how do you choose motive power?

[MicroLynkx]

I have created a small pit mine with a max of 4% grade to the bottom. I have used fairly tight curves and only expect to haul 5 to 6 2-bay open hoppers of coal at a time. I am trying to figure out what kind of motive power to use. I have tried 2 sw1500's, a STD gauge shay, but they seem under powered. I used a gp38 and rs-3 with better results but they look very unrealistic around the curves and sharp switches. does anyone have any suggestions?

Billy.

 

[cascaderailroad]

There is an AI Brake (an invisible loco) that can be added onto the front of locos, in fact many AI Brake will increase braking, and horsrepower

Are these type of locos available ? :

Plymouth 12-tonner

Plymouth 16-tonner

 

[Dermmy]

The 'AI Brake' was made to fix an issue in TRS04 - it isn't needed in TS12. IIRC it got broken around TRS09 anyway. If it's been 'updated' it's still not needed since the braking issue it was designed to resolve got hard-wired in TRS06 or 09, one or the other. In TRS04 (and I think) TRS06 AI trains only used the loco brake, not the train brake. The AI-Brake was a fix Randall made at my request for long, fast, heavy AI trains on my original Clovis Sub which just point blank wouldn't stop - the loco brake wouldn't hold stopped trains on grades and they literally slid past red sigs - game over!

Back On-Topic: 4% + six loaded hoppers? That RS3 probably isn't far wrong, and I've seen pics of the prototype on impossible curves!!

 

[MicroLynkx]

Thanks to all for your input. I have chosen to use the RS3 for motive power on the Greywolf Pit Mine.

Billy