New locomotive: TGV La Poste

The TGV La Poste trainsets were built by Alstom between 1978 and 1986. These trains were essentially TGV-PSE half sets modified for postal service, consisting of a power car plus four mail cars. TGV-PSE no.38 trainset was refitted later on as two La Poste half trainsets. TGV La Poste sets are used to transport mail (initially between Paris and Lyon) by the french postal company La Poste. These are the fastest freight trains in the world, travelling at 270 km/h.

The real specifications for this vehicle are (taken from the Wikipedia):

• Units built: 5 half trainsets, plus 2 reffited PSE no.38
• Formation: 10 cars (2 heads + 8 cars)
• Total length: 200 m
• Total weight: 385 t
• Top speed: 270 Km/h
• Power output: 6450 kW

See some pictures at the Railfaneurope.net picture gallery.

This is a blender rendered output (click to enlarge) using its original colour scheme, and some in-game screenshots:

Blender renderized output

Simutrans screenshot

Simutrans object data:

Type	Electric Locomotive
Name	TGV La Poste	TGV La Poste Car A/B
Freight	Mail
Capacity	0	80
Power	3225 kW	0 kW
Max.Speed	270 Km/h
Intro Year	june 1981
Retire Year	N/A

The train has been coded into simutrans as the original sets, with a maximum speed of 270 Km/h and 6450 kW of power. They are available from june 1981 and the optimum in-game formation is 2 power cars and 4 to 6 mail cars (best graphical look is a Front-CarA-CarB-CarB-CarA-Back formation).

This train is meant to be part of a full TGV pakset, which I hope it will be released soon.

For more information on this locomotive check the following links:

• Wikipedia (TGV La Poste)
• Wikipedia (TGV)