Atomic Systems

Hi

From reading around the net unfitted wagons have no breaks.

Does the game take this into account and when the train break is applied with an unfitted freight, only the loco acts as breaking power?

I take it the break van was provided to supply more breaking power. Does it break when the train break is applied or do you have to apply the break yourself via the wagon break.

Cheers

Brake not break. The answer to your last question is no and yes. You can set it by clicking on the coupler icon in the hud, then by clicking on the brake icon for that particular wagon.

As you correctly surmise 'unfilled' wagons have only manual brakes, most usually operated by a lever on the right hand side of the wagon. An unfitted, or partially fitted (with some of the wagons equipped with vacuum braking being worked from the loco, so needing to be next to it) train must have a brake van. It was the practice for the guard to work his van brake in conjunction with the enginemen's requirements. The firemen would also use the tender handbrake in the same way. Extra brake power could be obtained by pinning (applying) individual wagon's brakes in the same way and a train would be brought to a halt at the top of a steep gradient for this to be done. How many brakes were pinned down was by agreement between the crew. Too few and you risked a runaway; too many and you would not get the train moving again. The brakes would then be released at the foot of the incline for the train to continue on its way. You can simulate all this through the F3 or F4 uncoupling display.

Working an unfitted goods train was a great art and required exceptional cooperation between the crew. This is why enginemen drove and fired freight trains before they moved on to passenger. Incidentally, a bad driver could make his guard's life a misery. Think about it and I'm sure you'll work out the whys and hows!

Happy driving,

Bob

I don't recall a scenario that includes pinning brakes and inspection stops. One reason perhaps is that many wagons have their brakes and physics set up incorrectly.

I have one that before you descend a hill you have to stop and get the fireman to go out and manually put the brakes on all of the wagons. Don't ask which scenario though.

Trev123 wrote:I have one that before you descend a hill you have to stop and get the fireman to go out and manually put the brakes on all of the wagons. Don't ask which scenario though.
:)

There is one for the Woodhead route in the file library, although not "steam loco" as per this discussion. Normally the guard pins wagons down (or a specially provided brakesman) rather than the fireman.

John

I new it was somebody other than the driver.

I guess there must be an equal time allowance in the timetable for the brakeman to release the brakes at the bottom when the incline has been descended? That's an awful lot of time!

Ken

sundog wrote:I guess there must be an equal time allowance in the timetable for the brakeman to release the brakes at the bottom when the incline has been descended? That's an awful lot of time! :o

Yes. A couple of minutes, perhaps.

John

longbow wrote:I don't recall a scenario that includes pinning brakes and inspection stops. One reason perhaps is that many wagons have their brakes and physics set up incorrectly.

I believe Kromaatikse's "Winter Wonderland" from GSC1 has a stop to pin brakes down at Masbury Summit.

Hi Trev

It is always the Guard who applies the Brake in the Brake Van as there are many Scenarios requiring this in Railworks and also in the Activities for MSTS.

By the way it is Knew not New in Western Australia

Regards

Mike

You are correct SIR the speaker of correct English.