The gauge you refer to in the video is the generator (alternator) load gauge. It measures how many amperes the main generator (alternator) is sending to the traction motors. The one in the JR locomotive is not functioning properly. It should not jump into the red each time the throttle is advanced a notch. EMD's loading system is more gradual. Even if you go from idle straight to notch eight, the gauge would gradually run up and into the red, and then drop gradually as speed increases and load decreases. Of course this is highly dependent on track and train load conditions. The load gauge in the Train Sim World version is operating closer to prototype. As a general rule, you do not want to operate in the red area for more than a few minutes or you would run the risk of burning out traction motors, electrical controls, or even the main generator. So yes, the load gauge is rather important in locomotive operations A malfunctioning load gauge can be bad news (in prototype operation). Let's hope JR will be able to come out with a patch to fix this. The horn issue is a Trainz issue. From what I have experienced, it is an intermittent issue that can show up at random in almost any locomotive. I have not found a pattern that would suggest any certain conditions which would cause this as of yet. Just one of those little anomalies that pop up from time to time. BTW, I really like your testing module. Very well thought out and highly useful in testing different power and rolling stock combinations. I may have to "borrow" a few ideas from this and make a test bed of my own one day.
G'day Rick . . . . . . . good to hear from you . . . . . . and I appreciate the excellent briefing on both issues . . . . . . . I don't know if we will get a response from Jointed Rail . . . . . . . maybe I will send them a message . . . . . . . I am enjoying your live stream on the building of that route of yours. . . . . . . I need to talk to you about how to get more views . . .shame not to get the exposure you deserve . . . . .Cheers
@@@colinstrains5885 : Thanks for the reply. I also read the update you posted from JR. I kind of figured it was something in the Trainz game engine, but why it shows up on some and not others is still a bit of a mystery. Thanks for the compliment on the Live Stream Route videos. Good to know that at least someone is watching them, LOL. I have a lot more of those already "in the can" and ready to post each week for a while. As for getting more views? I have tried a few ideas over the years, but at the end of the day I guess I just don't make very interesting videos. It is still a fun hobby making videos and sharing with the people who do watch them.
Discussed this with Justin, the creator of the model itself. The gauge itself is driven by the game code and such, not by anything JR modeled or scripted. Nothing in any of JR's modeling has changed since Trainz 2012. They worked fine in 2012 and subsequently after that in TANE and now 2019, they are all over the place. JR have made this known to N3V but obviously it hasn't been fixed thus far in their development. Nothing JR can really do to fix this since its not in JR control.
The amp gauge measures load. It gets complex all this, as stuff happens electrically speaking. The amp gauge is like the master gauge for GO like the air gauge is for STOP. The Diesel generator has a governor which is notched. Each notch has a governed rpm. iirc, idle and notch 1 are the same rpm. So brakes are released, you're on level ground and idling. Select notch 1. Amp gauge rises possibly into the red. The train starts moving and the amp gauge recedes as the current from the generator to the traction motors on the axles is less. Now the speed is insufficient more current is required. Notch 2 - the governor on the diesel generator senses the driver input and increases rpm which causes the elecrical generator to turn faster producing more current. The gauge rises again because the train is still moving at the notch 1 speed. The wheels start to turn a bit faster and the gauge drops again. Repeat process. It is to be expected that as the train slows, the amps will rise - even when in a given notch. What you're seeing is the magic of electricity responding to varying load and you're the driver controlling it all. Electrically speaking, massive work is being done here and you are controlling it all. There is a thing called transition. As the wheels start turning faster the motors on the axles start generating electricity themselves and this opposes rhe main generator current (like two positive magnet poles) and the train won't be able to go any faster. They switch the axle motors from series to parallel or vice versa (i can't be bothered thinking it through as I'm not an electrical engineer) and this allows the main generator to take over again and the train keeps accelerating. I'm thinking as a good driver, wait a little longer before selecting the next notch. I doubt it going into the red momentarily is going to melt the armature shaft on the traction motor lol. Traction motor blowers keep temps under control on steeply graded sections with heavy loads and slow speeds. They operate all the time anyhow i think so a switcher shunting stuff in a yard will experience high temps every notch change.
