Switching cabs?

[JohnS]

To change the operating cab on a consist the consist must have at least two "2" locomotives in the consist. In the cab of one locomotive make sure the reverser is in idle or at 0% also the throttle is at 0%. Make sure the brakes are applied too. When you are sure you have done all this you hold down the "ctrl" key and use the "+" or"-" keys to either move to the cab ahead or behind you. Use the + and - keys on the top row after the numbers. The idea is when changing operating cabs is the cab you are leaving should be left the way it was when the game started, Headlights are off, reverser is 0 and the throttle is 0 and the brakes applied before switching cabs.

[OldProf]

To change the operating cab on a consist the consist must have at least two "2" locomotives in the consist. In the cab of one locomotive make sure the reverser is in idle or at 0% also the throttle is at 0%. Make sure the brakes are applied too. When you are sure you have done all this you hold down the "ctrl" key and use the "+" or"-" keys to either move to the cab ahead or behind you. Use the + and - keys on the top row after the numbers. The idea is when changing operating cabs is the cab you are leaving should be left the way it was when the game started, Headlights are off, reverser is 0 and the throttle is 0 and the brakes applied before switching cabs.

You win the prize for the most thorough and correct explanation of how to switch cabs, but the unsolvable problem remains that only the original cab's engine can be driven in TS20xx. TSW eliminates this problem by allowing an engineer to leave the cab of the currently driven engine (after making the proper control adjustments, of course), climb aboard another engine in the same train, set the controls and drive from the 2nd engine's cab. On the other hand, we cannot yet write scenarios* for TSW yet.

* Wait! That's not quite true. Check the Community Guides link on the TSW page at the Steam site for a couple of semi-scenarios.

[buzz456]

That's not accurate Tom. If you have the HUD off and you do everything John says you can run the thing from the other cab. After you move the initial control to establish you are there you can even turn the HUD back on if you wish. At least I'm sure it works with the FP7. That's the one I used for the test.

[JohnS]

That's not accurate Tom. If you have the HUD off and you do everything John says you can run the thing from the other cab. After you move the initial control to establish you are there you can even turn the HUD back on if you wish. At least I'm sure it works with the FP7. That's the one I used for the test.

Yes exactly. I don't use the F4 HUD. I use the F3 Display as a pilot for the territory I'm on but use the keyboard/mouse to change the controls. I never noticed if the F4 HUD controlled the unit I was in. I know the keyboard/mouse worked in whatever cab I was in.
ADDED: There is a scenario for the Chicago Metra where you have to change ends as part of the scenario.

[OldProf]

I happen to use the F4 HUD, as I have always done. So shoot me! Here's a little test for you guys who think you've not only switched cabs visually, but can actually drive from the cab you've supposedly switched to: try uncoupling from the originally driven engine while in the cab you've switched to and see what happens.

[Tomcat]

Here is what I do. Either this will clear up some aspect of your question or add to the confusion, I'm not sure which.

I quickly created a short consist on a test route of the following;

StP ES44DC BNSF (Lead engine is the only one I placed the driver icon on)
StP ES44DC BNSF ND
7 Bulkhead Flatcars
StP ES44DC BNSF ND

Start off as expected driving from the lead engine. Brake to a stop and while sitting in lead engine use 'Ctrl =' to switch to trailing loco.

Once in the cab of the trailing loco I then uncouple the 2 lead locos and pull away using the trailing (now the lead) loco in the opposite direction. After a few yards I bring it to a stop and reverse back and couple up to the former lead locos. Using 'Ctrl =' to get back to the original loco I then pull away heading in the original direction with the entire consist whole once more.

[RailWanderer]

This is an interesting thread, I have learned a bit more about TS2017, never knew you could do that with the cabs. I always seemed to have one loco as the controlling unit. Thanks guys, I tried this with a PRR GP9 and an F7 units at opposite ends of the train, it worked perfectly as far as which unit was in control of the train. I could do this as Tom had mentioned in TSW and was actually wondering if it were possible in TS2017. Thanks for bringing this subject up Tom.

[JohnS]

I happen to use the F4 HUD, as I have always done. So shoot me! Here's a little test for you guys who think you've not only switched cabs visually, but can actually drive from the cab you've supposedly switched to: try uncoupling from the originally driven engine while in the cab you've switched to and see what happens.

