Railworks America

I have been playing around trying to get "realistic" results. I have substituted a LP retainer by reducing the brake force of a handbrake, and using the handbrake when I crest a summit. Feels like I have the application and release timing right, yet one thing is bugging me. What controls how much air each car uses for an application? Something along the the lines of "Brake cylinder volume". I have looked and have played with many variables, yet, it always takes a very small amount of air from the Main Reservoir to charge the train back up, no matter the train length. What gives?


I also see lines in the code for a retainer, both a three position retainer (EX,LP,HP) and a four position retainer(EX,SD,LP,HP). Yet I have never seen anyone use it, nor do I know how to utilize it.

There is a parameter in the engine simulation where you can decrease the recharge time. How it is out of the box is too powerful.

Making the recharge time depend on train length is on my "to do" list for the FEF-3.

How can you do that? As far as I can tell I cannot change the recharge time from the LUA.

PapaXpress wrote:There is a parameter in the engine simulation where you can decrease the recharge time. How it is out of the box is too powerful.

So.... to reiterate why you said....

The charge time, thus, the amount of air required to pump up the air is in the engine simulation is immutable instead of dependent upon how many cars are behind said locomotive.


Great job guys


Whomever did the brakes for this game has no idea what George Westinghouse was talking about

FourEightFour wrote:
So.... to reiterate why you said....

The charge time, thus, the amount of air required to pump up the air is in the engine simulation is immutable instead of dependent upon how many cars are behind said locomotive.


Great job guys


Whomever did the brakes for this game has no idea what George Westinghouse was talking about

That's why when I did the brakes for the Connie, I set the recharge time for what seemed right for a consist of 8 cars, thinking that would be the average length of train for her.

Something I haven't tried yet.

If you add more engines to the consist does it increase the recharge time? If so I will drop the settings I have for the GP40 even lower.

PapaXpress wrote:Something I haven't tried yet.

If you add more engines to the consist does it increase the recharge time? If so I will drop the settings I have for the GP40 even lower.

If you add engines, the recharge time is less. More pumps and main air reservoirs available. I was reading once about mountain railroading. Depending on conditions, they may leave helpers/DPUs on over the summit to increase braking ability. The article was talking air and dynamics both.
Sometimes the train doesn't need more horsepower, but needs more air volume, so they'd stick something older in the lash-up to increase available air capacity, and decrease recharge time.
Sometimes when a train is long, but light, they will stick a DPU on the rear, to spread out the brake application through the train, even though they may not need the power where it is for other reasons, like drawbar pull.
At least that's what I know from reading.
I'm glad I don't have to figure all that out for a living...

Ericmopar wrote:

PapaXpress wrote:Something I haven't tried yet.

If you add more engines to the consist does it increase the recharge time? If so I will drop the settings I have for the GP40 even lower.

If you add engines, the recharge time is less. More pumps and main air reservoirs available. I was reading once about mountain railroading. Depending on conditions, they may leave helpers/DPUs on over the summit to increase braking ability. The article was talking air and dynamics both.
Sometimes the train doesn't need more horsepower, but needs more air volume, so they'd stick something older in the lash-up to increase available air capacity, and decrease recharge time.
Sometimes when a train is long, but light, they will stick a DPU on the rear, to spread out the brake application through the train, even though they may not need the power where it is for other reasons, like drawbar pull.
At least that's what I know from reading.
I'm glad I don't have to figure all that out for a living...

I think you are talking about real life. I was referring to in game.