Thank You very much for that . . . . . . I certainly learnt many new aspects of that gauge . . . . .. . . . and it explains some of what I thought were anomalies . . . . . However when at times it stays in the red continuously, your explanation would not validate that . . . . .. I had a note from N3V the TRAINZ developer saying they think it may be a bug that has crept in when they upgraded the logic of that route for TRS2019 . . . . . . . .. . Wow it must have taken some time to put that together . . I hope others note it when viewing the video . . . . . . . . .
Thanks Joseph I hear what you say but . . . . . . If done as you suggest . . . . . . and N3V fix the basic issue (Yeh dreaming) . . then the gauge is haywire again
I understand . . . . . . . . I have done this under instruction from K & L Trains stuff . . . . . . . and yes it works . . .but then some weeks later N3V does an update . . to fix the original problem that required me to fiddle . . . . . . and I am back to square one . . . .
I am no expert on TANE but believe you need to download it from the DLS. Items on TRS2019 are not usually backward compatible to TANE directly. Jointed Rail have a separate link for versions of some JR payware as well as much of the freeware.
I have raised an issue regarding one of the gauges in the cab of the SD40-2, please check it out and if you can help understand what should happen I would appreciate it.
Hello Colin's Trains. My name is John and I am a Carman for Amtrak. I am certified in locomotive maintenance. I perform brake tests on a locomotive on a daily basis. The gauge you are referring to is what is called an ammeter. It is telling you the amount of amperage that the traction alternator is producing. This alternator is what feeds the traction motors with current to make the wheels turn. When the gauge turns clockwise, you are reading positive amperage. If the gauge turns counter clockwise (from when the needle is at 12 o'clock (throttle in idle)) you are making "negative" amperage which is made when you are in dynamic braking. Now, I do not work with SD40's, I work with p42s. Notch 1 and even into 2 should not drop that needle into the red. When you get into notch 3 and 4, you may get the needle into the red depending on load, grade, etc. 5 and above at low speeds you will definitely get into the red. What is happening is you are telling the locomotive that I need to get moving NOW. So the locomotive produces more amperage to get the train moving faster. Think of it like this... the more resistance you put on the locomotive, the more amperage it needs to make to keep its speed at a constant or an increase in speed. Running to much amperage for to long using DC traction motors is damaging to them. You can burn the brushes out by overheating them. AC powered traction motors can run in notch 8 continuously with no issues. The SD40's use exclusively DC traction motors as far as I know. Let me explain what I meant by the negative amperage when in dynamic braking. In normal operation, the traction alternator produces electricity that is used by the traction motors to turn the wheels. When in dynamic braking, the turning wheels become generators and feeds the electricity they are producing into a resistor grid which in turn slows the train down. Hope this helps. Let me know if there is anything I can do to further assist you. Love the videos. Have a great day. -John
hi is that seasonal track? i really like it.i also wish someone would make some british locos, i like the class 57,60,66,47,86,77,76, 377, there is none to be found that's decent.
Yes, the track is TRS19 Track 1 which is seasonal . . . . there are others too available in TRS2019 . . . . . .. sorry I do not follow UK trains much . . . . . . . so I am not the right person to ask.
Hey Colin, a quick question: Have you had any issues using Portals in TRS19? They work fine in T:ANE, but I can not seem to make them produce any trains in TRS19. Just curious if anyone else is having this issue.
G'day Mate . . . . .The new Italian TRS2019 route Sebino Lake has portals and they seem to be working OK . . . . Try adding a Forum query if you have no luck . . . . . .
@@colinstrains5885 : Thanks. So far, I have had no luck getting answers to this. I simply can not make them work. Thanks for the reply. Hopefully I will get it sorted out eventually. Cheers! :)
@@NJP76 If you have any Payware routes in your collection that you have been able to get working in TRS2019 . . . . . . . . open up one with Portals . . . check the settings . . . check they work . . . . then create a new session in that route and make sure what you are doing works in that route . . . . . . then duplicate it in your own route . . . If it works . . all good . . . . . if not . . . then you are in trouble . . .smile . . . .. Hope this long winded suggestion helps . . .
