Train Brakes Will Not Release

[railfandaniel]

Hello,

After using Open Rails for quite a while now, I've experienced few problems, however recently I've encountered problems with train brakes not releasing. I've tested a variety of different locomotives and the same problem occurs. Usually, I'm able to release the brakes when starting up. However, if I try to apply the brakes a second time later on, and then release them again, they fail to release. The brake pressure usually jumps up, than recedes quickly, and than freezes at a certain psi often between 30-60 psi, and then drops about 5 psi per minute. The brakes also often fail to fully apply to the charge of 110. The highest charge I've gotten recently was around 65. I have had brake issues before, however they were barely a problem. I cannot even effectively operate a train anymore. I have tried the graduated brake release option, and have left it unchecked as well, neither of which solve the problem. Help would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Daniel

[baldwin]

What version of Open Rails are you using?. I currently have zero brake release problems.

[kknobl]

Hello,

After using Open Rails for quite a while now, I've experienced few problems, however recently I've encountered problems with train brakes not releasing. I've tested a variety of different locomotives and the same problem occurs. Usually, I'm able to release the brakes when starting up. However, if I try to apply the brakes a second time later on, and then release them again, they fail to release. The brake pressure usually jumps up, than recedes quickly, and than freezes at a certain psi often between 30-60 psi, and then drops about 5 psi per minute. The brakes also often fail to fully apply to the charge of 110. The highest charge I've gotten recently was around 65. I have had brake issues before, however they were barely a problem. I cannot even effectively operate a train anymore. I have tried the graduated brake release option, and have left it unchecked as well, neither of which solve the problem. Help would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Daniel

Are the angle cocks set properly? Sounds for the world like there is something open that shouldn't be, allowing your air to bleed down. Even if the locomotive has a pressure maintaining brake setup, it won't overcome an open angle cock.

[railfandaniel]

I currently have version X2864. I tried completely reinstalling with version X2602, however it was no different. I'm unsure what is meant by angle cocks, however the locomotive brake is also always fully released. I've tried using the bail off option, and while the "BC" goes down to 0, the "BP" remains pretty much frozen. I also make sure the handbrakes are not engaged. The problem still begins after the first time I engage the brakes, in which they do not fully apply, and do not release. I've operated the very same trains before, and have not changed how I operate them, so I'm assuming its a game issue of some sort.

[neyland]

Have you activated the "brake initialisation" feature, it's a key stroke which i can't remember sorry.

Also have you activated "connect brake hoses", also another key stroke.

[kknobl]

I currently have version X2864. I tried completely reinstalling with version X2602, however it was no different. I'm unsure what is meant by angle cocks, however the locomotive brake is also always fully released. I've tried using the bail off option, and while the "BC" goes down to 0, the "BP" remains pretty much frozen. I also make sure the handbrakes are not engaged. The problem still begins after the first time I engage the brakes, in which they do not fully apply, and do not release. I've operated the very same trains before, and have not changed how I operate them, so I'm assuming its a game issue of some sort.

Angle cocks are what provide continuity (or not) for your air brakes. Air comes from the locomotives through the air hoses. If an angle cock is open at the end of a cut (or at a point in a train where air hoses aren't connected), air will just piss out and never recharge, thus the no recharge scenario. Or, if the angle cock on the end of the locomotive coupled to your train is not open, you will have no air in your train. But from what you're saying, you either have an angle cock opened where it shouldn't be or you have an angle cock open and didn't toggle the "connect air hoses" option.

OR has done a pretty strong job of replicating air brake behavior as it occurs in the real world.

[baldwin]

OR will also run in the simple mode without all of the bells and whistles of the extended braking system. As kknobl has said though, there is still a need to connect the airhoses if coupling to a loose consist. That requirement has been around for quite a while now.

However, from reading the OP, it seems as if we are talking about an already made up train which will not release brakes after application.

[kknobl]

Also, if you want to post a copy of the OR log (if it can be set up to show AB pressures on all the cars in the train) that may help narrow things down a bit...

