Diesel Mechanical Subsystem

Contents

  1. 1 Diesel Mechanical Subsystem
    1. 1.1 Loco Brake Assembly
    2. 1.2 Train Brake Assembly
    3. 1.3 Max Power (kW 0-20000 (1kW = 1.341HP))
    4. 1.4 Max Force (kN 0-10000 (1kN = 225lbf))
    5. 1.5 Max Speed (mph 0-300)
    6. 1.6 Startup Time
    7. 1.7 Shutdown Time
    8. 1.8 Tractive Effort VS Speed
    9. 1.9 Tractive Effort VS Throttle
    10. 1.10 Anti-Slip Brake Cyl Pressure (PSI (0 – 90))
    11. 1.11 Thyristor Control (True/False)
    12. 1.12 Quick Power off at 0 throttle (True/False)
    13. 1.13 Slow Speed Fitted present (True/False)
    14. 1.14 Slow Speed Fitted Limit (mph (1 - 10))
    15. 1.15 Press for Brake to Cut Power (PSI (0 – 30))
    16. 1.16 Max Continuous Force (kN/Lbf (0 – 30,000))
    17. 1.17 Diesel Used/Hour Max (Gallons/hour (1 – 200))
    18. 1.18 Diesel Used/Hour Idle (Gallons/hour (0 – 1.0))
    19. 1.19 Time to Get to Max Force (Secs (10 – 200))
    20. 1.20 Tractive Effort VS Gear Proportion
    21. 1.21 Air System
      1. 1.21.1 Has Low Pressure Test (True/False)
      2. 1.21.2 Min Air Pressure
      3. 1.21.3 Cut Out Pressure (PSI)
      4. 1.21.4 Restart Pressure (PSI)
      5. 1.21.5 Reservoir Volume (PSI)
      6. 1.21.6 Main Res Max Air Pressure (PSI)
    22. 1.22 Compressor
      1. 1.22.1 Type (Electrical / Mechanical)
      2. 1.22.2 Power Rating (PSI /sec)
    23. 1.23 Exhauster
      1. 1.23.1 Is Electric
      2. 1.23.2 Power Rating (Inches/sec)
      3. 1.23.3 Speed Up Power Rating (Inches/sec)
  2. 2 Power Unit – Diesel Geared
    1. 2.1 Idle RPM (RPM (50 – 2000))
    2. 2.2 Max RPM (RPM (500-5000))
    3. 2.3 Max RPM Change per Second
    4. 2.4 Max Power at Rail
    5. 2.5 Audio RPM Attack Time
    6. 2.6 Audio RPM Hold Time
    7. 2.7 Audio RPM Release Time
    8. 2.8 Gear Box
      1. 2.8.1 Gear
        1. 2.8.1.1 Direct Drive True / False
        2. 2.8.1.2 Max Speed
        3. 2.8.1.3 Maximum Tractive Effort
      2. 2.8.2 Engine Braking
      3. 2.8.3 Coasting Resistance
      4. 2.8.4 Force for Engine Slowing
      5. 2.8.5 Automatic True / False
      6. 2.8.6 Engine Braking Force
      7. 2.8.7 Change Up Point
      8. 2.8.8 Change Down Point
    9. 2.9 Activation Speed
  3. 3 Script Component
    1. 3.1 Name

Diesel Mechanical Subsystem

Diesel Mechanical trains have a gearbox which takes power from the Engine and converts it through a system of gears to power the wheels. The Class 101 is an example of a Diesel Mechanical Train.

Loco Brake Assembly

This defines the vehicle’s locomotive brakes. See separate Brake Blueprint Documentation.

Train Brake Assembly

This defines the train brakes. See separate Brake Blueprint Documentation.

Max Power (kW 0-20000 (1kW = 1.341HP))

This is the maximum power output of the locomotive, in kilowatts. It is more important to performance when travelling at high speeds.

In Train Simulator terms this is MaxPower.

Max Force (kN 0-10000 (1kN = 225lbf))

This is the maximum Tractive Effort of the locomotive, in kilowatts. This is more important for performance at low speeds. Tractive Effort is important when starting a train.

In Train Simulator terms this is MaxForce.

Max Speed (mph 0-300)

This is the point at which the simulation will stop producing any driving force to the wheels. It scales from 90% of this speed = Full simulation force & 100 % = 0 simulation force. This should ideally be set slightly higher than the actual max speed of a given loco.

In Train Simulator terms this is MaxVelocity.

Startup Time

This is the time in seconds taken to start up the Locomotive until the engine is idling.

Shutdown Time

This is the time in seconds taken to shut down the engine from idle.

Tractive Effort VS Speed

In this section, a custom ‘Tractive Effort Curve’ can be supplied in the form of a .csv (Comma Separated Variable) file. Tractive Effort curves are quite easily found for the more common locomotives and usually show a distinctive curve with Tractive Effort tailing off as the speed increases.

The .csv must be provided with Speed in Column A and Tractive Effort in Column B.

Tractive Effort VS Throttle

In this section, you can specify a custom ‘Tractive Effort vs Throttle curve’ can be supplied in the form of a .csv (Comma Separated Variable) file. Generally, this would be a linear relationship but the facility is there to use non-linear values.

The .csv must be provided with Throttle Percentage in Column A and Tractive Effort in Column B.

