I don't know if this is a game bug or something that I've done wrong? I am trying to complete the scenario 'Chemical Plant Zone' and I seem to be having a issue on the return trip to Riesa. Every time the BR 185.5/train hits 19mph it keeps losing power and stopping! All safety systems as far as I know are off, as set when the scenario started. I've checked to make sure that the diesel shunters breaks are set correctly as instructed, and seem ok. So is this a bug is is it me? Tia. Platform: PC. XBox App
It is a bug. When you get into the shunter, it gets enabled, so you do your work. When you return to the 185, the shunter is never disabled by the game (you can't disable it yourself). so every time you exceed a fairly low speed limit for the shunter, the emergency brakes will apply from the back to the front. You will have to drive at a slower speed on the return journey. This speed can be increased slightly by setting the gearbox thingy on the 363 to "long distance" (It's been a while since I drove the 363, but it is the big lever on the side of the dashboard in between the driver and secondman at knee height)
aeronautic237 Ah, Thank you. You have been a great help. Silly me, I forgot to reset that lever back to long distance! I'm now slowly walking back to my train, whistling and looking very embarrassed! I am so much struggling with the breaks, they are either on or off. There doesn't seem to be a in-between. I need to find a decent guide on how to drive the thing!
I don't know of any guides, but I can help with braking. The 363 has what are known as manually-lapped brakes. I will link a video. The first dial I look at is the brake pipe, and the second is the locomotive's brake cylinder. The first handle I look at is the locomotive brake. This has three zones: Release, lap, and Apply. Release releases the brake, apply applies the brake, but lap will hold it in place. The second handle is the train brake. This applies brakes throughout the length of the train. The same thing from the locomotive brake applies here except Release is now called Driving, and There is also a quick-release afterwards. Hope this helps.
FWIW: I had the same troubles and suffered with this until figuring it out. You have to put in mind that it is all about TIMING; Meaning it is not about how FAR you push/pull the brake lever when in lap, but about HOW LONG you apply that lever in a certain position. You need to watch the brake pressure building up, best in the HUD, and return the lever to "lap" if you see a certain amount of pressure at the gauges. Always mind the delays in pressure building and return the lever. If not, you might soon reach the "emergency" pressure stage. And releasing brakes from that stage can be a real pita. So it goes: Push the lever to a certain stage ......... watch (and listen!) the pressure building up .......pull back the lever to LAP ......... the more pressure you allow to build up in the brake cylinder, the harder you brake. So, it´s push ....... wait for it .....pull ............... not enough brake force? OK, then give it a little more: push ......waaaaiiit for it.......pull. In a matter of seconds! Now you don´t need any brake force anymore? OK, then pull the lever to 100% release and watch the pressure coming down. When at 0 bar, return the lever to LAP position. That way you´re always ready to brake when necessary. BTW when you ride the 363 as light engine (maybe towards coupling up), just use the loco brake which is much better doseable. A nice training object to figure lap brakes is also the Class 101 on NTP or TVL. She doesn´t even have an independent loco brake. If you don´t learn it on these routes ......... well, better get drunk.
I'm not sure about the 363, but I watched a video on Youtube that was made in the mid-20th Century about how to drive a DMU (such as the Class 101). It said "it is unfavourable to drive with the brake in the 'lap' position" when the brakes are released. They didn't say you couldn't have about 10% release though, which is what I do.
This video is from another thread. IIRC posted by rennekton. Starting at 02:55:00, Matt P. explains the lap brakes on SFJ, then goes over to the Class 101. Enjoy!
aeronautic237 , Pipe Thanks for the help, I really appreciate it. I have a lot of practicing to do. LoL! I think that if this forum gets a make over, it should have a Technical section where advice like this can be placed, making it easy to find sort after answers? I must admit, whilst watching that YT it really makes you appreciate the work that the boffins at DTG are putting into it? The physics involved is just incredible, and on top of all of that what do they do? They only go and make the break pistons move when the breaks are operated. Wow! DTG Matt and team, I applaud you!
The team work damn hard and I have huge respect for them, I take no credit, I just get to share and talk about their amazing work Thank you! Matt.
