Deutsche Bahn BR218 review ~ Train Sim World 4

Today's subject is the latest add-on from Train Sim Germany; one of the better third-party developers for Train Sim World. I think TSG is a good example of the 'quality over quantity' mindset in practice.
The Deutsche Bahn BR218 is a classic diesel locomotive from the 1970s. In TSW, she comes with the N-Wagen coaches and a diesel-equipped version of the Karlsruhe Kopf cab-car. As for gameplay opportunities, this is a big let-down in my opinion, and you'll see why in the video.

[@maffarick]

I fully agree with you about the 218; love it but has lack of gameplay!

[@lachlantanseytheii4412]

7:56 it does in fact layer on to freight services on Reisa- Dresden i’m pretty sure

[@basstrip73]

Yes, and it also shows up in many other German routes as well (in timetable mode)

[@theaverageenjoyer9364]

Not only freight you can run some RE50 services there as well from what i remember.

[@Lala00722]

yea you can use it on 9 routes

[@gtasandman]

You should also note how the dostos wagons got broken by the update for the 218 so now when you use the base 112 or 146 for the hamburg route it opens the doors on both sides randomly through the whole consist.

[@basstrip73]

Doors not opening and/or opening on the wrong side is a long-standing issue in TSW. Drove the BR 218 on several routes and had to use the external free-roam camera to manually open a door before loading passengers could begin. Very annoying.

[@gtasandman]

@@basstrip73 I never had that issue till this dlc and update to ham-lbk and ive owned most of the german routes that came out. Its so frustrating.

[@lxs1990]

BR 218 layers on Munich Augsburg, Koln Acheen, Rhein Rhur, Osten, Navrekher Dresden and Main spessart Bahn but you have to own MSB to unlock these layers.

[@horsepowergeek4885]

this is the first review that I have seen from you that doesn't make my want to not buy TSW4 worse

[@basstrip73]

Dovetail and its design partners love their repetitive EMUs/DMUs - eg the various Talents, BR 628, 642, 612 and the many UK 1-stick EMUs - because they can use the same design template for many different vehicles and produce them on the cheap. It takes a bit more effort, and payment to developers, to design quality vehicles from scratch and with DTG it's all about putting in the least amount of effort while charging premium prices for DLCs and add-ons. That said, there are exceptions like the stuff Train Sim Germany puts out, the BR 101 and the Vectron even though the latter has quite a few similarities with one of the American electric locos. Here's hoping DTG and its partners continue releasing interesting NEW vehicles like the BR 218 and fixing the many bugs and shoddy design issues TSW has.

[@potatoman451]

They do release new German trains all the time lol

[@gigachad5419]

8:01 You can drive the 218 on most German routes since an update.

[@thunderbird5364]

Another great video with some history, I’m curious are you going to review the Scotrail class 380 and class 158 when they are out?. On top of this will you remaster Cathcart circle review?

[@MarwiX_CZ]

I have BR 218 also on Nahverkehr Dresden, Bremen - Oldenburg, Köln - Aachen and München - Augsburg in timetable mode...

[@maxsteiner9833]

It layers on 4 other routes. Dresde Riesa, München-Augsburg etc

[@connorbradshaw4421]

As someone who enjoys the German content and therefore owns a fair bit, I can confirm that the 218 runs on more than just Hamburg - Lübek and Maintalbahn, it also has timetable layers on: Main Spessart Bahn, München - Augsburg, Hauptstrecke Rhein - Ruhr, Naverkehr Dresden, Rhein Ruhr Osten, Ruhr - Seig Nord and Schnellfahrstrecke Köln

[@floha978]

I mean, if you think about it, it's ridiculous that the br 218 doesn't Layer on the Niddertalbahn, even though it is the only TSG route....

[@someonelikeyou2553]

I recommend you look up a modern timetable mod on Train Sim Community website (if you are a PC user) that gives the game a modern timetable for Niddertalbahn where the BR218 is playable as a service with Doppelstockwagens. Not the best option to this lack of gameplay but it works!

[@potatoman451]

Tsg has explained that in order to layer into nid, it has to be remade into a new livery and design which isn't simply a simple paintjob unfortunately. If tsg only focused on nid, there wouldn't be other layers so there's that too

[@TB76Returns]

I certainly like the BR 218, and I am looking forward to the Advanced BR 101, which I bought Salzburg-Rosenheim in preperation for it. On the Maintalbahn, I found you can keep time better than the BR 642, which slow accelaration on the RB88 can make me late. I still find this locomotive most welcome, and of good quality.

[@hirosage6599]

❤ your tsw review videos

[@Fazmoo]

In my opinion German Routes/DLC's are actually quite good, and they are even better in TSC.

[@thedutchraillad352]

I agree, I especially like how German rolling stock layers onto other routse, which really makes the rail scenes varried. I do agree that the routes can be quite linear and repetitive, but I still enjoy the German routes the most

[@flavioriper1]

Did you do a review of the MSB route?

[@DC4260Productions]

I still haven't covered it yet.

[@airbornegr4815]

Can't wait for the expert db br 101

[@szilardnemeth5861]

The N-wagen coaches still have too mutch braking force?

[@potatoman451]

According to the developer, they really do stop that quickly. When they had it have low brake force, the feedback they got was that it was too weak so they changed it

[@intercity234]

The locomotive looks great. However, I sadly have no intention of buying it as I do not have nor want the Hamburg to Lübeck nor Maintelbahn routes. It would be nice if TSG could add a version with the older Deutsche Bundesbahn livery for the Niddertalbahn.