User Guide

MICROSOFT TRAIN SIMULATOR ENGINEER’S HANDBOOK
HOW TO DRIVE A DIESEL LOCOMOTIVE | 43
Ammeter: The ammeter shows the number of amperes of electrical current being drawn (for motive
power) or generated (for dynamic braking) in the traction motors. On the GP38-2, the ammeter is also
called the Load Indicating Meter.
Brake Pressure Gauges: The Brake Pressure gauges display how much brake pressure is applied and
how much brake pressure is available. When the brakes are applied, the equalizing reservoir and
brake pipe pressure drop. The brake cylinder pressure goes up. When the brakes are released, the
equalizing reservoir and brake pipe start to be recharged by the air compressor. The brake cylinder
pressure, which is the actual pressure pushing the brakes against the wheels of the locomotive,
decreases to 0 (zero).
For more information about brakes, see Chapter 5, Train Basics.
Brake Pipe Pressure Gauge: When you use only the locomotive brake and not the train brake,
you won’t see a change in the brake pipe pressure. This gauge displays the pressure in the
brake pipe.
Equalizing Reservoir Pressure Gauge: This gauge displays the pressure of the equalizing reser-
voir. When you apply the brakes, the pressure in the equalizing reservoir drops immediately and
the new pressure is then propagated in the brake pipe, which runs the length of the train.
Main Reservoir Pressure Gauge: This gauge displays the amount of air pressure available to
recharge the braking system. You’ll see a drop in the main reservoir pressure when the brakes are
released because air is moving from the main reservoir to recharge the equalizing reservoir, the
brake pipe, and the auxiliary reservoirs on each car.
Brake Cylinder (BC) Pressure Gauge: This gauge displays the brake cylinder pressure in the lead
locomotive. If you apply or bail off the locomotive brakes independently, remember that this
gauge does not show the pressure in the brake cylinders on the rest of the train.
OPERATING A DIESEL-ELECTRIC LOCOMOTIVE
Moving the train
You must watch your slack (the “play” between each car) and keep these points in mind:
Use the lowest throttle position possible to start the train moving. You may need to retard starting
acceleration by using the locomotive brake.
Once the train is moving, do not increase the throttle until either the amperage (as shown on the
ammeter).
To accelerate, advance the throttle slowly one notch at a time.
On curved sections of track, be moderate in applying power. This reduces the possibility of
“stringlining” (the tendency of cars to “straighten out” and derail on a curved stretch of track).