OR’s ‘true to life’ operational experience?

[conrail1]

I know we’ve already had discussions pertaining to graphics and hardware performance as it pertains to OR but since eye candy is not the primary objective of Open Rails software I was wondering about the train handling/operation aspect of OR.

Can anyone from the development team who has an understanding of train handling comment on how the air brake model and buff and draft force simulation is coming along?

[mnjrr]

Braking

The Open Rails team has implemented several new realistic train handling features in the unreleased version of Open Rails. We have added more realistic braking with new air brake retainer and pipe pressure gradient features. In addition, we are working on train controls to increase brake and throttle parameters. We will continue to add more releastic train handling features as work progresses on Open Rails.

[conrail1]

The Open Rails team has implemented several new realistic train handling features in the unreleased version of Open Rails. We have added more realistic braking with new air brake retainer and pipe pressure gradient features. In addition, we are working on train controls to increase brake and throttle parameters. We will continue to add more releastic train handling features as work progresses on Open Rails.

Thanks Walter, are you at a point now where you can actually make a brake pipe reduction and have equipment throughout the train react in realistic manor according to braking force or is that still a ways off? Will you be able to model the specific characteristics of particular control valve?

Also will buff and draft forces throughout the train be simulated, (not just visually)? Can the simulation accumulate excessive draft force impact on the equipment say over the course of a trip?

[Komachi]

Hm just a thought on brakes, will we have freight only brakes? Or will you include the 'passenger' modes too?

[mnjrr]

Hello,

Dan, I don't recall if the OR team has implemented brake pipe reduction. I will ask a member of the team, who is handling physics, if OR has brake pipe reduction and if the equipment in OR functions differently based on braking force.

Komachi, The Open Rails team has not discussed having both passenger and freight brakes as of this writing, but I am sure the team can implement these different braking capabilities in the software.

[conrail1]

Hello,

Dan, I don't recall if the OR team has implemented brake pipe reduction. I will ask a member of the team, who is handling physics, if OR has brake pipe reduction and if the equipment in OR functions differently based on braking force.

Walter as always thanks for the response.

I’m definitely looking forward to the next release.