Dear RailFans,
On September 30, the SimRail: BR 285 DLC pulls into the station, and with it comes something SimRail has never had before: a diesel locomotive.
Until now, every locomotive in SimRail has depended on the overhead line. The BR 285 changes that. It carries its own power plant on board, so for the first time you'll be driving a machine where the energy comes from the engine behind your back, not from the wire above.
A TRAXX with its own heart
The BR 285 is a four-axle diesel-electric locomotive from the Bombardier TRAXX family, the diesel counterpart of the Traxx E186 you already know from the game. Under the hood sits a 16-cylinder, 65-litre engine rated at 2200 kW (3000 hp). It drives a generator that supplies current to the electric traction motors on the bogies. In practice this means the familiar TRAXX driving experience, with the added dimension of managing a diesel engine that responds to every notch of the controller.
Built for heavy freight
Starting tractive effort is on par with the electric version, enough to pull away from a standstill with a train of up to 3000 tonnes. A 4000-litre fuel tank allows long runs without stopping to refuel, and the top speed of 140 km/h matches the electric E186. Heavy tank trains, long block freight, demanding gradients: this is the work the BR 285 was designed for.
A real locomotive with a real story
Ten BR 285 units operate in Poland with Orlen Kolej (formerly Lotos Kolej), built in 2010-2011. Day to day, they haul tank car trains between the company's fuel terminals, and they have also been seen at the head of open wagons, flat wagons and other freight stock. Now you can recreate those duties on SimRail's routes.
Add the BR 285 DLC to your wishlist now so you don't miss the premiere!
See you on September 30!
Update on the Kutno - Łowicz route
Work on the Kutno - Łowicz section is nearly finished, but the scope turned out to be somewhat larger than we initially expected. The route will be released no later than the BR 285 premiere on September 30, and we're doing our best to deliver it even sooner. Thanks for your patience!
SimRail Team