The ''broken noses" that ruled the rails of France for decades: From left to right: BB7200, CC72000, CC6500 which I all bought from SimExpress in the X-mas sale, next are the just released CC40100 by DevMares and Elena's SNCB HLE18 repaint basking in the Mediterranean sun under the Marseille 'spiderweb' roundhouse: All these locomotives are well made, fully detailed, extensively scripted, textured, weathered. Their driving takes a little getting used to, and perhaps some alterations to the keymap. In France, the era of locomotive hauled "grands express" name trains is mostly a thing of the past. Everything is DMU, EMU, TGV, often with double deck coaches. SimExpress has a full stock of CoRail coaches, GranComfort coaches are freeware at RWCentral. The only stock that is still failing are the gleaming Inox and TEE coaches I remember from my trips to Belgium and France in the late 20th century: More on the iconic quadricourant 1960's Trans Europ Express locomotives CC40100: I found markings in five languages in the model's cab, since these locomotives were originally designed to run proper Trans Europ Express trains without the need to change locomotives at the borders or system changes. Equipped electrically to run in France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, but hardly allowed outside of the Brussels-Paris corridor, and later more advanced signalling and safety systems proved too complicated to integrate. Now to find some well done French routes
AFAIK the SNCF CC40100 never worked in to Germany or Holland. They were not fitted to receive information from Dutch or German Signals Northbound TEE service did an engine change at Brussel Zuid if going to Holland or via Namur to Liège-Guillemins where the trains reversed 40103 at Paris Nord 40109 with a raft of Corail stock passing Ronet Depot [BE] whilst a railtour waits in the depot platform The NMBS Class 1800 worked south to Paris and all the way from Oostende to Koln and Dortmund via Brussel & Aachen. NMBS 1801 at Paris Nord with an overnight train from Germany NMBS 1805 at Aachen with a Koln - Oostende service formed of Belgium stock.
Thanks for the info on CC40100 and their SNCB sisters. SCNB incidentally had them fitted with Indusi to be able to run in Germany, along with their elegant tricourant locomotives Serie 16. Read more here: http://www.bueker.net/trainspotting/gallery-sncb-polycourants/6_22.php The Inox carriages would be most welcome in TSC: About the Inox and GrandConfort (sp?) coaches/carriages/voitures, here is an interesting website to run through your online translator: https://retours.eu/nl/54-inox-grand-confort/ I believe BB9200, the main 1950's/60's DC electric for the name trains like Le Capitole and Mistral are available, plus a small selection of the period UIC carriages from RWCentral: France, a favourite holiday destination for many, a country with a rich railway history, still a bit under represented in up to date TSC, since many of the older models seem converted from MSTS and well built routes are scarce.
I was aware of the Indusi fitting on the NMBS Class 18 and 16 as they would not have reached either Koln or Düsseldorf Travelled behind both classes in Belgium and Germany. Two rare pictures of NMBS 1601 were uploaded to Ralfaneurope Spiez - http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/be/electric/historic/16/1601/1601-4.jpg Ostermundigen - http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/be/electric/historic/16/1601/1601-2.jpg
Change /nl/ to /en/ and it is in English I photographed BB9227 at Lyon Part Dieu in 2001 The BB16000 [AC] and the BB25200 {AC+DC] were of the same design I don't know if you have seen this site? https://ajrailsim.pierreg.org/ Peter
Thanks. This offers a comprehensive overview of French traction and rolling stock for TSC. Allows me to fill my virtual roundhouse and coach yard.
