Quaxo76

Wow, now I feel stupid. We don't have AC locos here so I didn't even think of AC. I tried the VL11M loco in the simulator, but it looks pretty "unfinished". What are other DC locos? I'd like to use a DC because that's what I know from work... Is there a schematic and description of the VL80 power circuit that can be downloaded and printed? I'd like to study how AC traction works... Cristian

Thank you all very much for the detailed answers. That's weird about the speeds. This is the first railway system that I see where speeds are not reported on tables at the side of the track... In my railway, the only speed restrictions that must be reported on the train documents, are temporary restrictions (and those too are also reported on the trackside...) Regarding the "Null notches": I suppose those are not actually "null" positions (because there is traction) but positions where resistors of the rheostat are not inserted, and so you can keep those positions for a long time without the rheostat overheating? If it's so, why are there so many of them? On the rheostatic trains I know, you start with the motors in series and all the resistors inserted; then you start excluding resistors until there are none left, and the motors are in series (and this is a rest position you can hold for long, indicated by a light on the panel); then when you proceed, the motors are connected in series-parallel with all the resistors inserted, and then you exclude them one by one again, and at the end you have another "rest" position; then you connect the motors in parallel with all the resistors included, and proceed as before until the last rest position. But of course there are only 3 rest positions. I don't understand how there can be so many in the VL80t, and what they really mean... Last question: What is the Phase Separator? Thanks again, Cristian

Hello, I've been using this simulator for some time, but I have some questions. Only now I have been able to register here - not speaking Russian, the whole registration process was quite difficult! Anyway. I live in Italy, and I drive electric trains for work (mostly rheostatic). In the simulator I mostly use the Vl80t loco. Here are my questions: 1) What are the meanings of the lights and of the dials on the loco? Some of them I understand, but most I do not. 2) What is the proper procedure for the sections of the track where I have to lower the pantograph? If I put the controller to 0 and lower the pantograph, usually the main switch opens and I have to open and close all the switches, and that takes a long time and I loose speed. 3) Sometimes I get a message about "Sensor 418 tripped" or something, and I can't enable traction anymore. What is this? 4) If I don't want to look at the track layout on top of the screen (because real drivers don't have those), how do I know the maximum speeds? I can't see any obvious signs on the track side... Thank you in advance, Cristian