it is, and I have even created a separate thread dedicated to driving techniques (and some testing of them, tho I havent tried again after recent batch of updates) of such locos... they are incredibly fun to drive, as long as the brakes work as they should, especially when trying to stop
Don't feel bad, I started attempting German trains, I am in the US, when TSW 2020 came out and I am just now really feeling comfortable in driving them.
I do have a possible criticism of the FSB 143, although I might be doing something wrong; however, I haven't noticed this with the older 143/112/114: the "Nur Bremsen" program doesn't seem to work. When I'm negotiating a platform stop, if I release the brakes the thing starts accelerating again even though NB is nominally running.
I think someone in that Driving techniques thread mentioned that the programs arent properly implemented (as well as using Aux whatever on 112 can brick the loco for the run, I think?)... I dont use em, for speed adjustment I use Force selector and for stopping at stations I turn off Speed selector and use Train brake (and hope the e-brake portion engages correctly )
It seems that if you pull the speed selector back to "on" you get e-brakes, but if you turn it "off" it takes the traction motors completely out of the loop. Weirdly, the driving programs worked fine on the old DRA 143.
I have learned both German and Austrian PZB fairly well by now, but in general I use this rule - I see a speed reduction of 8 or less, I acknowledge and brake... or, if the signal has any yellow in it, I acknowledge and brake
even with Speed selector off, e-brake should still engage when using Train brake - current 143 does this, 114 takes its time and havent tested 112 recently, so dont know Speed selector On is like setting it on zero, so it engages e-brake depending on Force selector
Honestly I think DTG erred with the control mapping for the 143 family. It would be both more true to RL, and more intuitive for TSW players, if they had reversed them: mapped the speed selector to the AFB controls, and the force selector to the throttle controls.
As the BR143 is the topic right now: I just found out that the Hilfssteuerung on the Frankfurt one is not working. On the DRA and even on the old RSN one it works. I kinda like accelarting from standstill to slower/moderate speeds with the Hilfssteuerung as it gives me more control over the Fahrstufen and then switch to the speed selector...
Installed it but there's a problem- maybe a conflict? The departure boards are great, but all the platform PIS screens are blanked out now!
when you put Speed selector to Off, it doesnt take traction motors out of the action - once you put on Train brake, it just has a slight delay on e-brake... usually on notch 1 it barely engages, usually it takes notch 2 or higher to add e-braking to air braking ... this latest 143 works nicely... on 114 it works, tho differently than on 112... and 112 I havent tested yet (busy with Elden Ring atm lol)
I get a lot of off map paths in free room on both ways into Frankfurt. I have to manually set Go-Via waypoints for the route on map
With the 143, when going at speed, then approaching a station stop, if I turn the speed selector to " 0 ", the train rapidly deccelerates without using the train brake. Sometimes, I have to select some speed to avoid stopping too soon. I only use the train brake to hold the train at the station. Is there a way to " cruise " that I'm not aware of?
well, the amount of electric braking force is controlled by the force selector lever- pull it back to, say, 20% and you'll get a nice gradual deceleration
I have that PIS mod installed as well, but I have no issues with the platform PIS screens they all work. I have read that some TOD3 -> TOD4 mod is making problems and makes PIS screens go black.. Do you have such a mod installed by any chance ?
