I've always wanted to see more back-layering into older routes when new stock becomes available, but it's clear that that rarely happens on its own (if you don't have access to mods at least). However, we've seen the 380 and the 170 packs breathe life into routes, so here's a list of similar suggestions: new or repainted trains that could provide a new timetable. Part 1: UK Trans-Pennine Express. New stock: Class 25 (BR Blue) Benefits: a mixed-traffic, mostly freight loco to add variety to the routes. Would create a challenge over the hills as it's not hugely powerful. Other layers enabled: Class 31, Mk2D coaches (and Mk1 buffet), Class 20, WCL Class 37, Class 31, steam railtours. Busier traffic at Manchester Vic, Leeds and Huddersfield. Layering potential for this loco: Tees-Valley, Blackpool, WCMLoS Tees-Valley: New stock: Class 58 (Railfreight grey) Benefits: another new and distinctive loco to add variety. Other layers unlocked: Pacers, 150, 47s+Mk2, 40, 45, Steam Railtours. Busier mainline traffic at Darlington. Layering potential for this loco: Blackpool, WCMLoS East Coastway: New stock: Class 171 (Southern) Benefits: more variety, a DMU, express services Other layers unlocked: 387/700 AI at Brighton, Steam Railtours Layering potential for this unit: London to Brighton, SEHS Southeastern High Speed New stock: Class 92 (DB and/or EWS) Benefits: freight on HS1, a loco with TVM and multiple system changes. Other layers unlocked: Scotsman railtour, full Eurostar substitution with TGV Duplex and ICE3M Layering potential for this loco: WCML South, Suffragete Line, Mildmay line, ECML, Glossop (AI), Manchester Airport, Cathcart Circle (AI), Edinburgh to Glasgow, London to Brighton, Fife Circle (AI), Cross-city (AI) London to Brighton New stock: Class 455/8 (Southern) Benefits: more variety in the local services at the London end of the route. An older EMU to drive. Other layers unlocked: 700, Steam railtours, debranded AI at Clapham Jn Other layering potential: None TBC...
Continued.... West Cornwall Local New stock: IC Swallow HST Benefits: Realistic long distance services. HSTs over the steep gradients. And just look at it. Other layers unlocked: IC 47 and Mk2f coaches, the GWR 47, Scotsman railtours Other layering potential: Tees Valley Line (AI) Midland Mainline New stock: Class 222 (EMT) Benefits: A more varied and realistic timetable Additional layers unlocked: XC 170 Other layering potential: None Glossop Line New stock: Northern Class 142 and 150/2 Benefits: more driveable services, unlocks Glossop and Farfield station, more varied AI. Other layers unlocked: Pendolino, Arriva Wales (AI) Other layering potential: ECML (AI), Manchester Airport ECML New Stock: LNER Class 91 Benefits: more varied traffic, different driving experience, just look at the damn thing Other layers unlocked: XC Class 170 (AI) Other layering potential: None. Germany to follow... later.
All good suggestions! I would also throw in the Class 108 DMU as these were just as, if not more than, common on the classic era BR routes we have in the game.
Part 2 - Germany Ruhr-Sieg Nord New Stock: 146+IC2 Benefits: Intercity services (albeit often no more selective with stops on this route) Additional layers unlocked: Lots of AI at Hagen (101+IC, ICE1, ICE-T, ICE3, 422, 423, 442, 612, 628, 642). Possible EMU substitution (425 or 442) for the RE services, 103 Railtour Other layering potential: HRR, RRO, HMA (limited), SKA (AI), Bremen-Oldenburg, Nahverkehr Dresden, Tharandter Rampe (AI), Franfurt - Fulda (AI), Frankfurt S-Bahn (AI), Rapid Transit Main-Spessart Bahn New Stock: DB 151 Benefits: an older loco associated with hauling and banking engines over the steep hill. A different experience to the 185. Other layers unlocked: ICE1/ICE-T/ICE3/101+IC (all mostly AI, travelling most of the route but only stopping at Aschaffenburg), DB 642 (AI), possible EMU substitution for the REs (425 or 442), 103 Railtour Other layer potential: any modern era German route. An older liveried loco would suit Linke Rheinstrecke very well. Rhein-Ruhr Osten New stock: 143 + x-Wagen Benefits: a different type of S-Bahn service with these quirky units. Other layers unlocked: 101+IC/ICE1/ICE3/ICE-T, 628, 612/642 (AI), 425, 442, 103 Railtour Other layering potential: HRR, SKA (AI) Hauptstrecke Rhein Ruhr New stock: ICE 2 Benefits: another type of ICE2, this time with push-pull haulage Layers unlocked: ICE1, ICE3, ICE-T, ICE3M (AI), 442, 628/642 (AI), Flixtrain, OEBB coaches, TGV (AI), 103 Railtour Other layering potential: MSB (AI), RRO, SKA (AI), HMA, Kassel-Wurzburg, Frankfurt-Fulda (AI), Frankfurt S-Bahn (AI) TBC....
