Out now on PC and consoles
Being Soldier’s resident railway guru, the arrival of this TSW add-on – combining the dual obsessions of army hardware and locomotives – paved the way for another weekend of all-encompassing anorakness.
For with the KWA Warwell low-loader safely ensconced in the sidings, the sim opened up an opportunity to ferry armoured vehicles resembling FV432s and Mastiffs around the north of England and south-east regions on simulated moves to MoD sites.
And with nothing but the clatter of wagons trundling along an iron road for company while a resigned spouse watched Saturday Kitchen in the other room, it lived up to expectations. Players will require both the Great Western and Carlisle routes to make full use of the downloadable content, but the investment unlocks a plethora of taskings using the Class 66 and 47 locos.
Kit is beautifully rendered throughout and gameplay mechanics are suitably challenging – driving virtual diesels pulling thousands of tonnes of AFVs across networks packed with high-speed passenger services is certainly no mean feat. Braking in good time is another test entirely, needing solid forward planning.
On a serious note, however, this DLC does underscore the huge potential of the train as a weapon of war. It demonstrates how a single locomotive affords the opportunity to move huge swathes of armour into position quickly and efficiently – a tremendous asset in a Europe that is already criss-crossed with rail lines.
Cliff Caswell, Soldier
