Dovetail Games' DBB BR 194 and E94 Railtour Pack for Train Sim World 5 brings a pair of iconic "Krokodil" electric locomotives to the German rail network, offering a blend of historical freight hauling and modern-day railtour operations. This pack is a must-have for fans of classic German electric traction and those who appreciate the distinctive, raw feel of older locomotives.
The star of the show is, of course, the Krokodil itself. The pack includes two distinct variants: the rugged BR 194 in its 1980s DB green livery and the preserved E94 088 with a more modern, shiny look. As we've come to expect, each locomotive has been meticulously modelled, from their unique 'crocodile' shape to the highly detailed and interactive driving cabs. The difference in handling and features between the two models is noticeable, with the BR 194's more old-school, manually-lapped brake valves and lack of certain modern amenities adding to the authentic, vintage experience.
The included scenarios and a new 1984 timetable for the Linke Rheinstrecke route are another highlight, giving the BR 194 plenty of opportunities to shine on freight services.
The pack also cleverly utilizes layers, allowing the updated and more refined ÖBB (Austrian) 1020 incarnation of the E94 to operate railtours on other compatible routes, like Pfälzische Ludwigsbahn, for which it also includes two lengthy scenarios which, if nothing else, proves that it's still a viable option for the services, despite being limited to 90 km/h (the spoilsports!) While this layering adds to the value, and you can of course spawn either locomotive (or both) anywhere you want these days, it's worth underlining the fact that to get the full experience you'll need to own the Linke Rheinstrecke & Pfãlzische Ludwigsbahn route add-ons.
Overall, the DBB BR 194 and E94 Railtour Pack is a nice addition to the TSW5 library. The locomotives are a joy to operate, their sounds are authentic (you really hear the power of the loco and both have whistles that sound like they came off mighty steam locomotives). The new timetable and scenarios provide a significant amount of content-notably more than most locomotive DLCs.
Despite a few minor bugs and the dependency on other DLC for maximum enjoyment, it's a quality pack that expertly captures the charm and challenge of these mighty "Krokodil" locomotives. The DBB BR 194 and E94 Railtour Pack is £19.99 or £17.99 with Game Pass.
Many thanks to Dovetail Games and Indigo Pearl for the review code.
