Hi all, first time posting here. Looking for some help with the correct setup for the rear pair of AC4400CW on the Cumberland to Willard mission. Got stuck on a hill and noticed the rear pair weren't producing any power. Went back and checked the settings. Control generator field and engine all on on the front of the pair, all the breakers on and radio on, the rear of the pair all the switches off, all the breakers off and radio off. When using the rear free camera I can go to the drivers window and see the display stated there's power but there's no roar from the engines to suggest they're under load. There is smoke from the exhausts so definitely running, and can see the controls moving so I know the radio is working. If someone has a checklist of exactly how all 4 AC4400CW (front pair and rear pair) should be set up that would be greatly appreciated.
breblimator has put together a spreadsheet. I can also supply a video tutorial if you're more of a visual learner. If the displays are showing a load for the rear engines, then they are helping. Don't always judge based on sound, it can glitch out while switching to the rear resulting in silent engines that still push/pull as they should.
That spreadsheet is fantastic thank you. The one other thing I forgot to mention that I've remembered now is the headlight situation. What are the correct settings for headlights when 2 units are coupled back to back?
For AC44s, it depends on which way they're coupled together. If you've got them back to back, then the lead unit is in short hood lead and the trailing unit in short hood trail. It's basically always the hood pointing outwards which determines the switch position. I can't remember what the names of the switch positions were on EMDs, but it's rather self-explanatory. Just need to select whether the unit is controlling headlights or being controlled and at which hood it's coupled. Or were you asking about headlight brightness settings? If so, it's bright+aux/ditch lights for the front and dim for the back.
Sound on the rear pair is a poor way to judge, because there are limited sound channels and sometimes sounds drop out because all channels are in use - Searchlight Simulations made special mention of it in their AC4400CW model for TSxxxx
Yes, it's a known glitch: sometimes helper engines are fully powered but the game just plays the "idle" sound. Look at the ammeter to see what the genset output is.
The number 8 camera is your friend too, you can see whether exhausts are revving up or put camera near window to watch gauges increase. Saves a 1mile run
