I've been enjoying the steam related thread. How about one for diesels?
I would like to hear a high rpm sound starting from a dead stop and then the rpm's ease off once under way at speed. Just the way I remember how it sounded riding in that first coach behind the big Alco Century's on the Long Island.
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Variable smoke effects like in the vision hybird.
Yes ALCo smoke when accelerating. Also the engineer turning his head when the loco goes from forward to reverse.
How about flames from the stack, only for the older GE models. 
I liked the idea about the bearing caps spinning on another post. I think anything capturing better detail adds to the enthusiasm.
MTH did change the behavior of their diesel's smoke units.
Watch the smoke volume go up with the engine's rpms.
How about fixed pilots and proper full length hand rails, on the high end SCALE diesel models.
Side panel smoke for the Alcos.
Lionel has done break-down B Units. Enhanced Alco breakdowns with a real time clock. After they break, you can't run them again for at least 40 hours.
Drive disengagement so you can dead-tow your broken down Alco back to the shop.
More lighting, including step lighting - several side panel opening maintenance doors with a modeled three dimensional engine behind the doors. A down side to more doors though could include increased risk for breakage. More LED lighting, though, is an easy feature to add. Lionel is on the right track with their self centering pilots.
I drove to Salt Lake City for the Thanksgiving Holiday and on the way out saw Union Pacific running freight in western Wyoming at nearly 80 mph. It was cool to notice all the side lighting on the 3-4 locomotives. There is a lot more to lighting than just headlights, ditch lights and cab interiors. N Scale modelers are adding step, safety and inspection lighting to diesels.
The Portland Rose posted:More lighting, including step lighting - several side panel opening maintenance doors with a modeled three dimensional engine behind the doors.
I like this!
I don't know enough about any locomotives to really know what else could be added, but it is always nice to add new features to the more scale models
How about eliminating green markers on the front of diesels. I'd take white maybe, red rarely. And allow us to turn them off. Not a bad option for steam as well.
John, I'm with you on the flames from the stack. A lot of the old F7s on the EL in the last days went through my town lighting up the night sky.
Step lighting if done right (not overdone) would look good.
The random "spit" of air dryers when stopped would add to the RR atmosphere.
This is fun!
I know, I know, they are classification lights....its the tryptophan kicking in.
Rotating bearing caps for sure, walkway lights (both on the front and rear for modern units and southern style walkway lights on their units). Also spinning radiator fans on engines with big fans like the SD70s.
351_DD-1 posted:
I would like to hear a high rpm sound starting from a dead stop and then the rpm's ease off once under way at speed. Just the way I remember how it sounded riding in that first coach behind the big Alco Century's on the Long Island.
You can do that now with m t h docs......
Opening hood panels, more realistic ditch lights. Western locomotives should come standard with non-flashing ditch lights.
I’m sure everything mentioned is doable but are we willing to pay the price.
gunrunnerjohn posted:How about flames from the stack, only for the older GE models.
It better be a Cast iron body, the fire would melt a plastic shell. also a model that has a turbo, seems to me the turbos are the cause of most of the fires still to this day on the 1:1s, if you believe the Youtube videos.
Also if can be used as a cigar lighter. 
Good idea.
Fixed pilots on higher end models
Jim Berger,
MTH docs......??
More indoor air pollution..... how about smoke pouring out from the traction motors!!
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