Or a screen grab with that info displayed via pressing F5 a couple of times. That can be tricky to make out in a screen cap though.

[kknobl]

however the locomotive brake is also always fully released. I've tried using the bail off option, and while the "BC" goes down to 0, the "BP" remains pretty much frozen.

"BC" is brake cylinder. It is indicative of the air pressure in the actual cylinder. Bailing off will bring the brake cylinder pressure down to 0 on the locomotive only.

"BP" is brakepipe. This indicates your air pressure in the brakepipe throughout the entire train, usually at 90 lbs or so. In some cases in the real world and the sim, it can be 110 lbs (Amtrak trains, for example) or 80 lbs (as it is set to in a lot of BLW locomotives). In the real world, the engineer can adjust this setting through the feed or regulator valve in the locomotive. The setting is determined by the applicable railroad rules for the particulars of train handling. You say it stays frozen...what is the number showing for your BP pressure?

[railfandaniel]

The BP also can max out at 110, on the particular locomotive I am using at the moment. I completely uninstalled the game and emptied the registry, and started again, and the problem is still there. So it clearly is a problem I'm causing I guess. This might be a bit of an overdo, but here are the pictures. I stopped once in between that is not included in the pictures, and successfully released the brakes and accelerated. The third time around, the brakes jammed upon releasing, and it took half a minute to get from 16 to 11 psi. I also tried the brake hose thing, and connected them. It appears they are already connected though.

1.jpg8.jpg9.jpg10.jpg11.jpg

[R. Steele]

Looking at the pics you posted I noticed you just have the basic HUD on the screen, have you displayed the brake HUD -- F5 plus three shifts. Perhaps posting that will help someone figure out what is going on.

What eng is that? The problem could be in the engine file. But you did say it happens in a variety of engines.
I know when the new braking was implemented I had a heck of a time. Now, I love it and have not had any problems with any of the engines I'm running.

Post a good image of the brake HUD and the OR log. Can't hurt.

[baldwin]

A passenger set will already have the hoses connected and angle cocks set, no need to touch those. The half a minute to get from 16 to 11psi suggests that you are using the OR default brake pipe charging rate ( first page of Options ). I use 330 in that box which speeds up the process.

[kknobl]

The BP also can max out at 110, on the particular locomotive I am using at the moment. I completely uninstalled the game and emptied the registry, and started again, and the problem is still there. So it clearly is a problem I'm causing I guess. This might be a bit of an overdo, but here are the pictures. I stopped once in between that is not included in the pictures, and successfully released the brakes and accelerated. The third time around, the brakes jammed upon releasing, and it took half a minute to get from 16 to 11 psi. I also tried the brake hose thing, and connected them. It appears they are already connected though.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]65972[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]65973[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]65974[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]65975[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]65976[/ATTACH]

The readouts all show the AB system behaving as it should. Real world recharge rate when first starting to pump air when first hooking onto a cut with 0 lbs in it is 8 minutes for the first car + 30 seconds for each car thereafter. If you are hooking to a 3-car cut with a fully discharged BP it will take 9 minutes to fully charge. OR replicates this pretty well - AB recharge time is not instant and increases with length of the train.

Unfortunately I can't really tell what's going on at this point. Perhaps a detailed log will help? Or the shots of the AB HUD (F5 a few times).

[railfandaniel]

Hopefully this works. I successfully released the brakes a total of three times on this occasion, which surprised me. On the second and third time, I had to wait about a minute and a half between brake applications though, commuter trains however often make 1 minute stops at stations, which is what I was operating. If I release the brakes any sooner than around 90 seconds, they'll freeze. If I gradually increase and decrease the braking while coming to stop, and then put the brakes on full service, they will again freeze. I tried another locomotive again to see it behaved differently. There was a difference, however instead the brakes failed to release after the first application. I tried changing the brake charging rate to 330, and the circumstances were the same. By the way, in the fourth picture, the brakes had been released for almost a minute. Thanks again for all your help.
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[baldwin]

As this seems to be affecting any locomotive you add to the consist, I suspect the problem lies with one or more of the cars in the consist. What are you using in this consist?