Donner Pass - Downhill From Norden

[FHRob]

Going downhill from Norden is very tricky. When you get to Soda Springs, the hill is very steep, requiring dynamic and train brakes.

When the train reaches Kingvale, the HUD shows 0%, flat track. The train of course stops, even when using minimum brake application.

Is this realistic? If so, how does an engineer handle this?

Thanks,

Rob

[Ericmopar]

In the real world you can't keep applying and releasing the air brakes on a long train.
What happens is a real engineer would do "blended" braking. Air and Dynamics.
When a person reaches a "flat spot" or any area that a minimal application is slowing the train too much, the engineer pulls through the air brakes.
IE you let off the dynamic brakes and then throttle up to keep speed up through the one area, until the grade gets steeper again, then reapply the dynamics. You keep the air brakes on while doing this.
It takes some practice.

With Steam they set the air brakes for the steepest part of the grade, then use the throttle to keep speed up when it flattens out some.
I've never been able to find good info on the Drifting Valve on steam power, but I think it might be akin to compression braking with a car or truck.

[FHRob]

Eric:

OK, thanks.

Also, great job on Donner Pass Redux.

Rob

[Ericmopar]

You're welcome.

[ssbobz]

On the subject of pulling through a flat spot with a minimal reduction in place and mainly using dynamics how much throttle is "acceptable" to use? If I get around notch 3-4 I imagine I'm approaching the limit of coupler strength but I know it's all subject to individual train and grade data too.