NS SD40-2 LHF Issues

[Kali]

Well, I wouldn't automatically edit anyone's DLC, some of us spend quite some time on physics :P but I know where you're coming from. Even worse is the power side of things, usually - there's not a diesel in the world, even a switcher which is about as near as you'll get to a model, that behaves like nearly everything available. Beware you don't break someone's custom setup when you're fiddling though.

I'll poke this thing when I have time & inclination. I wrote my own SD40 physics & scripting years ago so I don't even go near the new ones generally.

[MontanaRails]

Sorry, I should have been more specific - most DTG/RSC DLC gets modified. 3rd party and RWA stuff (such as the Lakeside Route) doesn't. And the more complex units, like the GP20...well...let's just say I know better than to go poking around in there!

BTW, Just found another bug. Numberboards don't seem to light up on the SD40, and based on the screenshots of the GP38, looks like they don't with that one either. Ok, I'm done nitpicking now!

Hopefully DTG sees this thread and compiles a list of fixes.

[buzz456]

Sorry, I should have been more specific - most DTG/RSC DLC gets modified. 3rd party and RWA stuff (such as the Lakeside Route) doesn't. And the more complex units, like the GP20...well...let's just say I know better than to go poking around in there!

BTW, Just found another bug. Numberboards don't seem to light up on the SD40, and based on the screenshots of the GP38, looks like they don't with that one either. Ok, I'm done nitpicking now!

Hopefully DTG sees this thread and compiles a list of fixes.

Since you put this in such a nice way (and by the way pointing out issues is not nit picking) however I would suggest that these are more likely to get fixed if you would contact them directly and let them know what you have observed. Bit of trivia after looking for this beast for ten minutes this morning I discovered it's in a DTG folder not in the RSC folder.

[MontanaRails]

Since you put this in such a nice way (and by the way pointing out issues is not nit picking) however I would suggest that these are more likely to get fixed if you would contact them directly and let them know what you have observed. Bit of trivia after looking for this beast for ten minutes this morning I discovered it's in a DTG folder not in the RSC folder.

I agree with your thinking - I actually reported the issues when I started the thread. I was just hoping we'd be able to crack this one here at RWA as it can take quite a long time for DTG to sort through their messages and allocate time for a fix. And yep, I noticed the switchover to DTG from RSC with this DLC as well. It's interesting, because the "PennCoal" route is in the RSC folder, not DTG. So that goes to show how long they've been working on that route. And it shows - it's quite nice.

[MontanaRails]

Another bug.

The buckeye_type_e_coupling.bin file for the SD40-2 is set to manual couplers, not automatic. Changing ManualCoupling from "1" to "0" fixes it, and puts it in line with all of the past NA coupler protocol.

I couldn't figure out why I couldn't couple to a consist, and wondered if I broke the coupler on the first hit (I came in a little hot ), so I backed off, and came at it at 2 mph and bounced off. Tried again at 1.5 mph. Finally clicked on the couplers and it coupled and jolted the whole train like crazy. Did some more .bin diving and figured it out.

With all these inconsistencies and this last one especially, I wonder if a new team is working on the North American stuff now and they're just unfamiliar with the equipment? If the NS GP38-2 also has this coupler issue, I'd say that the likelihood of this being true is higher. Not that there's anything wrong with a new team, but they might want to do some more research...

I've updated my original post for newcomers.

[buzz456]

I would ask once again who is doing the beta testing? This would seem pretty basic.

[MontanaRails]

Totally agree.

[Kali]

With all these inconsistencies and this last one especially, I wonder if a new team is working on the North American stuff now and they're just unfamiliar with the equipment? If the NS GP38-2 also has this coupler issue, I'd say that the likelihood of this being true is higher. Not that there's anything wrong with a new team, but they might want to do some more research...

I've updated my original post for newcomers.

Autocouplers are used all over Europe, take a look around even the UK stock for the last 50+ years and you'll find janney couplers there. Speculation ( and being mildly patronising ) doesn't help anyone. Make a list of clearly described issues & send it in, that will.

[MontanaRails]

I had sent a list to DTG when I started the thread (I guess I forgot to mention that) and I just sent an updated list of issues and link to this thread.

As to my speculation - I was simply trying to rationalize an otherwise perplexing situation where someone at DTG spent a lot of time working on DLC only to somehow completely miss critical details. It was not intended as a slight to anyone or a suggestion that those in Europe don't understand automatic couplers. If anyone got their feelings hurt, it was unintentional. There was nothing "patronizing" about my comments at all. I don't pretend to be an expert at any of this - I'm just one of the few trying to improve the sim.