Controlling Dynamic Brakes from Steam Engines

[ThatSolitaryGuy]

I don't know if anyone has proposed this already, but doesn't it seem like a possible feature to implement at some point? Although I don't know the internal structure of Open Rails, I would imagine that this could be achieved using some basic logical sequence:

1. Consist led by steam engine has at least one diesel
2. Said diesel(s) has dynamic braking capabilities
3. Player can control dynamic brakes based on the parameters of the first diesel with dynamic brakes

Once again, I don't know about any of the algorithms or sequences of instructions that OR uses, so this pattern may seem heavily over-simplified. However, from what I understand, it's perfectly prototypical (albeit uncommon) to have dynamic breaks running on a set of diesels that are being led by a steam engine. This feature could make up for the inability and impracticality of switching between engines in motion to activate features that are exclusive to that engine type, and the dynamic break keys "," and "." currently have no special use for steam engines that would conflict with any preexisting commands. Of course, this is assuming that the majority of users mainly rely on keyboard commands and don't generally bother moving in-cab controls with the mouse.

This isn't so much of a request as it is an idea to consider for adding later on in OR's development, and I'm also curious to see if anyone else has considered something like this being implemented.

[CSRX]

I'm curious on when this takes place. Is there a second crew in the diesel locomotive to set up dynamic brakes when needed?

I ask because I know when a lead locomotive doesn't have dynamic braking, and the trailing units do, we still can't use the dynamics, have to relay on train line for the braking power.
Fun fact too if the lead unit has dynamic, second unit doesn't, but the third does, the first and third unit will work together as a dynamic duo, while the middle is isolated.

[geepster775]

The only circumstance I can think of is modern day excursions, where there is some form of remote control of the diesel that is buried behind a steam leader. But these are so infrequent, I don't see modifying the program to meet these particular needs when so many other wider needs are on the top of the to-do list. This is left field stuff.

[ThatSolitaryGuy]

Like I said, it's less of a request for the OR team and more as just something trivial that can be considered for much further down the line. I'm well aware that there are currently more bugs and features that still need to be addressed as of now. Of course, as stated, this would seem more applicable to a modern steam excursion than any practical scenario, but wouldn't something like this have been carried out in the transition era as well, if dynamic braking was even available? I haven't found any records to support such a guess, so I can't say for sure whether it would be prototypical for that era.

Also, yes, there is generally a second crew running the diesels, which may not even be active in some cases; they could just be there as insurance (assuming it's an excursion and not a transition era operation). I also did not know that fact about isolated dynamic brakes in a multi-unit lash-up. That really challenges my understanding of real-life diesel operations.

[P834C]

Is there a second crew in the diesel locomotive to set up dynamic brakes when needed?

Yes. On a lot of steam movements the crew in the steam engine is working light to medium power and the crew in the diesel locomotive is expected to control the train speed with additional power or dynamic braking.

[hiball 3985]

Several years ago while following the #3751 across Calif to Ariz it was radio communication from the steam to diesel crew asking for additional power or braking.