@@colinstrains5885 : Not long-winded at all my friend. I will take what you suggest and give it a fair go. Hopefully that will solve the issue. There is every chance that I may be forgetting one simple step along the way...and Trainz does not like "forgotten" steps, LOL. I will likely try this a little later and will let you know how it works out. Thanks again for the help.
Yes . . RRMODS have been around for some time . . .and not just TRAINZ . . . . . but many are not yet ready for TRS2019 . . . . . . . . but then Jointed Rail is not officially ready yet . .. indeed I have a couple that have missing dependencies or tagged as faulty. . . . . but I note RRMODS does have some Clinchfield units . . so once TRS2019 is released I hope they can be made to work . . . . . . .. thanks for reminding me of RRMODS . . . . . . others I know are Trainz Forge . . . . NARM . . . .. The Backshop . . . . .. to mention a few . . . . I may review one of the newer diesels for the experience . . . . . .
@@crr311sux5 Thanks for the tip, I am aware of Trainzforge but had not visited for some time, they appear to have been busy getting a lot of stuff into TRS19, very interested. SRSTrainz does not suit me as I model earlier timezones from 1950 to early 60's Thanks again for pointing me back to Trainzforge Have a great holiday time this year Colin
The gauge you refer to in the video is the generator (alternator) load gauge. It measures how many amperes the main generator (alternator) is sending to the traction motors. The one in the JR locomotive is not functioning properly. It should not jump into the red each time the throttle is advanced a notch. EMD's loading system is more gradual. Even if you go from idle straight to notch eight, the gauge would gradually run up and into the red, and then drop gradually as speed increases and load decreases. Of course this is highly dependent on track and train load conditions. The load gauge in the Train Sim World version is operating closer to prototype. As a general rule, you do not want to operate in the red area for more than a few minutes or you would run the risk of burning out traction motors, electrical controls, or even the main generator.
So yes, the load gauge is rather important in locomotive operations A malfunctioning load gauge can be bad news (in prototype operation). Let's hope JR will be able to come out with a patch to fix this.
The horn issue is a Trainz issue. From what I have experienced, it is an intermittent issue that can show up at random in almost any locomotive. I have not found a pattern that would suggest any certain conditions which would cause this as of yet. Just one of those little anomalies that pop up from time to time.
BTW, I really like your testing module. Very well thought out and highly useful in testing different power and rolling stock combinations. I may have to "borrow" a few ideas from this and make a test bed of my own one day.
G'day Rick . . . . . . . good to hear from you . . . . . . and I appreciate the excellent briefing on both issues . . . . . . . I don't know if we will get a response from Jointed Rail . . . . . . . maybe I will send them a message . . . . . . . I am enjoying your live stream on the building of that route of yours. . . . . . . I need to talk to you about how to get more views . . .shame not to get the exposure you deserve . . . . .Cheers
@@@colinstrains5885 : Thanks for the reply. I also read the update you posted from JR. I kind of figured it was something in the Trainz game engine, but why it shows up on some and not others is still a bit of a mystery.
Thanks for the compliment on the Live Stream Route videos. Good to know that at least someone is watching them, LOL. I have a lot more of those already "in the can" and ready to post each week for a while. As for getting more views? I have tried a few ideas over the years, but at the end of the day I guess I just don't make very interesting videos. It is still a fun hobby making videos and sharing with the people who do watch them.
Discussed this with Justin, the creator of the model itself.
The gauge itself is driven by the game code and such, not by anything JR modeled or scripted. Nothing in any of JR's modeling has changed since Trainz 2012. They worked fine in 2012 and subsequently after that in TANE and now 2019, they are all over the place. JR have made this known to N3V but obviously it hasn't been fixed thus far in their development. Nothing JR can really do to fix this since its not in JR control.