Anti-Slip Brake Cyl Pressure (PSI (0 – 90))

This is the pressure that the brake cylinder would be set to if it goes into anti-slip.

Thyristor Control (True/False)

This determines whether the Thyristor or Throttle controls the power.

A Thyristor is a type of diode with a controlling gate which allows current to pass through it when the gate is energized. Thyristors (also referred to as choppers) are used for traction power control in more modern locos in place of resistance control systems.

Quick Power off at 0 throttle (True/False)

This turns the power off when the throttle reaches 0.

Slow Speed Fitted present (True/False)

Slow Speed Control allows a loco to be driven automatically at very low speed (1-2mph) for discharging coal for example. This is currently not used in Train Simulator.

Slow Speed Fitted Limit (mph (1 - 10))

This is the max speed of the loco when driven under Slow Speed Control. As above, this is not used in Train Simulator at present.

Press for Brake to Cut Power (PSI (0 – 30))

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Max Continuous Force (kN/Lbf (0 – 30,000))

This is the maximum force a locomotive can produce over an extended period of time; usually 1 hour. This takes over from MaxForce in limiting the force at higher speeds.

Diesel Used/Hour Max (Gallons/hour (1 – 200))

This is the maximum amount of Diesel Fuel used per hour when the loco is at maximum power.

Diesel Used/Hour Idle (Gallons/hour (0 – 1.0))

This is the minimum amount of Diesel Fuel used per hour when the loco is idling.

Time to Get to Max Force (Secs (10 – 200))

This is the time taken for the Maximum Tractive Effort to be reached from standing.

In Train Simulator terms this is RunUpTimeToMaxForce.

Tractive Effort VS Gear Proportion

Here a custom ‘Tractive Effort vs Gear Proportion curve’ can be supplied in the form of a .csv (Comma Separated Variable) file. For a geared vehicle, this controls the Tractive Effort over the range of a Gear. For example, if 1st Gear was from 0 to 50mph then at 25mph, half the max Tractive Effort would be available.

The .csv must be provided with Gear Proportion in Column A and Tractive Effort Proportion in Column B

Air System

Has Low Pressure Test (True/False)

When Brakes are released in an Air Brake System, the pressure in the Main Reservoir falls. If ‘True’ is selected here, once the pressure falls to a certain pressure Restart Pressure then the Generator kicks in and restores Main Reservoir Pressure.

Min Air Pressure

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Cut Out Pressure (PSI)

This is the Main Reservoir Pressure at which the Generator cuts out.

Restart Pressure (PSI)

This is the Main Reservoir Pressure at which the Generator cuts in.

Reservoir Volume (PSI)

This is the Volume of the Main Reservoir. This affects how much the Main Reservoir Pressure falls when the Air Brakes are released.

Main Res Max Air Pressure (PSI)

This is the maximum pressure in Main Reservoir, and will normally be the same as ‘Restart Pressure’.

Compressor

The Compressor supplies the Air in an Air Brake System. More than one can be added if more than one is present. Simply click the Arrow on the left, in ”Insert First” at the top.

Type (Electrical / Mechanical)

Select the type of compressor present on the locomotive.

Power Rating (PSI /sec)

This is where you can specify the rate the compressor works at.

Exhauster

Is Electric

Define here if the exhauster is electrical or not.

Power Rating (Inches/sec)

This is where you can specify the rate the exhauster works at.

Speed Up Power Rating (Inches/sec)

This is where you can specify how much the exhauster rating is increased when sped up.

Power Unit – Diesel Geared

Idle RPM (RPM (50 – 2000))

This is the RPM of the loco when idling; i.e. with the throttle at 0.

Max RPM (RPM (500-5000))

This is the maximum RPM of the loco overall.

Max RPM Change per Second

This is how quickly the engine ‘ramps up and down’ in RPM per second

Max Power at Rail

This is the Maximum Drawbar Power after losses to other systems using the resource. This is usually about 70-80% of the Max Power parameter.

Audio RPM Attack Time

This is defined in the Audio Documentation

Audio RPM Hold Time

This is defined in the Audio Documentation

Audio RPM Release Time

This is defined in the Audio Documentation

Gear Box

This area is used to specify details about the units Gearbox.

Gear

Add an entry per gear that is present in the gearbox.
Direct Drive True / False
Specify here if the system is a direct drive gearbox or not?
Max Speed
This is the maximum speed attainable in this Gear.
Maximum Tractive Effort
This is the maximum tractive effort for this Gear.

Engine Braking

Choose from the three available options as to which is appropriate for your locomotive.

Coasting Resistance

This is the resistance of the mechanism while the unit is coasting.

Force for Engine Slowing

This is the resistance of the mechanism while the unit is slowing down.

Automatic True / False

Specify if the gears should change automatically or manually using the Gear Control keys <E> or <Shift E>.

Engine Braking Force

This is the force exerted by the sheer mechanics of the engine itself when no power is applied.

Change Up Point

This is how close to the Max Speed for the specified gear it is possible to change up to the next one. With an Automatic Gearbox, this determines the speed at which the gear change happens.

Change Down Point

This is how close to the Max Speed for that specified gear it is possible to change down to the next one. With an Automatic Gearbox, this determines the speed at which the gear change happens.

Activation Speed

This is the speed at which the Gearbox is activated.

Script Component

Name

Use this field to specify the LUA Simulation Script file (.lua)