportunity to use route hopping, if a future route included Gedser, Denmark (and was set in same era). Intelligence - I am not aware of any real world events that may elevate the add-on. Limitation - I don't believe there are any legal constraints such as copyrighted landmarks, though I don't know for sure. The route may require more new assets to be made than normal. Conclusion: Transition or pre-electrification era would offer the most value.
