How does this 3 option switch affect your engines functions?(It seems like it might be brake related but i'm not sure because it sometime helps with brakes or sometime does nothing.
Assuming you are looking at American locos from your question - I don't understand fully, but it controls the brakes in the consist. Lead loco - the one you are driving - should be set to lead (or you will not be able to release the brakes) other locos should be set to one of the trail function ( I think most are 24 from memory, but someone more knowledgeable will correct me)
Yes. In most instances you would need to set to Lead for the brakes to operate. Here's Matt P doing an in-depth tutorial on YouTube: Although this largely relates to TSW routes on the American continent. The use of a Cut In and Cut Out switch does occur in the "Cutting Closure" scenario in East Coastway where a train is Top & Tailed by two Class 66's.
It's the "MU-2A" valve you are switching, and you are correct in that it relates to way the brakes work on locomotives that aren't the one in front. MU: Multiple Units - when you have more than one locomotive connected to the train Lead: The locomotive you are in control of, and will act as the controller for the rest of the train Dead: A locomotive that is being towed without providing power or being remotely controlled by another Trail: A locomotive that is slaved to the lead, and will be controlled remotely by it. 6, 24, 26: The type of brake stand (the unit with the brake levers etc) used on that locomotive - Type 6SL, 24RL and 26L. They all work slightly differently so you need to select the right one (options will usually be "Trail 6 or 26" and "Trail 24" In-game, I believe the Clinchfield F7 and Caltrain F40PH use the 24RL (note that the brakes don't "self-lap", you add brake pressure until you get to the desired amount, then pull the lever back to stop the increase, like filling up a bucket), the rest use 26L ("self-lapping", which means you put the lever to the percent braking force you want, like the brake pedal in a car).
just playing Peninsula Corridor, MP36PH-3C, and after a couple stations I had accidentally found out that it was set to "Trail 24 or 26", lol... didnt seem to cause much trouble, dunno why... of course now I have corrected it to Lead or dead if a loco isnt in a MU consist, but rather in push-pull, like Baby Bullet + cab car, what difference does it make?
