For a challenge perhaps u shld try the Kiha 40 series on local
services. That boasts terrible acceleration and a top speed of
about 80 km/h. :D
For starters, i'd think doing the NEL in BVE 2.6 or 4 would be
equally difficult. The 1st obstacle would prolly b getting decent
footage of the line w/o incurring the wrath of the "transit
security". If u can't find the signals the line could b coded to
use ATO.
As for the train the actual engine is not that difficult to
code.