Victory Works quality steam add-ons

[patput]

I happened upon the Small Prairie set from Victory Works a few weeks back which sent me into a steam-era UK frenzy. I've since bought up most of their offerings, as well as a smattering of routes to run their beautiful engines on. The quality of the content from Victory Works is superb, and often times when running other steam engines I feel quite let down. Are there other engines being produced with the level of detail, and operational intensity (I love the simulated steam chest, the wheel-slip you actually have to fight, all the realistic little touches) of Victory Works offerings? In particular, I'd love to find some American stock that is up to the same level. The new Bessemer & Lake Erie add-on looks lovely, but I'm worried the operational aspects would feel quite hollow by comparison.

[holzroller]

Just Trains produce some nice advanced steam engines, the Clan, 5MT etc, but read before you buy as the older locos are not in this category. Steam loco collection also produced locos in the advanced format.

[IronBidder]

Mesh Tool's British steam locos are also highly regarded, see http://store.steampowered.com/app/44818 ... oco_AddOn/ for example.

Smokebox do three very detailed US steam locos, see http://store.steampowered.com/app/22254 ... oco_AddOn/ as an example.

If you are prepared to look outside steam locos, then Virtual Railroad's Expert Line of German electric locos are excellent (but complicated) and Reppo's US diesel models are highly regarded. Armstrong Powerhouse do some excellent UK Diesel locos and DMUs and EMUs

There are also some complex models of German steam locos that Just Trains sell, but I have no experience of them.

There will be some other small producers, but I can't remember them all.

[karma99]

I don't think it would be fair to comment on others products but I just wanted to say thank you on behalf of Victory Works, that is very kind

[jstange]

My _personal_ opinion is that VW is currently the leader in delivering the best steam experience for TS. Although many others are pretty close, including some of the JT offerings etc. JT's products have a nice feature of ActivFireman - if you don't want to do firing then it's pretty handy although not as rewarding as when you manage it yourself.

[NickG]

Just have to say I picked up the stroudley terriers in the sale, and found them to be absolutely superb

[holzroller]

Have to agree VW locos are good, but the lack of an equivalent to the JT activfireman is a negative for me. In real life you are either a driver or a fireman and I prefer to drive, preferably in advanced room.

[jimcrow]

I do enjoy "advanced" driving but now and again its nice just go into a simpler mode. VW and JT offer the best driving experience IMHO.

[patput]

Thank you all so much for your input! I will certainly give JustTrains work a gander, and hopefully swoop-up a deal or two with the current sale. I do really enjoy the firing while running VW engines, although it certainly has caught me out in the rain more than once. I'm sure ActivFireman could be a nice change at times!

Lastly, thank you Pete for all the lovely work. I had never had much of an interest in British railroading, but now here I am reading a book about the GWR!