Having fun with cattle drive scenario

[GEtrack]

Initially I wanted to run a GP9 instead of the Y-1 so I made the substitution with RW_Tools. However, the GP9 only has about half the horsepower of the Y-1 so I was late getting to the first cattle pen. While there, a freight train came up behind me and stopped at the light. Apparently he got tired of waiting while I was juggling cars around and proceeded to rear-end me!
So, I went back and restored the Y-1 as the default loco and restarted the scenario. It was MUCH easier to keep up the desired speed. I wasn't sure if I would like using an electric loco but it is a blast! The infinitely variable power delivery makes it easier to control speeds than with the discreet notches on diesels. One thing I'm not sure is modeled prototypically though .... the grade at the cattle pens is quite steep (1.6%) and I thought I would be able to make a minimum set on the brakes and modulate speed with the throttle when backing down to the pens. As modeled the throttle has no effect and even a minimum set is too much and drags the train to a halt, so I have to keep setting and releasing the brakes. I haven't tried using the dynamics instead yet. I'll try that as an experiment next.
Loving this route and looking forward to the expansion!

[GEtrack]

Warning .... if you are not very gentle with your motion, the cattle let you know about it! Unfortunately if you save and leave the simulation when you are moving, when you resume, the cattle get upset. There must be something in the coding that calculates a significant jerk or acceleration. When I got to the final drop off I was penalized for "significant damage" to the cattle.

[LandN]

I was too!

[OldProf]

I found that warning quite entertaining and realistic. Let's hear it for cow comfort!