Firstly, you're going to need to have TSW5 (currently available on Game Pass) and the WCML Preston-Carlisle route to fully appreciate this DLC from developer Just Trains.
This class of locomotive has a special place in my heart as when I was about 9 or 10 my Dad bought me (well, probably him and me to be honest) a Wrenn 'N' Gauge train set with this very locomotive with 4 trucks and 2 extra coaches.
This is an easy loco to set up and drive (as long as you remember to activate the leading cab with the AWS Cab Change End activation lever–this may sound like a "duh", but it's easily missed.)
The only other real quirk is that you actually have to "crouch" your driver (click the left stick) to enter the service corridor, and you may have to do this to set the battery isolating switch to "Normal"...
The 38-notch tap changer throttle control makes for an interesting but very controllable drive–superb brakes obviously help with this aspect. A "tap changer" system means you can't just slam it to full power and sit back and relax, you need to be a bit more interactive and skilful than that, and you need to be careful to not overload the system. That doesn't mean the 86/2 is slow, it'll hurtle along at over 100mph while pulling 10 coaches quite happily.
The AWS system seems to work well, and uniquely the Class 86's AWS warning seems to actually sound the locomotive's horn, so it's very difficult to ignore.
This DLC supplies a good-looking set of locomotives, and coaches, and you'll see several locomotives and coaches in both BR blue and the elegant InterCity livery, often mixed up as they often were in real life. I was delighted to see that there were even some cracking custom liveries on the in-game sharing hub the day after release!
As with many DLCs priced as high as £19.99 (£17.99 with Game Pass) you probably already know whether you want this quality add-on from Just Trains, or ever saw a Class 86 fly by as a boy and wanted to drive one. I did, and so highly recommend it.
Many thanks to Just Trains, Dovetail Games and Indigo Pearl for the review code.