Here is a thought, could the 801 in game be converted to an 800 through use of formation designer? Yes, physics may be a bit off, but according to wikipedia: 800 has 3x MTU 12V 1600 R80L in a 5-car unit. 800 has 5x MTU 12V 1600 R80L in a 9-car unit. 801 has 1x MTU 12V 1600 R80L in both 5 and 9-car units. So the same 'prime mover'. 800 and 801 have the same engine type V12 four-stroke turbo diesel with SCR. 800 and 801 have the same displacement of 21 L (1,284 cu in) per engine. 800 and 801 have the same power output of 560 kW (750 hp) per engine. 800 and 801 also have the same formation: 5 car: DPTS-MS-MS-MC-DPTF 9 car: DPTS-MS-MS-TS-MS-TS-MC-MF-DPTF 5 car 800s have GUs under vehicles 2/3/4 9 car 800s have GUs under vehicles 2/3/5/7/8 5 and 9 car 801s have a GU under vehicle [if anyone knows, please let me know to fill in the blank]. Wikipedia then goes on to say that 'by adding or removing GUs, a Class 800 can be converted into a Class 801 and vice versa. Sources: 800, 801 I therefore hypothesise that while we await an 800 being added to the game, an 801 could be converted by subbing in the GU coach multiple times in place of other coaches. The only issue I can foresee with this is possibly coach lettering (but this is messed up anyway unfortunately), and you would (I believe) lose a first class coach and gain a standard class coach on the 9 car 801. Until DTG go about labelling the coaches properly in formation designer, I have no clue how to approach this - but thought one of yourselves as more experienced formation designers may be interested in this. It may already be known, or a variant may already exist, but I just thought of it just now and found it quite interesting. It also made me wonder how difficult it would/could be to make the necessary amendments to the 801 in the game itself, to then go ahead and convert it to an 800.
Kind of, some time ago I decided to make a 12 car formation using exclusively the end cars and the engine cars. It could definitely get up to speed a bit, but is still hampered and overall a bit awkward. Just know, it struggles going up an incline.
Good to know . Technically it should work, so I guess its a physics thing - guess I'll just keep my fingers crossed that DTG release an 800 at some point - would be nice for layering onto Fife Circle!
Yes, I've tried it myself. I've made an 800/2 (5 car) although of course it's missing a buffet car (which the 801/1 hasn't anyway lol) and the half standard and half first class car. It seems to work pretty well. However, the class 800/1 (9 car) doesn't work correctly, as only four of the five motor cars actually start their engines. Acceleration is rather terrible of course. This is a gripe I've had with the route since it's release. If DTG had somewhat accurate sounds of the emergency generator, why didn't they use them for the generator sounds on a class 800? The excuse they've made of "They gave us an 801 to model" doesn't work when they're meant to be almost the same, just the 800 has a few more of the same underfloor generators.
I don't know all the differences between the classes so there *may* have been more to it, but I do agree it's a shame. Would've been great for layering on FCL for example.
I've doen it before. I've made 4,5,6,7,8,9 coach 80x trains with ONLY diesal intermediate coaches. Works great!
From what I can tell, it's just the case of adding generator physics, visuals and renumbering. Passenger and cab interiors are basically the same, there's a small amount of exterior work, like adding the fuel cap, warning stickers and exhaust on top, but that should really be a case of copy and pasting models. I suppose testing would be needed for physics, but then again, there are trains in TSW with physics worse than anything this could result in.
