Great game but doesn't seem like a significant improvement over 2013. How do you run maintain a steamer at good speeds? LOL at speeding, 72 in a 45 zone!
Do some German Baureihen, I wish they would introduce the Baureihe 103 into the game, that was a great locomotive to ride if only a bit cramped in the cab. They had a four-minute rating of 10,500 horsepower, awesome at accelerating!
Operationally-wise there isn't really much of a change, besides the addition of a zoom feature and changing the operator error display interface. The major changes here are in the user interface and menus. I'm patiently waiting for them to release a new slew of rolling stock for me to play with.
As for steamers, they're temperamental, and it's taken me several months to learn their intricacies. Even so, it's difficult to achieve and maintain track speed with a heavy consist going up a grade without losing too much steam pressure. A few key things to remember: Using the blower increases the rate that steam pressure is generated. Also, if the water injector is in the on position, you are going to lose steam since you are adding cold water to the boiler. Everything else is just dependent on playing around with the regulator and throttle. You're really only going to achieve track speed (or above) when on level terrain or going down grade. With that said, certain steam locomotives are coded differently from others, lending to easier operation (speed-wise)