76 Class Electrics...

[ka959]

Hi there ! Pardon me, but does anyone happen to know if the Regenerative Brake on the Class 76 Electrics for the Woodhead Route, do, actually work to slow the locos down ? I know they are animated controls, but, can you really slow the trains with these ? I mote the trains do, in fact, slow very gradually, but I'm not really sure if it's just natural slowing through train weight ?? In fact, I normally feel that trains in the Simulator, seem to slow by friction, a wee bit too fast, while real trains tens to roll further in real life, unless the grade is uphill.

What do users think about this ? Right or wrong ? After all, roller bearings do tend to be very capalbe of allowing a train of going a fair way, before it begins to slow gradually.

Regards...

Jim McDermott

[hertsbob]

Hi

They do, but they work differently to the sort of dynamic brakes you may be used to on a US loco, for example.

Might be worth reading through the relevant section in the Woodhead manual (Page 24 onwards), as it could be that this will explain why you're not experiencing much braking effort whilst using them.

Cheers

Bob

[Ximmy]

Lile bob says they definitely work but they are fairly horrible jerky things

[Rockdoc2174]

The do work and, as has been said, not all that well but I've found they can be hit and miss even if you go through the correct sequence. As with all RSC regen braking, there's a wailing noise while they're working. If there's no such sound you have to keep playing with the controls until the blessed thing kicks in.

Keith

[749006]

The Regen Brakes on the Class 76 we designed to keep the train at a set speed when running downhill without having to use the train brakes.
With it set up correctly you should be able to keep the speed steady going downhill from Woodhead Tunnel.

A bit like in the US where they might control the train speed on a decent with the Dynamics only.

Peter

[ka959]

Yep,

I've got a good idea of these brakes, as we had had, here, in New Zealand, in the past, some electric locos (Class Eo, or Class Ea) that were used on the line from Arthur's Pass, to Otiria, in the Southern Alps, through the Otiria Tunnel, which was about 5.5 miles or so long, and headed in a straight line, downhill, and on a grade of 1 in 33, and in later years, hauled some coal trains, until about 1967 or thereabouts, when they were replaced by more modern machines. They'd been working since new in 1923. And had several types of brakes, including the type on the Class 76. These coal trains are pretty heavy, and some are hauled by at least 7 diesels, some of which are used only as bankers through the tunnel, only, or downhill, as extra braking power, and are removed once through the tunnel, while the main train locos are used for the rest of the haul to Christchurch and Lyttelton, for overseas export.

Regards...

Jim McDermott

[749006]

Yep,

I've got a good idea of these brakes, as we had had, here, in New Zealand, in the past, some electric locos (Class Eo, or Class Ea) that were used on the line from Arthur's Pass, to Otiria, in the Southern Alps, through the Otiria Tunnel, which was about 5.5 miles or so long, and headed in a straight line, downhill, and on a grade of 1 in 33, and in later years, hauled some coal trains, until about 1967 or thereabouts, when they were replaced by more modern machines. They'd been working since new in 1923. And had several types of brakes, including the type on the Class 76. These coal trains are pretty heavy, and some are hauled by at least 7 diesels, some of which are used only as bankers through the tunnel, only, or downhill, as extra braking power, and are removed once through the tunnel, while the main train locos are used for the rest of the haul to Christchurch and Lyttelton, for overseas export.

Regards...

Jim McDermott

Just looked at some pictures of the Eo Electric - nice looking loco and built in Preston, England.