Class 86 Operation

[hughes407]

I know this is RailWorks "America" but I thought I would give the WCML a try. It's probably the only way I'm ever going to see Scotland. Anyway, apparently the Class 86 electric isn't consistent with other locos operationally. I know I can't seem to make it work. Is anyone aware of instructions on operating this loco? Most of the time when I advance the throttle, nothing happens.

Don

[Shortliner]

Apparently it's a very tricky locomotive to drive.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P-jH-QF8R0Q

Hope this Youtube video helps.

[arizonachris]

Here's something that one of the guys at the Railworks Steam Forum wrote: (Thanks, Ragnokak!)

"Quote:
Originally Posted by Ragnokak View Post
Here is a screenshot showing the two gauges I'm referring too:
http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/g...6-CONTROLS.jpg

You tripped the breaker and have to reset it.

With this train the controls are very different then a diesel.

First thing I want you to do is look at the dash panel and notice the two vertical gauges that show red / yellow / green. This gauge in layman terms tells you how much juice your giving to the motors. If the gauge goes into the red for too long you trip the breaker and have to reset.

To accelerate this train the first thing you need to do is move Reverser to 100%. Then move the Throttle to 60%. This is the normal running (Notch Up) position. From here on, I do not use the handles but rather the keyboard as you will understand why in a second.

Electric trains have over 30 "gears" or "positions". From the 60% position each time you TAP the "A" button you will gear up. Each time you gear up you will increase the among of juice you are applying to the motors. At this point you will notice the needle in the the first gauge I told you to find jump up. Wait for that needle to go back to middle of green before you TAP up again.

As you get moving you can TAP up faster. You can also move the Throttle to 100%. This is called the "run up" position. In this position you will continuously increase Throttle until at 100%

To tell what gear you are in, look for the Transformer Tap % Gauge to the right of the Juice Gauge.

To decrease your juice, TAP the "D" button.

If at any point you put the Throttle back to 0%, you will have to leave it there until the Xformer Tap % returns to 0% before accelerating again. There is a pause catch at 3% Throttle just to help you not hit 0% unless you want to.

You can use the "F" button to activate the Fault Reset button.

________

Now the whole resetting part I couldn't get to actually work so I just learned to not trip it anymore. I've tried everything to get the fault to reset but it never has for me in any one of the (3) 86 WCML scenario's.

The good news is that once you know how to keep it from happening its really easy to not make the same mistake anymore.

I know for a fact though that some of the guys around here can offer you much better instructions on how to reset the train.


PS:
The manual located here: ..\steam\steamapps\common\railworks\Manuals\en
says:

3 Fault Reset Sequence

If the Fault light illuminates and power is lost to the locomotive, follow these steps to
reset the system.

1. Return the Tap Changer to the OFF position by pressing the <A> key until it is all the way to the left.
2. Wait for the Tap Indicator to drop down and display 0%.
3. Press the <F> key to reset the system and the Fault light will extinguish."



Took me quite a few times before I got the hang of it, once you do, the 86 is quite the rocket!

[micaelcorleone]

It's really a hard to drive loco. Not as easy as the American diesels.
Watch the tutorial video Shortliner has posted or go into the Railworks launcher. Browse the Tools and Docs tab, there you'll find the Documents section: click open folder, there's the maual for the class 86.

[hughes407]

Thanks, guys. I'll see if I can figure it out from these documents and inputs.

Don