No worries Dunc... No rush whatsoever... I woke up at 0730 & have just been bimbling about... Not even had a bash on TS...!!!
303 Update Pack Just packing the required files up, but features include:- 26 scrollable destinations on GMPTE and fixed lights on all liveries. New destinations on GMPTE: <WHITE BLANK> Alderley Edge Birmingham International Birmingham New Street Coventry Crewe Glossop Guide Bridge Hadfield Hazel Grove Liverpool Macclesfield Manchester Oxford Road Manchester Piccadilly Nuneaton Preston Rugby Sandbach Stafford Stoke-on-Trent Warrington Wigan Wilmslow Charter Not in Service <BLACK BLANK> Thou shalt need: (Install in the following order) DTG 303 AP 303 extra stock AP 303 sound pack VP 303 reskins (orange & blue/grey) DP 303 reskins (orange & blue/grey) This mod New lights off: New lights on: New taillights on: Now that was a busy Sunday afternoon!
Eric, Pookey - PM me your email addresses and I'll send you the mod in a zip. Now to kick back and relax!
Yes Both as a Guard and later as a Driver at Manchester Piccadilly 304001 at Hazel Grove 304038 at Macclesfield Peter
Quite good - by the time I got to them they were only 3 car sets so were quick off the mark. EP Brakes like a Southern Emu so very good control of how much you applied - I think it was about 12 steps Simple electrics with fuses. Buckeye couplings with proper air pipes and jumper cables - no fussing with couple/uncouple buttons
Cheers Peter... When you drive 1st Gen EMUs do you prefer to use the EP brake or Auto brake??? As our [(un)official] traction instructor I am struggling to get my head around the Auto brake & would appreciate (if possible) a few tips / pointers (if you have the time) in its operation... Cheers Eric
When I drove 304s, 305s, 309s - back in the 1990s - we were encouraged to use the Auto Brake once a trip. The Auto Brake works the same as a Loco Brake where reducing the BP Pressure increases the Brake Cylinder Pressure You have to quickly move the Brake Handle from Off to just after the EP section then reduce the pressure. If you are a bit slow the EP brakes apply But unlike a LH train you cannot increase the pressure without going all the way back to Off I think it is because the Emus had a Triple Valve compared with a Distributor on Coaches and Wagons Does that make sense? Peter
Thanks Peter it does... The difficulty I find is moving the brake handle from the running position to the point where the auto brake position "kicks in"... Not particularly easy using a keyboard... Now theres an idea for the future peripheral... A proper brake handle... Eric
Was that because it is considered the "lazy / easy" way of applying the brakes or was it in case the EP side of the brake system failed???
Because we did not use the Auto Brakes in normal service you were encouraged to use it once a trip to remind yourself on how it works and if the EP fuse blew you had only the Auto Brake as it did not fail safe - unlike the 3 step WestCode brakes that do fail safe I did not like the Auto brake as you could not Lap Off on when applying
What happened when the EP fuse blew / EP system failed??? I presume it must have happened to you at some point...??? Sorry about all the questions Peter, It's a side of the railway I find really interesting... Eric
The EP Brake just stopped working. There was a Blue EP brake light on the desk of the units If you spotted the light went out you knew you were Auto only When you next stopped it was only a few mins job to replace the fuse in that cab. Peter
So you'd just go to put it in "step 1, 2 or 3" (is that how you'd refer to it???) and nothing would happen??? I take it instinct would kick in and you'd then put the brake handle into the "auto" setting??? Eric
On an EP brake there is no Step 1,2,3 it is more like Step 1 to 10 As you go past Off you hear the relay click and the Brake Cylinder Needle shows an increase of pressure The more you move the handle the more pressure shows and you feel the brakes applying If you moved the handle and you did not hear the relays or feel the train slowing you carried on to Auto With the older Emus they have this EP Brake and Auto. The newer units have the Westcode brakes that fail safe - lose electrical continuity and the brakes apply.
