Hello, I'm trying to figure out the two useage scenarios between these two breaks. The route manual oddly doesn't cover anything in regards to the breaking system. When I tried using the electric break it didn't seem to fully stop the train, I had to use the train break for that. Am I supposed to be using the electric break for speed reductions while at speed and then the train break for station stops on the German locomotives/control cars that support them? I'm familiar with different principles And use scenarios of independent, automatic and dynamic of the US system but I'm learning German operations and struggling to differentiate between the direct/electric/train break. Googling brings up most people asking about the various systems for US trains. Would anyone be kind enough to give me a run down on these in regards to the German locomotives/control cars. Thank you!
Edit: Would anyone be kind enough to help me with the break mode selector in the BR 146? There's a few modes such as P R and G I believe and this has to do with the fill rate? What's a good default to leave this on?
Electric brakes in Germany are basically dynamic brakes in american trains if they have them of course. You use them when going downhill. It uses the traction motors to hold the trains speed when going downhill so you aren't wearing out the brakes by using the train brake constantly. You can just apply the electric brake and it'll apply (more is stronger and speed doesn't really seem to matter like it does on american trains) without having to wait like with american freight trains You use the train brake which will apply both the train and electric brake which is used for stopping. Applying the brake in German trains will apply both the train and electric brake. You can also use the electric brake separately going downhill
If you go on the side of the train, there will be markings that will tell you what weight applies to what braking. And there's a procedure for resetting the train brakes on all the passenger cars, there's a lever you switch. For the most part, I just go with default but if you want to try the different brakes out, you can. There's a tutorial dtg did in the nahverker dresden stream for rush hour.
As rennekton#1349 says, the electric brake equates to US dynamic brakes and is used for downhill runs and (light) speed reductions. If you aim to stop the train, it is forbidden to only use the electric brake in Germany as it can never stop a train (same as US dynamics). As for brake modes, passenger trains will use R whereas freight trains will use P or G. If you want to get properly into German brake modes, you'll have little choice other than either understanding the calculations for it (this thread) or getting in touch with tygerways#2596 and OpenMinded and making use of their brilliant tools.
