Train Simulator: Norfolk Southern Dash8-40C Loco Add-On DLC

The the Dash8-c is a good locomotive that Union Pacfic, CSX, and Norfolk Southern still use some of these engines in service. Its great for long distance trains or local trains

This engine looks very nice, however the sounds are quite horrible. It uses the default sounds from the Gevo on Cajon Pass. I would advise waiting until it is on sale and I regret buying it full price to be fully honest.

On sale, sure, it ain't bad. But it ain't great either, not for the full asking price. Not only is it quite old now, but the physics are pitifully bad and the texturing is noticeably dated. The sounds are not the absolute worst, though the engine itself is really really quiet. Luckily, not screeching flanges that nobody likes included here. You're also only getting a loco, so 20 bucks is kinda steep for this. In my opinion, it's not worth it unless you get it on sale, and even then, it's kinda lackluster. There are better options for the 10 bucks it is on sale.

The model isn't bad, but it's not good either. Here's my breakdown of it. Pros: -Very nice detail, including logo size, font, caps covering Ex-Conrail marker lights. -Lights are incandescent, typical for an NS Standard Cab Dash 8. -Accurately displayed. -In cab controls are somewhat good. Cons: -Default Kuju Gevo sounds as usual for all GE Freight engines. -Axel size is a bit small. This is typical on DTG engines. -Takes getting the engine up to 500 RPM to start, which often results in going into Notch 8 just to get it running. -Cab controls are a bit unusual. Asside from the cons, I recommend this add-on, but not at full price. It's better to get it on sale as spending 20 dollars on it is crazy. It's not worth the whole cash amount but it is still a good add on to have especially if you love Norfolk Southern. Horn sounds can be fixed with mods of course.

i love the interrior of this loco. The sounds are most likely accurate to the actual engine, however i was hoping for something different. my ONLY COMPLAINT on this particular model is this : the headlights and ditch lights do NOT show that they're actually illuminated, however when you are in the dark, it does illuminate the path in front of the loco. but on the model itself, they are dark. not sure whats the problem there, any suggestions from anyone would be appreciated.

Wait for a sale to buy this, it has the same loco sounds as the Kuju ES44AC, ditch lights don't flash, and, wonky physics.

DO NOT PAY $20 FOR THIS, WAIT FOR A SALE!!!! This DLC is not worth $20. You get only 1 locomotive and thats it! There is a list of key details that are NOT included with this DLC. -Ditch lights only work when horn is used. -Incorrect horn. -Incorrect bell. -Same sounds as Dash 9 pack. -No numberboard lights. -Inoperable doors and windows. -No sun visor. -1 headlight brightness (high). -The brakes on take an insanely long time to release, even when you set the brake mode to easy. The plus side: The model is very accurate to the real thing. Overrall: Wait for a sale, don't waste $20 on one incomplete locomotive!

Guys, ever want to make the locomotive sound accurate? now you can if you go to this website https://www.store.searchlight-simulations.com/enhancements-index-1, go to were it says GE 7FDL-16-EP, download (its free now) and you will have a great time, it includes the real sound of the NS Dash 8 like the horn, bell, engine and also it fixes the ditchlight bug which now it turns on all the headlights, not just this locomotive also for other locomotives as well, trust me with this pack you won't be disappointed

Nice engine, I love it but it has small flaws -Same engine sound from the ES44DC -No flashing ditch lights -Wrong horn -Bad bell If you look past that its fine! Mods make it better anyway. The engine looks really nice on TOFC's and Stacks trains. I recommend you to wait until it goes on sell but it's good!

Yet another major screw-up from Dovetail. I was hoping this locomotive would be good, and the main reason I got it was so I could have something to drive on the Norfolk Southern Coal District route that wasn't ANOTHER ES44AC and the C40-9W. Seriously, how many ES44ACs have we had in Train Sim over the years? It's like the Class 66 all over again. But that's enough stalling. Now I should have a look at the C40-8, and believe me. It's not good. I'll start off by talking about the physics. When running light engine, the loco takes off like a rocket even when you put the throttle in Notch 2. It reminds me of the Class 150/1, prior to Dovetail releasing an update for it. I've seen many diesel locomotives in my time, and even though they were all in New Zealand, I think I have some room to say that diesels don't accelerate anywhere near as quickly as the NS C40-8 in Train Sim. Coupling up to a big rake of loaded coal hoppers slows down the acceleration rate, but perhaps a bit too slow. You have to put the throttle in Notch 5 or 6 just to get it moving. The brakes are equally disappointing. Even when you apply the brakes to 26% on the F4 HUD, the brake pressure skyrockets to at least 40%. Much like the NS ES44AC included with the Coal District route, and the CSX SD80MAC, the brakes on the C40-8 take as much time to release as it takes for me to get a girlfriend. Yes, I went there. Don't judge me. In other words, the brakes on the C40-8 take an insanely long time to release. For example - I am coasting along at 25 miles per hour, and I see a warning for an upcoming 20 speed limit. I apply the brakes to say - 30 to 38% - and by the time the brakes are fully released, I'm down to 18 miles per hour. I don't know whether or not the brakes on the real thing act like this, but they're just far too slow for me. Again, it's the same situation on the NS ES44AC and CSX SD80MAC. And what about the actual model. Much like the other trains that DTG makes, the model is actually very accurate to the real thing. It captures the look of the real NS C40-8 almost perfectly, although I do think the front of the loco looks a little out of proportion. The sounds are just as disappointing as the physics. The engine sounds are very similar to - if not, the same - as the ES44AC, and the horn sounds exactly like the Southern Pacific C44-9W from the Donner Pass route. I don't know of any other locos that use the same horn. It's just a very generic horn sound that I wish DTG would stop using. Another problem I found was in the flange squeal sounds. They are exactly the same as the sounds on the Class 395, Class 801, Kawasaki M8 and who knows how many other trains. Basically I've heard these same flange squeal sounds a million times, and the fact that DTG keep using those sounds show me that they are just lazy, and don't really have respect for the source material. How did they think they could get away with using flange squeal sounds from ELECTRIC UNITS on a DIESEL locomotive? Lastly I'll talk about the locomotives features, or lack-there-of. Normally you press 'I' on the keyboard to turn on the instrument lights, but on this locomotive, the key command doesn't work. You have to physically click and drag the switch, which isn't very easy to find. Strangely, the usual 'pressing 'L' to turn on the cab light' works, so there is no excuse not to have the same for the instrument lights. On quite a few U.S. diesels made by Dovetail (can't remember them all off the top of my head), you can switch on the number-board lights and step lights. You can't do that with the C40-8, nor can you switch on/off the ditchlights at will. They only come on when you sound the horn; there is no working switch that lets you turn them on/off yourself. As usual, the cab windows don't open, and neither do the doors. This is a common problem with DTG products that really ticks me off, especially when there's quick a few trains from them where the windows do open (Class 377, UP Gas Turbine, BR 155 and 1938 tube stock spring to mind). In conclusion, I think the Norfolk Southern C40-8 add-on for Train Simulator was yet another cheaply-made/rushed product with little to no respect for the source material. I can-not recommend this locomotive at all, unless you are desperate for more Norfolk Southern engines, like myself. My review of this loco has now concluded.