Engine Specs - So Many

[stouthm]

I run Dash 8's, 9's, C40-8's, SD40-2's and B40-8's. Except for the GE B40-8's the other locos have been made by at least three different members and all have different engine specs. If I combine three diffeent locos, say a Dash 8, 9 and C40-8, then they seem to be fighting one another and I cannot attain the speed I'm looking for, 70 mph. Place three of the same locos together and no problem.

My question is this. If I were to place one engine spec in the Dash 8's, 9's and C40-8's how far from being realistic would that be? I would like to be able to combine different locos to my consist without having to check if they're specs are the same. Am I being too picky?

If this is not being too picky than what engine specs would you suggest? How up to date are the T3P series specs? Thanks.

 

[Pendolino]

I don't know the details of the enginespecs you mention; I think that the new SD-40s enginespecs made for n8phu locos are quite realistic (unlike the default SD-40 enginespes).

Anyway, take care if you use in TS2009 or later versions enginespecs made for TRS2006 or earlier versions in DCC mode: to obtain the same performance in TS2009+ the "max-accel" value must be multiplied by 4.

 

[JohnnyC1]

Make sure all of the "max-accel", "max-decel", & max speed values for all of the locos are the same.

John

 

[fran1]

You could use 1 engine spec for the locos you mentioned, but clone it several times. The biggest engine gets the most max accel, lower it for the next one down and so on.
To me, for eg 17 or 18000 max accel is stupid, you'd have 2 locos dragging 10,000 tons up a 2%+ 12 mile hill no problem. Doesn't happen does it (it might do in real life but not on my railway it doesn't). 10000 tons+ on that grade = 3 sd60's head end with 2 or 3 bankers depending which track I send them up on, they're down to walking pace at the top.
2 C40-8's with 9700 ton get 6 bankers or they don't get up 17 mile hill (b+o mega route), it takes over an hour and a quarter at least.

 

[stouthm]

@fran1 - if I understand what you're saying is that the Dash 9's should have the larger max accel, the Dash 8's a little less max accel and yet less for the C40-8's? Don't the Dash 8's and C40-8's have the same 4000 hp? Do you have recomendations as to what engine spec you would choose?

 

[fran1]

@fran1 - if I understand what you're saying is that the Dash 9's should have the larger max accel, the Dash 8's a little less max accel and yet less for the C40-8's? Don't the Dash 8's and C40-8's have the same 4000 hp? Do you have recomendations as to what engine spec you would choose?

To be honest with US locos I guess which is the newer and rate them accordingly. If they top the hill to fast I drop the max accel a tad (1 or 2 hundred) until I think it's about right.
Engine specs, huh, I never use the original, always clone it, then tune it to suit. Some don't use full throttle if you use Ai so they get binned. G 2000 mak, ZSSK 749/751/752's, JR's BNSF B40-8w (50%-100% throttle at 14 mph) to name a few.

 

[n8phu]

In real life, your consist is limited to the top speed and acceleration of the slowest locomotive.

I also have access to a real life railroad engineer so I model my engine specs as per Manufacturer specs and his recollections.

For Example,

You have an engine consist that has a SD7 and a U25B....

A SD7 is rated at 65 MPH, but a U25B is rated at 70MPH....... so your max speed attainable is.... 65MPH.

You could do what was suggested and clone the enginespecs for other models and change the values to what suits you....

 

[fran1]

In real life, your consist is limited to the top speed and acceleration of the slowest locomotive.

I also have access to a real life railroad engineer so I model my engine specs as per Manufacturer specs and his recollections.

For Example,

A SD7 is rated at 65 MPH, but a U25B is rated at 70MPH....... so your max speed attainable is.... 65MPH.

You could do what was suggested and clone the enginespecs for other models and change the values to what suits you....

The only ones I've left alone are your Alco's (snows, leigh high), 3 of them and 1 banker will stagger up anywhere.

 

[stouthm]

Chris, will you be up grading any Dash 8 or 9's? I don't remember if Frank had any and I can't access his site to find out. If you are I can wait, I'm retired. Thanks for the info though.

