U.s Cab Car Compatability

Correct me if I'm wrong but in reality almost any U.S cab car should be able to control any U.S locomotive using the standardised AAR MU control cables. Unfortunately in TSW I have observed that unfortunately some cab cars are seemingly unable to talk to other locos. An example of this would be to try any CalTrain cab car with a non-CalTrain locomotive. In this scenario it looks like DTG set them up to an entirely different MU cable internally. Another example would be NJT MultiLevels paired with anything that isn't an ALP-46 and vice versa ex: MBTA cab car with ALP-46 although on the NJT examples both the MU and COMM cables are visibly connected between the car and loco as well as the US HEP cables which I'm proud to say it looks like DTG managed to unify HEP systems amongst U.S passenger equipment. Not all cab cars are mutually incompatable with mismatched locos. Like I was testing even before formation editor using TSW3 with the "God Mode" mod that allows spawning of trains and I found the MBTA cab car seems to work with a bunch of non-MBTA locos including the CalTrain F40 and AMTK ACS-64.

So I know this would be a big undertaking from DTG as no doubt some stock would need to be rescripted but it would be a huge thanks if you would work on unifying the AAR MU system to behave as per reality.

 

Thanks for the response Matt. Whilst on the topic of compatibility in general. Would it be possible to make a slight tweak to some coaches so that their gangway doors can be opened by the user as opposed to being permanently locked shut? An example of which would be all the Mk2a coach variants, even the ones in the Scotsman pack since the corridor tender is unusable due to the fact that the Mk2a gangway doors will only unlock if they sense a "friend" such as another Mk2 or a Mk1 coach but not the gangway on the corridor tender resulting in the door staying permanently locked with no means to open it apart from mods/patches.

 

I would also support this if it is under consideration. It believe it also happens with Dostos and IC coaches

 

Hi. I've just gone ahead and compiled some of my findings into a table. Please help me complete it and verify if I made any mistakes since some of the results are presumed based off previous tests.
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1vyoF6nu4c-9XwAjtYXusYogjFToOInGLdAej6dfuj8k/edit#gid=0

 

The Amfleet cab car seems to work with most things (except the ALP-46), but only if the locomotive you want to control has the reverser handle inserted and Engine Run, Generator Field and Control & Fuel Pump switches are set to on.
MP15DC works with CTC3 and ML Rotem

 

Thanks. I have ammended the table and added the MP15DC despite it being a switcher that would usually not be operated from a cab car.

 

Thanks for updating the Caltrain stock in a recent update. The Bombardier Bilevels seem to work fine with all locomotives now.
But the Gallery cars still refuse to connect MU jumpers with anything but CT F40s a modder in the Train SIm Community Discord server did some digging and found that the problem is to do with the fact that when created the Gallery car MU cable was assigned a "Connection group" of 1 when really it should not have connection groups due to its implementation. Hopefully this could be looked at and added in the next minor patch.

 

With the release of the new MBTA route I have added the HSP46 and CTC5 cab car to the compatibility table. But I still need help testing formations in order to fill in the "Untested" cells.
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1vyoF6nu4c-9XwAjtYXusYogjFToOInGLdAej6dfuj8k/edit?gid=0#gid=0

 

Thank you for the spreadsheet, I basically asked the same question on if the ALP-46 was connectable with the MBTA CTC-3 cabcars. Seems like to this, it isn't, and so I tested it and your right

 

can you update the spreadsheet please? reporting that both HSP46 and F40PH-3C (mbta commuter version) works succesfully with amfleet cab-car (with reverser handle inserted and "engine run" "generator field" and "control and fuel pump" buttons on "on" position

ps: on HSP46 "control and fuel pump" button appears only as "control"

 

Sorry for not responding but I've updated it to include that.

Also on the offchance DTG are seeing. The CT gallery cars still seem to have MU connectivity issues, when coupling to a non-CT loco, it seems like only the COMM cable connects and not MU one. This is tested in free roam spawning and coupling individual vehicles.

 

Also on this topic for the Amtrak Metroliner cab car can you make the electric - Diesel switch work? Been wanting to run it with passenger diesel locomotives and it won’t work

 

Hey slenderman7676RBLX can you update the spreadsheet again pls? reporting that F59PHR works with amfleet cab car

reverser must be inserted and "control and fuel pump", "generator field" and "engine run" switches must be at "on" position

 

I have asked this across multiple routes, but lets keep the question simple then - if Caltrain stock uses push-pull token, then lets say MU-2A Valve in MP36PH is even relevant? cos when driving that loco, no matter if the setting was on Trail 24 or 26 or Lead or dead, the loco and everything behaved the same

 

Well the MU-2A valve iirc only is to setup the independent brake which is needed when you have multiple locos connected up. But cab cars usually never have any controls for the independent. Cab cars only usually have the 27 pin MU electrical jumper which handles just about everything except for independent brake. Ind brake is handled through the three air hoses that are usually fitted to either side of a loco pilot. Usually marked "ACT, REL and MR" iirc. MR is just to connect the main reservoirs of the locos together so that they can share eachother's air supply.

 

so... in a single loco+cab car aka simple push-pull consist, does it actually do anything? does that switch really matter in that case? like in that MP36PH... it is there but does it actually do anything at all?

 

If I’m not mistaken, NJT MLVs are setup for the EPIC brake system. Using EPIC MLVs with a locomotive set up for standard direct brake release will result in issues.
- I did notice that the Boston-Worcester HSP/Cab-Car is mostly compatible with the LIRR 2.0 route. It’s fun simulating Penn station and Long Island City diesel services.