DTG: CSX NRE 3GS-21B 'Genset' coming soon (WiP)

[_o_OOOO_oo-Kanawha]

Are these modern switchers operated by the engineer alone using walk around remotely controlled? Usually, there are some kind of indicator lights on the loco, so the engineer knows what it is doing.

If it is a proper switcher, I'd like it to have platform/stepwell views besides the head out of the window views.
Cab views can now be scripted/animated to more than 2 positions, but a view outside the carbody requires the complete locomotive shapefile and running gear as "cabview" to look convincing.

AFAIK Shift F2 is still limited to two viewpoints. Perhaps its creators have some clever scripts up their sleeve?

[ArcticCatZRT]

Are these modern switchers operated by the engineer alone using walk around remotely controlled? Usually, there are some kind of indicator lights on the loco, so the engineer knows what it is doing.

If it is a proper switcher, I'd like it to have platform/stepwell views besides the head out of the window views.
Cab views can now be scripted/animated to more than 2 positions, but a view outside the carbody requires the complete locomotive shapefile and running gear as "cabview" to look convincing.

AFAIK Shift F2 is still limited to two viewpoints. Perhaps its creators have some clever scripts up their sleeve?

That's what I am hoping for!

[OpenRailer90]

I just noticed the 3 exhaust flaps individually open or close, which is way too cool and true to the prototype.

[BNSFdude]

RCL (remote control locomotives) dont run on that old system showing indicator lights anymore. On GE boxes, they show status and faults on the beltpack LCD, and on Canac ones, they broadcast the status when requested on the beltpack, or if a fault occurs.
"B.N.S.F, 1.9.0.0, (A/B) depending on user during fault at time in Pitch/Catch operations, Fault message (such as "Communications Interrupted"), Fault Correction Method ("Recover Service from BELTPACK, A and B"), Out."

[_o_OOOO_oo-Kanawha]

RCL (remote control locomotives) dont run on that old system showing indicator lights anymore. On GE boxes, they show status and faults on the beltpack LCD, and on Canac ones, they broadcast the status when requested on the beltpack, or if a fault occurs.
"B.N.S.F, 1.9.0.0, (A/B) depending on user during fault at time in Pitch/Catch operations, Fault message (such as "Communications Interrupted"), Fault Correction Method ("Recover Service from BELTPACK, A and B"), Out."

That may be OK for the engineer/operator, but what about other personel in the vicinity? How do they know a locomotive is under r/c and might move at any instant?

[BNSFdude]

The amber strobe lights are only on when actively in RC mode, and the bell rings while initiating movement. Otherwise, there's always signs posted too.

Oh, and typically the operator of Pitch-Catch is a Switchman, not an engineer. The reason they got the RCO stuff was to get rid of engineers in yard jobs.

[_o_OOOO_oo-Kanawha]

The amber strobe lights are only on when actively in RC mode, and the bell rings while initiating movement. Otherwise, there's always signs posted too.

Oh, and typically the operator of Pitch-Catch is a Switchman, not an engineer. The reason they got the RCO stuff was to get rid of engineers in yard jobs.

Understood it is a cost cutting measure. That switchman is not qualified beyond yard limits, otherwise he would be an engineer and get paid accordingly?

It would be nice if there was a r/c mode, with the bell giving a few claps when the loco sets off and the strobes flashing fast while it is moving and slow while it is standing still.

[BNSFdude]

Ah, the strobes typically operate at a steady rate whether or not they are moving. Scripting the bell upon movement would be easy. However, I do wonder if it is possible to make a proper simulation of the box where you select you speed, rather than a notch, as well as brakes.
Stop, Coast, Couple, 4, 7, 10, Max (Kick).
The locomotives control speed using generator field excitation as well as independent brakes. The operator must choose to use train brakes if they have been hooked up.

The difference between a Switchman using RCO and working with an Engineer is that we are qualified on the control stand, and a switchman is not.

[_o_OOOO_oo-Kanawha]

Ah, the strobes typically operate at a steady rate whether or not they are moving. Scripting the bell upon movement would be easy. However, I do wonder if it is possible to make a proper simulation of the box where you select you speed, rather than a notch, as well as brakes.
Stop, Coast, Couple, 4, 7, 10, Max (Kick).
The locomotives control speed using generator field excitation as well as independent brakes. The operator must choose to use train brakes if they have been hooked up.

The difference between a Switchman using RCO and working with an Engineer is that we are qualified on the control stand, and a switchman is not.

Those positions you gave are meant for switching without air on the cars, right? How many tons can the loco safely handle w/o air brakes?

The road trucks make it a light road switcher also, so once out on the road there is a qualified engineer in the cab and the automatic train brake is used?

Two modes of operation should be possible through scripting, but the r/c mode is only interesting if the loco is controlled from the outside "8" view or something.
However, "8" view is hardly ever reliable when it comes to standing in the right position with respect to the locomotive. So I think that would be hard to implement realistically.

Do we have a photo or video of the operator and his RCO in action?

Does the locomotive have automatic uncouplers or has the switchman to uncouple? I assume he is often riding the stepwell or hanging on to a car. However, if he leans too far out, the "man falling" safety switch might stop the locomotive.

[BNSFdude]

I dont have any video, no. But in pitch/catch operations, you still have to have point protection, as every move is considered a shove. So you'll have typically two switchmen working the job, one working towards the locomotive or sitting on it, while the other performs coupling/uncoupling and switching. Then when the switching on the one end is complete, you'll pitch it to the operator on the head end. Its kind of complicated, perhaps I could have a friend take video of the yard I work at.

[tsayyote]

This is the only image I have of the box. If you bend over too far you get 3-5 seconds before you get a man down penalty (unless you activate Tilt O/R [override] which gives 60 seconds when in STOP to tilt the box without a penalty) and an alerter fault after 50 seconds (i think) of no user input. I hate the Gensets, they are gutless. They're the Prius of the railroad. Per BNSF rules, you are only able to have 12 axles cut in for rco operation. When we run power to the house we have to box car any other units in the consist to run down the main at a whopping 10mph . The thing that sucks about the GE boxes is that there is roughly a 3 second delay between commands. So we've got to time it just right when coming in for a hook. Auto brakes are REL (brake pipe at ~90psi), MIN (7 psi reduction), Light (15 psi reduction), MED (20 psi reduction), FULL (25/26 psi reduction) and CHARGE will notch up the loco to charge the MR and the rest of the train when needed. The locomotive automatically bails off when we use the auto brakes except in Full/Emer.

As for automatic uncoupling, everything is still hand operated. The more automated they get, the more jobs we lose.

[OpenRailer90]

The release isn't too far away.

[OpenRailer90]

Sorry to double post.

[conrail1]

manual is up on their site again :P

http://railsimulator.com/support-assets ... l%20EN.pdf

[HarperFerry12]

Now released:

http://store.steampowered.com/app/277762/