On another note, how do you find out how much hp the engine spec has?

 

[n8phu]

Chris, will you be up grading any Dash 8 or 9's? I don't remember if Frank had any and I can't access his site to find out. If you are I can wait, I'm retired. Thanks for the info though.

On another note, how do you find out how much hp the engine spec has?

Aye, that I will be.....There are some on the DLS that are getting some attention right now.

As for specs, try here: http://www.thedieselshop.us/

Look under Builders & Leasers.

UPDATE:

I understand that the figures here are sometime off. so double check and verify.

 

[kgeminiboy2]

Hi, I am wondering how exactly do you change engine specs. Sorry if this is in the wrong thread.

Keith.

 

[fran1]

Hi, I am wondering how exactly do you change engine specs. Sorry if this is in the wrong thread.

Keith.

Only for downloaded content, do not edit built in assets.
Open the asset for edit (r/click on it) then select edit in explorer. The e spec is normally in the config file, replace both instances of it with yours. Close window, select save, r/click on asset and select commit.

 

[kgeminiboy2]

Thanks Fran. I'll try that in a mo.

 

[stouthm]

Thanks Chris, very informative site.

 

[Azervich]

Horse Power doesn't really determine the amount of power a locomotive has, it's mainly based on Generator Output and Motor Resistance/Torque output along with adhesion mass and gear ratio, you can have a 1500hp engine produce 67,500lbs with a 59-18 gear ratio and a 2200hp engine produce 64,000lbs with a 59-18 gear ratio, reason why we have so many e-specs is because each locomotive can run different, HP only helps in the high current output range of the generator, when you reach a certain loading on the generator the engine will need the HP to reach it's maximum RPM, if it doesn't have the HP to do so the loco will have less continuous tractive effort due to the engine struggling to reach full RPM for maximum current, allot of people seem to confused with HP to Tractive Effort, 150hp Diesel Hydraulic can get you 17,500lbs with a 12mph gear ratio.

Cheers.

 

[norfolksouthern37]

I run Dash 8's, 9's, C40-8's, SD40-2's and B40-8's. Except for the GE B40-8's the other locos have been made by at least three different members and all have different engine specs. If I combine three diffeent locos, say a Dash 8, 9 and C40-8, then they seem to be fighting one another and I cannot attain the speed I'm looking for, 70 mph. Place three of the same locos together and no problem.

My question is this. If I were to place one engine spec in the Dash 8's, 9's and C40-8's how far from being realistic would that be? I would like to be able to combine different locos to my consist without having to check if they're specs are the same. Am I being too picky?

If this is not being too picky than what engine specs would you suggest? How up to date are the T3P series specs? Thanks.

this is quite an order. if you wish to reach that speed you essentially have to have a very light train or be going downhill. typically, even though a locomotives top speed might be rated at 70mph, it probably wont ever reach that on it's run. in the real world, the railroad's power desk would run some calculations to what they decide is an acceptable minimum speed for that train type (weight and make-up). so if your locomotives are not having trouble reaching 70mph with a fully loaded train that would be the unrealistic engine spec. if that is what you want, then it should be no problem to transfer that spec to your other locomotives.

 

[stouthm]

@ norfolksouthern37 - I have 30 loaded wellcars pulled by 3 dash 9's of the same type and can reach 70mph. Not from the get-go but after some miles. If I use 3 different types of locos I cannot obtain 70 mph. I'm assuming that is because of the 3 different engine specs. Are you saying that the 3 locos of the same type (same engine specs) should not be able to reach 70 mph if in the real world? I'm thinking 30 cars is not a large consist for 3 dash 9's. It could be me. When I see the consist moving along at 55 mph on a long flat straight section I wonder why it shouldn't be going faster.

I can reach 70 mph with any 3 locos as long as they are of the same type. Is this how it should work? Thanks.

@Azervich - thanks for replying but I have no idea what you just said. Way too much technical stugg for me. Thanks anyway.