The HUD should change positions and directions when you switch cabs as the video shows. If it doesn't then there is another problem in the game. It could possibly be the locomotives that are being used. I'm not sure at this point. I haven't had this same situation personally. I'm sorry if I offended you about the HUD. I can't see all the little buttons since I play the game on a TV and don't sit up at a monitor like I used to. (i don't have my "office" space anymore). Tomcat's video is exactly how it should work. If you look closely at the Consist in the HUD it does change direction and the leader locomotive while he changes the cabs. I hope this helps

[OldProf]

Here is what I do. Either this will clear up some aspect of your question or add to the confusion, I'm not sure which.

I quickly created a short consist on a test route of the following;

StP ES44DC BNSF (Lead engine is the only one I placed the driver icon on)
StP ES44DC BNSF ND
7 Bulkhead Flatcars
StP ES44DC BNSF ND

Start off as expected driving from the lead engine. Brake to a stop and while sitting in lead engine use 'Ctrl =' to switch to trailing loco.

Once in the cab of the trailing loco I then uncouple the 2 lead locos and pull away using the trailing (now the lead) loco in the opposite direction. After a few yards I bring it to a stop and reverse back and couple up to the former lead locos. Using 'Ctrl =' to get back to the original loco I then pull away heading in the original direction with the entire consist whole once more.

Well, that's sure interesting and I tested it myself but it didn't work, so I have to ask a question: I'm using a Standard scenario marker -- did you perhaps use a Timetable scenario marker?
In any case, CTRL+= is the same as CTRL++, since = and + share the same physical key, the only difference being that to enter an + normally requires pressing Shift+CTRL+= -- or is that perhaps what you did?

I'm also working with the B&O route and its locomotives, but that shouldn't make a difference, whereas the type of scenario marker would make a difference. I almost always use a Standard marker because scenarios using a Timetable marker cannot be uploaded to the Steam Workshop.

[Tomcat]

Well, that's sure interesting and I tested it myself but it didn't work, so I have to ask a question: I'm using a Standard scenario marker -- did you perhaps use a Timetable scenario marker?
In any case, CTRL+= is the same as CTRL++, since = and + share the same physical key, the only difference being that to enter an + normally requires pressing Shift+CTRL+= -- or is that perhaps what you did?

I'm also working with the B&O route and its locomotives, but that shouldn't make a difference, whereas the type of scenario marker would make a difference. I almost always use a Standard marker because scenarios using a Timetable marker cannot be uploaded to the Steam Workshop.

Now I've gotten myself confused, . My video answers the question for anyone using Free Roam scenarios but, unfortunately, not your question. I use free-roams so much while route building that it didn't even cross my mind that the type of scenario would make a difference... and, much to my consternation, it does. I replicated the consist in a Standard Scenario and I now have the same problem. I can switch cab views just fine while the consist is whole but as soon as I uncouple the trailing engine that I am sitting in it shuts down and becomes a very heavy paperweight with which I can do nothing.

Apparently you've educated me whilst I've wasted your time, my apologies.

I tried to add a player icon to the trailing engine thinking that might solve something but apparently you can't have more than one 'player' engine in a standard scenario. I also have a vague, cobweb strewn memory of a standard or career scenario for one of the DTG routes that had you switching engines but my memory isn't worth much at the moment.

Since I am now curious about a definitive answer to this I will poke around and see what turns up. If I come across something useful I'll post again.

[OldProf]

Tomcat: no need to apologize! I figured that you were not using a Standard scenario marker, but wasn't sure. I'm not really familiar with free-roam scenarios, but perhaps I should look into them, since I know that they can be uploaded to Steam Workshop. Is it possible to include instructions in them, as in a Standard or Career scenario? Anyway, we're both learning, and that's what counts.

[Tomcat]

Tom:

As far as I know the only instruction that can be added to a free roam scenario is a final destination and the only reason I can think of for doing that would be to have AI as moving scenery on a separate track ribbon that never intersects with the player train or at least the path would never cross the path you wanted to take as you are roaming around. I suppose the dispatcher, being rather odd, could always muck things up and route the AI on a weird path and thereby lock switches that would hamper the player from roaming. I suppose someone clever could come up a use for adding a final destination, other than having moving scenery, to a free roam but I can't think of anything that I might want to do with it.

I haven't been able to find anything matching my memory of changing cabs in a TS2017 scenario. I suspect I conflated a memory of TSW with TS2017. The search continues.

Tim

[JohnS]

There's a scenario for "The Racetrack - Aurora to Chicago" called the Chicago Flipback. It requires you to changes operating ends half way through the scenario. This is the only example of changing operating cabs I've found in a scenario.