The 218 is a better experience, but the 101 is a bigger experience, if that makes sense? With the 101 you’ll fill a lot more routes out & get to run services across more routes than you will with the 218, but IMO the 218 gameplay is better. Not to say the 101 is bad, it’s a great loco & you won’t be disappointed with it.
For me, it's definitely the 218, simply because it's a 218. But it all depends on what your personal preferences are and what kind of train you prefer to drive.
If you like big noisy diesels then definitely go for the 218. It pops up on quite a few routes as a timetable layer and transforms Maintalbahn if you have it.
I don't own the 218, but I quite like the standard 101. Although some routes are pretty short when you run fast intercity services.
For me the BR 218 is the best loco of the game. Only problem is have that you only really have 2 routes for it. Hamburg, and Maintalbahn.
Yes it does. The appearance of the 218 in other routes than Maintalbahn and Hamburg-Lübeck is a bit incidental... it's just the way TSW handles substitution, as far as I understood. On many of these services, the 218 is in way over its head, and kind of out of place. For example, subbed in for an 185, pulling heavy freight trains from München to Augsburg... I tried, and gave up after 5 minutes feeling deeply sorry for the poor thing On some routes, it actually works quite well. Example: Main-Spessart, the short services with two or three Dosto's from Aschaffenburg to Heigenbrücken or from Gemünden to Lohr Oh, and almost forgot: I'd choose the 218 DLC anytime... it's the only "heavy" German diesel loco so far and brings quite a bit of variety to the game. A couple of routes even use it as decoration, like Frankfurt-Fulda. It's a lot of fun to drive, still one of my all-time favourites
On HMA try forcing the train to have 155 DR BR250 instead of the 218. For the 218 try this method X for sand then increase power a and D key on keyboard. I do this on the Original HRR DB BR101 when needed
Thanks! I gave a try today to the services of Aschaffenburg to Heigenbrücken and from Gemünden to Lohr. And both fit quite well the BR 218. Definitely I will repeat.
That is comparing apples to oranges really, but the 218 is the better loco in game. One of my favourites to be honest.