P40, P42, P32AC-DM for Open Rails - Lessons Learned & New Progress

[phigui]

Hello ,
Thank you very much for these wonderful models and also for the patch ( there are no more error messages from ORlog file now )
I would have a question ( I'm French and fairly ignorant about US Railroad symbols) :
What is the difference between p40dc_800 and p40dc_800_hep ? ( They look alike in TSRE consist editor).
Sincerly,
Phil

[Strawberry Yogurt]

Hello ,
Thank you very much for these wonderful models and also for the patch ( there are no more error messages from ORlog file now )
I would have a question ( I'm French and fairly ignorant about US Railroad symbols) :
What is the difference between p40dc_800 and p40dc_800_hep ? ( They look alike in TSRE consist editor).
Sincerly,
Phil

The only difference is in the physics, the HEP locomotive will have less horsepower since it is modeled to be providing power to the coaches. I haven't actually seen if Nash's sound set models the difference in idle but in theory the HEP engine idles higher too.

If you're using one locomotive, it would be realistic to use the HEP version, if you're using two or more engines, the lead engine would be without HEP and the trailing engines with HEP.

[phigui]

Thank you very much for this quick and clear explanation.
My train consists in a GE_P40DC pulling 5 Amtrak Hi-Level coaches ( from NAVS ) .
Do you think it is a plausible consist or is it silly ? ( I have no other Amtrak coaches in my trainset ! )
Phil

[Traindude]

Okay, a few things I wanna point out, even with the latest patch:

1. In the TSRE Consist Editor, filtering the selections to "diesel" causes only the P40 to show up, but not the P42 or P32. Removing the filter shows all of them.
2. In the info screen, the P42 and P32 appear to have no brakes. The P40 appears normal.

I know these models are a WIP, but here are some details to correct for future releases, so you don't forget them:

1. Animate the wipers in the 3D cab view. The wipers currently work in external views only.
2. Fix the cab door in the 3D cab view -- maybe the normals need to be flipped?
3. Opening cab doors windows would be nice.

[eric]

My train consists in a GE_P40DC pulling 5 Amtrak Hi-Level coaches ( from NAVS ) .
Do you think it is a plausible consist or is it silly

It's plausible. The P40s showed up in 1992, and Hilevels were retired around 2000-2003.

If you want a few more Amtrak coaches, install the ORTS TS Starter Route. It has some Superliner cars included.

[Erick_Cantu]

Thank you very much for this quick and clear explanation.
My train consists in a GE_P40DC pulling 5 Amtrak Hi-Level coaches ( from NAVS ) .
Do you think it is a plausible consist or is it silly ? ( I have no other Amtrak coaches in my trainset ! )
Phil

Yes and no. The Hilevels stuck around for a good long while, but they were significantly modified in the 1980s. The steam lines were removed, they were converted to HEP, and the end diaphragms were swapped for ones that matched the Superliners. My cars are in the as-delivered configuration (before you ask, I don't have plans to modify them in the near future as I don't have the time).

[l.k.]

Brian Smolke did some Amtrak coaches and transition coach-dorms based on Eric's fantastic hi-levels.
https://www.trainsim.com/forums/file...leid?fid=89146
Combined with some Superliners, baggage cars and MHCs those are perfect for 1990s long distance trains pulled by P40s or P42s in original livery. For inspiration there are many nice pictures on railpictures.net - just select GE P40DC or GE P42DC as "Locomotive Type" and 1990-1999 as "Photo Year"...

[phigui]

Hello,
Thank you very much for this information. I will consult railpictures.net for some inspiration. I've found only one type of Amtrak baggage cars here : the set made by Paul Charland ( File ID 84674 ) . They look fairly short but it seems there is nothing else available !

[SD40-2]

There are some excellent baggage car reskins by Alex Stroshane in the file library.

https://www.trainsim.com/forums/file...leid?fid=66366
https://www.trainsim.com/forums/file...leid?fid=66370
https://www.trainsim.com/forums/file...leid?fid=66369
https://www.trainsim.com/forums/file...leid?fid=66368
https://www.trainsim.com/forums/file...leid?fid=66367

[Orbita]

Let's not forget the Amtrak content TrainSimulations has made. They're high quality!

[phigui]

Hi,
Thanks a lot for these links and for the website .
I didn't think to write "Budd" instead of "car" in the search description window !
Phil ( from France )