Driving freight trains realistically

[zaphr89]

In a situation like that, I would have thought that there would be a repeater signal before the bend/obstruction.

I think you are probably correct, perhaps my scenario was flawed. But if we compare a situation where the tracks are completely straight and one where there are curves and buildings/trees etc reducing the visibility you could technically keep a higher speed and still stop for a red signal on time than in the latter scenario.

I made a little picture of the two speed curves (lol)
https://imgur.com/a/ANiy3mK

Speed curve 2 has the upside of saving some time because you'll travel that 1000m (or 1000 minus the braking distance) at 30mph (or whatever) instead of 15-20 but the downside is, I guess, that if you were to run into low adhesion it might be tricky to stop in time.

[749006]

In a situation like that, I would have thought that there would be a repeater signal before the bend/obstruction.

I think you are probably correct, perhaps my scenario was flawed. But if we compare a situation where the tracks are completely straight and one where there are curves and buildings/trees etc reducing the visibility you could technically keep a higher speed and still stop for a red signal on time than in the latter scenario.

The rule for Banner Repeaters was if you could not see the Signal before the Magnet the a repeater was required.
Depending on where the track link is the Signals in the game will go to red as the Cab gets almost level with the Signal.

I made a little picture of the two speed curves (lol)
https://imgur.com/a/ANiy3mK
Speed curve 2 has the upside of saving some time because you'll travel that 1000m (or 1000 minus the braking distance) at 30mph (or whatever) instead of 15-20 but the downside is, I guess, that if you were to run into low adhesion it might be tricky to stop in time.

You seem to want to run a Fright Train of maybe 3000 tons at Passenger Speeds and then expect it to stop like a Passenger Train - which it won't.
And the Speed curve is never Level. - If it's a mile or so between passing a Yellow then you slow down gradually to be doing around 10 mph at the magnet.
It takes a lot of wasted energy to slow the train down and speed it up again - with good driving you can avoid some of that waste.

[zaphr89]

And the Speed curve is never Level. - If it's a mile or so between passing a Yellow then you slow down gradually to be doing around 10 mph at the magnet.

Come on man, you can't expect me to draw curved graphs in MS Paint
But yeah, I kind of tried these two situations out in a scenario and the second curve has you nervously watching the speedometer which is a situation I bet you never wanna be in as a driver of a heavy freight train (or any train for that matter).
That's not really worth the 1-1.5 minutes saved.

It takes a lot of wasted energy to slow the train down and speed it up again - with good driving you can avoid some of that waste

Do you have any specific examples in mind of what to do and not to do?
I guess one thing is never having to stop at all (until your destination), I.e. driving as slow as necessary to not see a red signal.

[749006]

It takes a lot of wasted energy to slow the train down and speed it up again - with good driving you can avoid some of that waste

Do you have any specific examples in mind of what to do and not to do?.

Yes, don't drive like it's a passenger train where you do later braking for signals.

I guess one thing is never having to stop at all (until your destination), I.e. driving as slow as necessary to not see a red signal.

No that is wrong. - If you drive slowly you would delay other services.
Some trains will be timed to stop in loops for other services to pass - and you will find some scenarios where you are booked to stop in a loop/siding before proceeding - if you did not stop the scenario does not work.

You seem to think that there should be instructions saying "between A & B should should drive at xx.mph, between B & C at xx.mph" etc.
There are no instructions.
The speed you drive depends on - in order.
1] The Max Speed of the line
[2] The Max Speed of your Train
[3] The Aspects of the Signal you are approaching

Did you bother watching any of those Youtube videos?
Those show what a real driver of a real train is doing.

Peter

[zaphr89]

No that is wrong. - If you drive slowly you would delay other services.

I think you misunderstood what I mean't. I'm not saying slow down to 5mph, but try to match your speed to the train ahead so that you won't reach a red signal, unless you are close to a loop where you are scheduled to stop. Or would you disagree with this description too?

You seem to think that there should be instructions saying "between A & B should should drive at xx.mph, between B & C at xx.mph" etc.
There are no instructions.
The speed you drive depends on - in order.
1] The Max Speed of the line
[2] The Max Speed of your Train
[3] The Aspects of the Signal you are approaching

Haha, well I have to admit that I like formal rules/guidelines. But even without these existing I've learned quite a bit from just you correcting me. If all the ways you can drive are more than the ways you should not, then it's more helpful finding a few of the "should not"s (that aren't trivially obvious), if you know what I mean.

Did you bother watching any of those Youtube videos?
Those show what a real driver of a real train is doing.

Peter

I did watch a couple of them yesterday, they're great. The only downside is that it's quite tricky to gauge the speed since everything looks faster on camera compared to in the sim, I think it might be the FOV, not sure. But even without having a accurate account of the speed it's still very educational.

[749006]

No that is wrong. - If you drive slowly you would delay other services.

I think you misunderstood what I mean't. I'm not saying slow down to 5mph, but try to match your speed to the train ahead so that you won't reach a red signal, unless you are close to a loop where you are scheduled to stop. Or would you disagree with this description too?

You can get in to the habit of "riding the Yellows" where a lot of real drivers have been caught out.
If they are watching the signal in front changing to Double Yellow, or Green on 3 aspect, and it does not they you pass a single yellow faster than you should be going.

In the game you know you are going to stop in a loop or not but in the real world a train might get looped unexpectedly because of a problem further down the line.

I enjoy running a scenario on the London to Brighton route called League Cup Special and you simply drive non-stop to Brighton except you don't get a clear run.
It's where you have to drive fast enough to keep time but without running a Red.

Peter

[zaphr89]

Yeah I've heard from drivers that "chasing yellows" is fraught with peril.
Thanks for all the answers, I definitely have a better starting point on how to drive freight trains now.