Currently doing a run with the new-liveried 66 on WCML and I get the feeling that it not as powerful as it should be. I'm pulling 20 container wagons, total weight 1226.2 tons, on a 0.3 % incline and in notch 8 I can not accelerate above 55 mph. This train has headcode 4M18, and as such is a freight train permitted to operate at 75 mph but I seem unable to reach that speed, even on flat ground.
I think that might be accurate. I have a chart of approximate tonnage by grade and resistance goes up with speed, so at 60mph you end up with something like double the resistance you do at 15mph. At 15mph you can do about 3,000 tons with a Class 66. So if your resistance doubles, I can see that dropping to about 1,500 at 55-60pmh. It's not exactly where you are, but these are rough estimates, assuming the 66 generates it's theoretical maximum of 58,000 ft/lb at 15 mph. I know many locos in the game only generate 80-90% of their book value and was told that's "realistic" because you don't get the "book" value out of anything. I don't know from DTG if that's a thing, but that's also not factoring in curves, differences in track, weather conditions, or longer trains having different gradients (you may see .3% in the cab, but what is the back half of the consist on?) It MAY be a a 10-20% difference from the ideal calculation the engineers use. However, there may also be other factors involved. Having hauled a lot of freight (in game anyway) I find that you rarely get above 55mph, either by limits of the locos or limits of the track (speed limits) so that's reasonable they'd put a single Class 66 on that load at that grade because you'd stay around the speed limit naturally. Just because you CAN go 75 doesn't mean you DO go 75. =-) The faster you go, the more resistance you have to fight so the more fuel it uses. Freight companies often worry about fuel more than time. Going another 75mph would mean another 20-25% more fuel burn and be harder on the engines (can't keep going at notch 8 forever) Game tip: If you want to go faster (screw the cost, it's a game!) then just uncouple some cars at the end of the train. Unless you're doing a specific mission like filling coal cars, the game doesn't count your cars at the end, just that the loco and at least one car arrives. If you disconnect half of them, you'll shed weight and just FLY down those tracks! Or you can be realistic and only go a normal speed like 55mph. Your choice =-)
Thank you so much for that detailed explanation. I ended up reaching 75 mph eventually, and on flat ground I only needed notch 3 or so to maintain that speed, so I guess it's correct and I was just expecting too much.
Yeah, as it levels out that grade resistance goes away. 75 seems reasonable on the flat, on the straight. Maintaining speed is a lot easier than building it. Trains are NOT drag racers by any means. The 66 has a lot lower traction than say US models, but I haven't really seen a UK map yet that has lots of hills (over 1-1.5%) so it's not really that necessary. For as much disdain as it seems to collect on the forums, I rather like the Shed. It's not as "British" as a 47, but it does the job reliably and since they're EVERYWHERE in real life it fits in well anywhere.
It's a good job that all DTG's UK container trains are too short with 20 wagons. Typical length is 30 wagons.
