[beresford]

I have just tried a scenario from 3DTS's Tehachapi route which was designed to be 'challenging' in MSTS, with a coal train headed by several helper engines heading north out of Mojave. Unfortunately it is too challenging in OR as the train requires continual sanding to avoid wheelslip and eventually comes to a complete halt before it can get to Cameron. At least one more helper is needed. Are there any rules about number and position of helpers that I should know, either IRL or OR?

[markus_GE]

I´d suggest you try this tool to find out how much power you need for a given tonnage on a given grade and curvature :D

http://www.alkrug.vc...ForcesCalc.html

Cheers, Markus

[engmod]

Can you give us the activity name so I can try it please.

[copperpen]

That link given by Marcus is very useful, provided you know the ruling grade of the line. There is no need to guess that either. One of the Shift+F5 debug screens has that information, gives the grade at different points along the train along with other information. It is the Force Information page and the info is the end column labelled Elev. Just drive until you stall, note the elev along the train, the highest is your ruling grade at that point.

[markus_GE]

copperpen, on 30 June 2014 - 12:44 PM, said:

[...] the highest is your ruling grade at that point.

Not necessarily, since ORTS seems to not calculate the TRACK gradient, but the gradient between the car´s endpoints: If you have car sway turned on, the gradient at each car will continuously change in the range of +-0.3% ... A bug?

Cheers, Markus

[copperpen]

I don't use car sway or super elevation as to me these are not yet ready for prime time. All elev measurements should be taken with those options turned off.

[beresford]

engmod, on 30 June 2014 - 11:51 AM, said:

Can you give us the activity name so I can try it please.

3DTS_TEH2_SF_C-BAR_STO_2-02 [Part 1] Let us know how you get on (and you might as well measure the grade where you stall as others have described here).

[engmod]

I stall very quickly too.
The train has only 3bhp/ton, I suspect not enough for that grade.

[copperpen]

I have just driven that train up the hill and past the Cameron Spur. Used run 7 for the most part. Al Krug's calculator gives the same HP as is provided for that train. I did use sand for a short time after passing through Mojave on the 2.36 grade.

[markus_GE]

3 hp/t (what´s bhp? - I only know it as an acronym for an Australian iron ore mine...) definitely is in the bottom range of what a train should have available in ORTS, as I know from experience...

Cheers, Markus