OpenRails Exhaust smoke settings

[billbloggs]

I note in the most recent locomotive pack purchased from TrainSimulations (SD45 Pack1) that the Diesel Smoke Effect settings contained in the eng files are no longer expressed in the below format.
DieselSmokeEffectInitialMagnitude( 0.2 )
DieselSmokeEffectMaxMagnitude( 1.5 )
DieselSmokeEffectInitialSmokeRate( 0.10 )
DieselSmokeEffectMaxSmokeRate( 1.0 )

I do see
DieselSpecialEffects
(
Exhaust1
(
0 4.59 2.2
0 1 0
0.15

Is anyone able to relate the new effects back to the previous four settings?
Any guidance would be much appreciated.
Thanks
Duncan

https://www.youtube.com/@carlray7224/videos

[trainlover2923]

include ( "..\\TS_COMMON_INC_V2\\Locomotives\\EMD_SD45\\EMD_ SD45_Motive_391_5k_60_17.inc" )............They are set under this by line. You need to go to the TS_COMMON_INC_V2 folder and follow the folders and you will find those specific settings there

[oper190]

With OR many parts of the Eng File are now in the INCLUDE lines, and the settings you are referring to are for the placement of the exhaust on the model.

[wwhall]

If OR exhaust parameters are included in the .eng file (OR-specific sections usually say "ORTS") or are part of an .inc file, the old MSTS exhaust parameters are ignored (as they should be).

A TS .inc file entry for exhaust looks like this:

IdleExhaust ( 0.1 )
MaxExhaust ( 12 )
ExhaustDynamics ( 2.0 )
ExhaustDynamicsDown ( 0.5 )
ExhaustColor ( 00 fe )
ExhaustTransientColor( 00 00 00 00)

The first two lines should be self-explanatory. ExhaustDynamics indicates is there will be additional smoke as the engine throttles up (to simulate blower or turbo lag). ExhaustDynamicsDown indicates whether or not there will be smoke emitted during engine deceleration. In most current generation diesel prime movers, there will be little or no smoke on deceleration as electronically controlled fuel injection usually includes "deceleration fuel cutoff" that cuts off fuel injection to the cylinder during RPM deceleration. As to the exhaust color parameters, the first two digits indicate the opacity of the color and the next six digits are the hexadecimal definition of the color. The "00 fe" color parameter is actually a common error in OR engine files (it just comes out black). I typically use an entry something like this: ExhaustColor ( 20161819 ). I often "tweak" smoke setting to get the effect that I want that best replicates real world smoke. My main complaint about OR smoke is that the ExhauseDynamics parameter increases smoke output in a linerar fashion as RPM increases when, in reality, the initial smoke from turbo lag is more pronounced coming off of idle and can decrease as the RPM increases. In other words, there is likely more real world smoke when a diesel prime mover goes from Idle to Run2 than there would be from going from Run4 to Run6. All of that said, the OR parameters, when properly adjusted, are far more realistic than MSTS settings. One final note--visible diesel smoke particulates--bits of partially burned or unburned fuel. The latest Tier 4 EPA regs are designed to essentially trap all particulate emissions, so--in theory at least--the GE ET series and the EMD Tier4 locomotives should have no visible particulate emissions. Only rarely in the real world do I see any but an occasional momentary small puff of smoke (particulates) out of these locos. So, my Open Rails Tier 4's have the exhaust parameters set to zero.

[billbloggs]

Thanks very much everyone for the detailed responses. Definitely should point me in the right direction to achieve an outcome. The TrainSimulations locomotives are quality and I was concerned I might need to relegate them to 'light' duties for inclusion in videos.
Much appreciated
Duncan

https://www.youtube.com/@carlray7224/videos

[TrainSimJack]

Carl, you have some very nicely done videos on your youtube! Keep up the great work!

[billbloggs]

Thanks Jack. I have benefited greatly over a long period of time from the skills and generosity of a lot of people in the virtual rail community. So when surplus hours finally became available I looked around for a way to give back. Having very little computer skill I hit upon teaching myself to create in game YouTube videos perhaps as a small way to promote OpenRails. Still learning but making progress and gaining a sense of satisfaction..

[billbloggs]

Hi,
Taking the opportunity to provide an update re OR diesel smoke settings for anyone who might come across this topic in the future.

As per the very helpful earlier posts I have made the following modifications

include ( "..\\TS_COMMON_INC_V2\\Locomotives\\EMD_SD45\\ EMD_ SD45_Motive_376k_62_15.inc" )
Before modification
IdleExhaust ( 0.1 )
MaxExhaust ( 1 )
ExhaustDynamics ( 2.5 )
ExhaustDynamicsDown ( 0.5 )
ExhaustColor ( 00 fe )
ExhaustTransientColor( 00 00 00 00)

After modification
IdleExhaust ( 0.1 )
MaxExhaust ( 0.4 )
ExhaustDynamics ( 0.2 )
ExhaustDynamicsDown ( 0.5 )
ExhaustColor ( 20161819 )
ExhaustTransientColor( 00 00 00 00)

To add context to the changes I have uploaded two videos here https://www.youtube.com/@billbloggss/videos

The topic of exhaust smoke is subjective however I wanted something that better matched the trailing UP locomotives, which although each having slightly varied settings, don't dominate the videos re smoke in instances where power is applied.
Pleased with the outcome so far and thanks go to the previous posters who made it sooooo much easier - appreciated.

Cheers
Duncan

https://www.youtube.com/@carlray7224/videos

[billbloggs]

A further update. The settings detailed in my previous post didn't age well. When subsequently employing the consist in my video, no exhaust smoke - why? Have no idea.
Have revisited the settings as now displayed and a further short video has been uploaded.
Have given the revised config. a tryout with several locomotives and if it holds then pretty happy with the result.
IdleExhaust ( 0.1 )
MaxExhaust ( 1.5 )
ExhaustDynamics ( 1.0 )
ExhaustDynamicsDown ( 0.5 )
ExhaustColor ( 20161819 )
ExhaustTransientColor( 00 00 00 00)

Cheers
Duncan

https://www.youtube.com/@carlray7224/videos

[Kist]

Speaking about exhausts smoke, this units, one SD60M and C30-7, looks like more a steam locomotive either than a diesel. I will do something on the files to reduce all this smokes.

[rdayt]

That bottom picture, with the GEs, looks about right.

Randy

[yellowdog]

Speaking about exhausts smoke, this units, one SD60M and C30-7, looks like more a steam locomotive either than a diesel. I will do something on the files to reduce all this smokes.

Those are DW units. Scott posted fixes on the website