Hi all, mostly devs, I hope they even read it. As we all know, there´s no proper notch handling so far for locos. In real machines, every notch has its own traction characteristic curve, mostly defined as a traction force dependency on speed (not exactly, but for a game it should be enough). Would it be hard to implement it into a game mechanism? If not, I suggest to make a tickbox called "Individual notches" or such to enable separate traction curves for each notch. If not ticked, it will behave as it is now, without affecting already built locos. It could use one single TractiveEffortVsSpeed file so far, same as it is using now, but with special word "NotchXX", where XX represents number of selected notch. And below this there would be classic definition of tractiveEffort curve. This should be also applied to diesel locos. So far their tractive force never goes below Regulator´s amount represented by idle rpm. So?
It is possible with scripting as some old locos (the Woodhead 76 for sure) have multiple effort curves. Series (low speed) mode pulls like a beast but drops power quickly like a shunting machine. Parallel (high speed) mode has zero effort until some low speed and then it builds gradually, until reaching the 1/x. On top of that, the curve doesn't have to be a simple Force ~= Amps = Watts/Volts expression, as many old UK trains (such as the 37) and its clones (EMD SD60M) shows. In fact there is one train I know about, the elderly Class 421, which has 4 notches and with F5 you can see how it adjusts core power, trying to maintain Amps by gradually increasing the internal handle as the speed increases. It's very similar to how brakes are often scripted, I know the UP (Sherman) and CP/NS (CMP, NSCD) versions.
It is possible by lua scripting. Many locos are done that way. No new feature needed. You can specify notchless levers, regular notched levers, irregular notched levers, combined levers... everything. - Input is done via a "VirtualThrottle" ControlValue. (You can specify your own in the blueprint, it just has be the same as in your .lua) - the inputs are passed on to the script where you can modify them with the appropriate maths and tables - the script delivers the output to the "Regulator" ControlValue (that you are controlling directly on older stock). It's already in there - up to the loco dev to make use of it.
You can also use scripted SetPowerProportion ( index, value ) control to adjust power amount at every notch using static data or polynomic formulas. It greatly works with MUs to shut down one of the locos. That way Throttle can be used and operated both directly and as a virtual control with no physical box.
Sorry guys, both of you, but things you´re describing here are well known to me for a very long time. Every loco I´ve created has scripted Regulator for every notch. I also counting my own Amps and not using built in controller. That is really not a problem for me, using script this way for a decade. So nothing new. I just wanted to make loco creator´s life easier, that´s all. Already have my own scripted brakes, own bailoff procedure, own sanding, etc, etc... But it would be a damn easy if we could just set a number of notches in blueprint and then just fill one file with values. No scripting involved. You should really try my ČD class 242 or 150/151 I made years ago...
ČD 242 - https://railsimulator.simtrains.eu/...8Q4WNclo1uzfLvGW9DaZfv_BBJKZwFU8M2Eojc#p15085 ČD 150/151 - https://www.modely-msts.cz/railworks.html Do not know if these are the latest versions or even the primary download locations but it's what I found on a quick Google search.
Exactly. Those should be the latest one. Of course, there are also some unofficial download locations, but I'm not responsible for anything else except official ones. Btw, class 242 also support jumpr cables between two locos of the same type, e. g. 242+242. And for class 150/151 you must also download cabin and sounds for them from appropriate sections. Otherwise it won't work. 242 is only one package. Also sorry for manuals, they are only in slovak language. Never imagined anybody from uk or such would download them...
Saw the video of that, very nice. It's interesting to explore railways from other countries I was always a UK only player to start with but I'm slowly expanding my global collection, of course high quality routes and stock make it all that much better of an experience too. The hardest thing for us lazy "English is our only language" people is figuring out all the requirements for them, It can be a little overwhelming without guidance if I'm honest. I would love to have at least one quality route and the associated stock for every country that's my long term goal.