The amp gauge measures load.
It gets complex all this, as stuff happens electrically speaking. The amp gauge is like the master gauge for GO like the air gauge is for STOP.
The Diesel generator has a governor which is notched. Each notch has a governed rpm. iirc, idle and notch 1 are the same rpm. So brakes are released, you're on level ground and idling. Select notch 1. Amp gauge rises possibly into the red. The train starts moving and the amp gauge recedes as the current from the generator to the traction motors on the axles is less.
Now the speed is insufficient more current is required. Notch 2 - the governor on the diesel generator senses the driver input and increases rpm which causes the elecrical generator to turn faster producing more current. The gauge rises again because the train is still moving at the notch 1 speed. The wheels start to turn a bit faster and the gauge drops again. Repeat process.
It is to be expected that as the train slows, the amps will rise - even when in a given notch. What you're seeing is the magic of electricity responding to varying load and you're the driver controlling it all. Electrically speaking, massive work is being done here and you are controlling it all.
There is a thing called transition. As the wheels start turning faster the motors on the axles start generating electricity themselves and this opposes rhe main generator current (like two positive magnet poles) and the train won't be able to go any faster.
They switch the axle motors from series to parallel or vice versa (i can't be bothered thinking it through as I'm not an electrical engineer) and this allows the main generator to take over again and the train keeps accelerating.
I'm thinking as a good driver, wait a little longer before selecting the next notch. I doubt it going into the red momentarily is going to melt the armature shaft on the traction motor lol. Traction motor blowers keep temps under control on steeply graded sections with heavy loads and slow speeds. They operate all the time anyhow i think so a switcher shunting stuff in a yard will experience high temps every notch change.
Thank You very much for that . . . . . . I certainly learnt many new aspects of that gauge . . . . .. . . . and it explains some of what I thought were anomalies . . . . . However when at times it stays in the red continuously, your explanation would not validate that . . . . .. I had a note from N3V the TRAINZ developer saying they think it may be a bug that has crept in when they upgraded the logic of that route for TRS2019 . . . . . . . .. . Wow it must have taken some time to put that together . . I hope others note it when viewing the video . . . . . . . . .
In order to fix the generator (alternator) for Jr's locomotive you will need to go through the config file and play with the numbers for the throttle.
Thanks Joseph I hear what you say but . . . . . . If done as you suggest . . . . . . and N3V fix the basic issue (Yeh dreaming) . . then the gauge is haywire again
@@colinstrains5885 I have played around with the numbers in the config file for other content that is not Jr and it worked.
I understand . . . . . . . . I have done this under instruction from K & L Trains stuff . . . . . . . and yes it works . . .but then some weeks later N3V does an update . . to fix the original problem that required me to fiddle . . . . . . and I am back to square one . . . .
@@colinstrains5885 then the issue is on their end in the games coding
@@heckingaxle6618 Yes . . . .I believe Jointed Rail as they all work in previous versions of Trainz
Just wondering, have you done the CSX SD40-2 (ex-CR) From JointedRail?
sorry this is the only SD40-2 I have reviewed so far.
How do I transfer freeware or anything from jointedrail to trainz a new era and also where do I go to get the missing dependencies
I am no expert on TANE but believe you need to download it from the DLS. Items on TRS2019 are not usually backward compatible to TANE directly. Jointed Rail have a separate link
for versions of some JR payware as well as much of the freeware.
@@colinstrains5885 oh thank you is it possible if you know the link mind sending it? Thanks for your help
I have raised an issue regarding one of the gauges in the cab of the SD40-2, please check it out and if you can help understand what should happen I would appreciate it.
