Bügelfeuer on an Hanover S-Bahn train (Screenshot taken from this YouTube video, courtesy of hd1080i.de. Written permission to take and use screenshot was obtained by the author of this article).
Just to be clear right at the start; I am not talking about the pantograph sparks that occur every now and then during normal operations, which of course are already implemented in the game.
The Phenomenon
What I am proposing here are the heavy and almost constant sparks that occur in winter when the overhead line is covered in ice or rime, or during episodes of freezing rain or mist. They can be observed most commonly in the early morning hours.
In German it is called “Bügelfeuer”, roughly translated as “panto fire”. I have unfortunately not been able to find a precise English term for it, so I will just stick to the term “Bügelfeuer” in this article. To see what it looks and sounds like, I have included some very short YouTube videos in this article which should help make the difference between Bügelfeuer and normal Panto sparks become obvious.
Bügelfeuer in the morning hours on a regional service with 2xBR143
Bügelfeuer on a Hanover S-Bahn train
This phenomenon is neither very dangerous nor very rare. It is however quite stressful for the overhead line and the pantograph shoe, which have to endure severe heat. It can lead to the pantograph shoe having to be replaced earlier than it would normally be necessary. It also important to note that the intensity of the effect is related to the amount of power used by the train.
Close up of a pantograph with extreme panto sparks. Intensity increases after ~37s
In the Game
I think it looks and sounds fantastic and would make a wonderful addition to the game. Winter night scenarios would gain a certain spooky atmosphere with this effect in the game. Especially in a loco with appropriate headlights (they are often a lot too bright in the game), this flashing effect illuminating the area would look absolutely stunning.
And given that the “Extreme” experience is what DTG is going for with TS16, this would certainly fit right in. It could give the hardest scenarios that combine winter conditions and darkness even more of an extreme touch. Just have a look at the video below and you should see what I mean.
A wonderful cabride during difficult winter conditions. Great scenery, beautiful lighting and a sun slowly rising throughout the video. Note: You can cleary see the Bügelfeuer from the cab, especially in the first 5-6 mins, but the whole video is well worth watching.
Additional Info (Referring to German Railroads)
When the overhead line is covered in ice or grime to such an extent that there are interruptions in the power delivery, it is allowed to raise both pantos on a locomotive. This not only reduces the likeliness of an interruption by doubling the contact surface, but the first panto also scrapes at least some of the ice off the overhead line and allows the second panto to have better contact. This is afaik the only instance in which raising two pantos on a loco is allowed. A locomotive with two raised pantographs is always limited to 110 kph, regardless of service type.