Munich - Augsburg New stock: DB 440 Benefits: a different type of EMU, which was the type used on this route until recently. Additional layers unlocked: 101+IC, ICE1, ICE-T, Austrian coaches, OEBB 1116, 111, 612, 218, n-Wagen, 628 (AI), 642 (AI), TGV, 103 Other layer potential: Kassel - Wurzburg (AI) Tharandter Rampe New stock: 143+ ex-DDR Dostos Benefits: we've been asking for older Dosto types for years - this is one of two variants, and has a quirky design that is accurate to the route and the period: Layers unlocked: ICE-T (AI), 628 (AI), 642 (AI) Other layering potential: Rapid Transit, Nahverkehr Dresden Hamburg-Lubeck New stock: ICE-TD Benefits: A diesel ICE! That tilts! No longer around IRL but quite cool units. Additional layers unlocked: ICE1, ICE-T (AI), 218, n-Wagen Other layering potential: Tharandter Rampe, Munich - Augsburg Linke Rheinstrecke New stock: 120 (Orient red) + IR coaches Benefits: A different type of coach for many of the long distance services, a nice livery. A classic, recently retired loco capable of 200 km/h (albeit not on this route) Other layers unlocked: coaching stock from Mittenwaldbahn, more AI traffic at the two end stations Other layering potential: Mitttenwaldbahn, Niddertalbahn (AI)
Actually wouldn't mind if one of DTG's annual releases was just a mega pack of new locos like the above which then came with fixes for long-standing issues and fresh timetables for existing routes.
I’d be more than happy with that too. We’re long overdue some new traction in TSW. Traction as in locos and not E or DMUs.
There was a screenshot of the greyscale model in a 3D editor but that's about as far as it went. The project has now vanished off the Roadmap and doesn't seem to be coming back. If it doesn't get a mention in the forthcoming Dovetail Direct, safe to assume it's dead and buried.
Part 3 - The Rest of Europe LGV Med New Stock: TGV Reseau Benefits: variety on the route, a different driving experience Other layers unlocked: possibly some international freight AI in the Marseille area with the Vectron or 187. Other layering potential: none S-Bahn Zurich New stock: SBB 420 + IC coaches Benefits: IC, IR and freight services. Other layers unlocked: possibly some international freight with the Vectron or 187. Other layering potential: S-Bahn Vorarlberg, HRR (coaches only), SKA, HMA (coaches as AI) S-Bahn Vorarlberg New stock: OEBB Railjet Benefits: regular express services. A much requested train. Other layers unlocked: OEBB 1116 + IC coaches, DB 218 + n-wagen (AI), Krokodil railtours Other layer potential: Semmeringbahn, Munich - Augsburg (mostly AI), Munich - Salzburg, Frankfurt S-Bahn (AI), Frankfurt - Fulda (AI) Part 4 - USA. Not my area of expertise! But suggestions obviously encouraged for these routes and others.
The UK suggestions are pretty much as I have presented previously as fillers for older routes. A couple of caveats however. For Tees Valley, the 25s would have been withdrawn by 1989 and the 58 was not too frequently seen in the area. A better choice is the 56s. As for Northern Transpennine, the Class 123 and 124 dmus would be a good fit as they were still in daily use in 1983/4 in the twilight of their operational careers. This would also allow the 123s to be added to DLoGW as they were still used around Paddington in 1971.