Hello Colin's Trains. My name is John and I am a Carman for Amtrak. I am certified in locomotive maintenance. I perform brake tests on a locomotive on a daily basis. The gauge you are referring to is what is called an ammeter. It is telling you the amount of amperage that the traction alternator is producing. This alternator is what feeds the traction motors with current to make the wheels turn. When the gauge turns clockwise, you are reading positive amperage. If the gauge turns counter clockwise (from when the needle is at 12 o'clock (throttle in idle)) you are making "negative" amperage which is made when you are in dynamic braking. Now, I do not work with SD40's, I work with p42s. Notch 1 and even into 2 should not drop that needle into the red. When you get into notch 3 and 4, you may get the needle into the red depending on load, grade, etc. 5 and above at low speeds you will definitely get into the red. What is happening is you are telling the locomotive that I need to get moving NOW. So the locomotive produces more amperage to get the train moving faster. Think of it like this... the more resistance you put on the locomotive, the more amperage it needs to make to keep its speed at a constant or an increase in speed. Running to much amperage for to long using DC traction motors is damaging to them. You can burn the brushes out by overheating them. AC powered traction motors can run in notch 8 continuously with no issues. The SD40's use exclusively DC traction motors as far as I know. Let me explain what I meant by the negative amperage when in dynamic braking. In normal operation, the traction alternator produces electricity that is used by the traction motors to turn the wheels. When in dynamic braking, the turning wheels become generators and feeds the electricity they are producing into a resistor grid which in turn slows the train down. Hope this helps. Let me know if there is anything I can do to further assist you. Love the videos. Have a great day. -John
hi is that seasonal track? i really like it.i also wish someone would make some british locos, i like the class 57,60,66,47,86,77,76, 377, there is none to be found that's decent.
Yes, the track is TRS19 Track 1 which is seasonal . . . . there are others too available in TRS2019 . . . . . .. sorry I do not follow UK trains much . . . . . . . so I am not the right person to ask.
Hey Colin, a quick question: Have you had any issues using Portals in TRS19? They work fine in T:ANE, but I can not seem to make them produce any trains in TRS19. Just curious if anyone else is having this issue.
G'day Mate . . . . .The new Italian TRS2019 route Sebino Lake has portals and they seem to be working OK . . . . Try adding a Forum query if you have no luck . . . . . .
@@colinstrains5885 : Thanks. So far, I have had no luck getting answers to this. I simply can not make them work. Thanks for the reply. Hopefully I will get it sorted out eventually. Cheers! :)
@@NJP76 If you have any Payware routes in your collection that you have been able to get working in TRS2019 . . . . . . . . open up one with Portals . . . check the settings . . . check they work . . . . then create a new session in that route and make sure what you are doing works in that route . . . . . . then duplicate it in your own route . . . If it works . . all good . . . . . if not . . . then you are in trouble . . .smile . . . .. Hope this long winded suggestion helps . . .
@@colinstrains5885 : Not long-winded at all my friend. I will take what you suggest and give it a fair go. Hopefully that will solve the issue. There is every chance that I may be forgetting one simple step along the way...and Trainz does not like "forgotten" steps, LOL. I will likely try this a little later and will let you know how it works out. Thanks again for the help.
Honestly you should get something form rrmodds.us they have ( *In some ways* ) better content
Yes . . RRMODS have been around for some time . . .and not just TRAINZ . . . . . but many are not yet ready for TRS2019 . . . . . . . . but then Jointed Rail is not officially ready yet . .. indeed I have a couple that have missing dependencies or tagged as faulty. . . . . but I note RRMODS does have some Clinchfield units . . so once TRS2019 is released I hope they can be made to work . . . . . . .. thanks for reminding me of RRMODS . . . . . . others I know are Trainz Forge . . . . NARM . . . .. The Backshop . . . . .. to mention a few . . . . I may review one of the newer diesels for the experience . . . . . .
@@colinstrains5885 You should try more trainzforge or SRS trainz
@@crr311sux5 Thanks for the tip, I am aware of Trainzforge but had not visited for some time, they appear to have been busy getting a lot of stuff into TRS19, very interested. SRSTrainz does not suit me as I model earlier timezones from 1950 to early 60's Thanks again for pointing me back to Trainzforge Have a great holiday time this year Colin
@@colinstrains5885 You too! I also model 1950s so i'd love to help.
What's the Radio frequency?