noob... Locomotive performance and limitations

[dspaulding]

Noob train-ee here,

Is there a way to figure the hauling limitations of a particular locomotive traveling up certain grades? I'm making a session with the NKP Berkshire loco with about 2200tons of weight behind it. It is impossible to get this train to drive up a 2% grade. Am I just using the wrong loco, or is there something wrong that I am not aware of? I tried searching on this forum without hits relating to this matter.

Thanks!

dspaulding

 

[captainkman]

Hello,

Are you driving the Berkshire in Cab or DCC mode, or is it being AI driven?

Kieran.

 

[kws4000]

Using my setup, I can get the PM Berk up to 70+ with a modern roller-bearing 4200ton. With older BR equipment, I can barely get 30mph with 3100ton. And this is on a -.5% grade.
Short wheelbases and friction bearings are big limiting factors. I reckon your 2% would limit the Berk to maybe 1500 tons starting. If you got a running start after backing down the hill, you'd have a better chance with a higher load.
FYI, Southern Railway limited their 2-10-2 to 800ish tons on Saluda, 3-4% continuous with 300ft of 5%.

 

[dspaulding]

Hello,

Are you driving the Berkshire in Cab or DCC mode, or is it being AI driven?

Kieran.

Sorry should have been specific. Cab mode.

Using my setup, I can get the PM Berk up to 70+ with a modern roller-bearing 4200ton. With older BR equipment, I can barely get 30mph with 3100ton. And this is on a -.5% grade.
Short wheelbases and friction bearings are big limiting factors. I reckon your 2% would limit the Berk to maybe 1500 tons starting. If you got a running start after backing down the hill, you'd have a better chance with a higher load.
FYI, Southern Railway limited their 2-10-2 to 800ish tons on Saluda, 3-4% continuous with 300ft of 5%.

Hmmm, the rolling stock I'm using is the NW 3bay coal. Is that a modern roller-bearing?

Thanks for the info. Is the 1500ton limit accurate to what it can do? Sorry, I just like accuracy when I do simulations. Why I'm asking, because I'm wondering if I am using the wrong equipment to do the job, or not enough? I did a little test last night and did this with the Y6. No problem, except I kept running out of steam. Gotta have a hot fire to go up to the top.

The hill in question is the Princeton, WV line that is mostly 2% or more climb. I'm starting to think I need to redesign this session because I failed to realize the coal tower is only 400 tons!

 

[dspaulding]

Okay, after reviewing and rebuilding this session, I'm inclined to say something is seriously wrong with the DLC Berkshire. I created a 1500 ton freight consist, and it cannot climb a 2% grade constantly. I had plenty of steam generating. Regulator at 100%. Speed before grade was around 40mph. Slowly but surely....Stalled. Is there a known bug about this?

 

[Railwayz]

Okay, after reviewing and rebuilding this session, I'm inclined to say something is seriously wrong with the DLC Berkshire. I created a 1500 ton freight consist, and it cannot climb a 2% grade constantly. I had plenty of steam generating. Regulator at 100%. Speed before grade was around 40mph. Slowly but surely....Stalled. Is there a known bug about this?

I'd be surprise at any single locomotive hauling 1500 tons up a 2% gradient. 2 percent is pretty steep and would probably require at least two loco's in real life especially if it lots of tight curves which induce drag. That said however, the physics in Trainz or the config files is not always accurate. If this is a real world location how many locomotives do the real roads use?

Railwayz

 

[dspaulding]

I'd be surprise at any single locomotive hauling 1500 tons up a 2% gradient. 2 percent is pretty steep and would probably require at least two loco's in real life especially if it lots of tight curves which induce drag. That said however, the physics in Trainz or the config files is not always accurate. If this is a real world location how many locomotives do the real roads use?

Railwayz

I honestly don't know. I'm using the Appalachian Road that came with TS12. The grade in question is the climb going westbound. I stalled after entering the East Bluefield Yard. I would just like to know if it's something I doing technically wrong, logistically wrong, or if there is a bug. Because I'm going to be surprised if a Berkshire can haul a 20+ passenger train IRL, why can't it pull 1500tons of whatever? I'm new to RR, so if I'm sounding like I have lack of knowledge, it should show.

Thanks!
dspaulding

 

[cascaderailroad]

Some locos in Trainz are radically over powered, while others are severely under powered.

I find that even on a 1.75% grade, with a 137 car, 1 mile long, loaded coal consist, it takes an unprototypical 8 locos head end, and 2 more shoving on the rear.

Possibly adding several AI Brake locos might add some horsepower, or tractive effort.

 

[kws4000]

The Berk was designed for fast freight, not slugging it out in the hills. The PM ran 50-60 cars at 50-60mph on their N, N1, N-2, with only 69000lb TE and about 3000hp. If anything, a low-drivered lok is what you want, perhaps a 2-10-2.
How long is this hill? That's a big deal.
The cars you're using (NW 3bay) sounds like it has friction bearings as well, but it might have lower friction than BR stuff.
Are you using sand? Are you mostly hooked up before you start slowing down? Running full bore will drain the boiler lickety split.
As for IRL, that's on flat Midwestern turf. And those coaches had roller bearings as well (Federal mandate on interchange).

 

[dspaulding]

The Berk was designed for fast freight, not slugging it out in the hills. The PM ran 50-60 cars at 50-60mph on their N, N1, N-2, with only 69000lb TE and about 3000hp. If anything, a low-drivered lok is what you want, perhaps a 2-10-2.
How long is this hill? That's a big deal.
The cars you're using (NW 3bay) sounds like it has friction bearings as well, but it might have lower friction than BR stuff.
Are you using sand? Are you mostly hooked up before you start slowing down? Running full bore will drain the boiler lickety split.
As for IRL, that's on flat Midwestern turf. And those coaches had roller bearings as well (Federal mandate on interchange).

Okay, now this makes more sense! I did not know that the Berk was designed so specifically for those conditions. I was using sand and the only way to maintain speed was to leave at 100% during the climb. My guess is I am using the wrong equipment for the job.

Thanks!
dspaulding