Dash8-40CW Operator's Guide

This is a short guide to operate the Dash8-40CW locomotive in the RunOnRails train simulator.

Engine start procedure for lead unit

Note: If you are starting a cold and dark engine at night, you will need to use the flashlight (L key) until the battery is connected, then you can use the cab dome light.

Note: You may also find useful the zoom (Z key) if your monitor is not big enough.

In the battery switch compartment, beneath the engine panel on the back wall:

• Close the battery knife switch (up position).

In the engine panel on the back wall:

• All circuit breakers must be ON (up position).

In the left of the operator control console:

1. CONTROL switch is in the ON (up) position.
2. GENERATOR FIELD is in the OFF (down) position.
3. ENGINE RUN in the OFF (down) position.

In the engine panel:

1. ISOLATION SWITCH in START position.
2. Press and release the START BUTTON. Wait until diesel engine starts up.
3. Place the ISOLATION SWITCH into the RUN position.
4. All 6 traction motors are in the IN (up) position.
5. SPEED SENSOR is in the IN (up) position.
6. LOCKED AXLE is in the IN (up) position.
7. DYNAMIC BRAKE is in the IN (up) position.

If you have to start more locomotives in this consist, go to the “Engine Start Procedure for trailing units”.

Continue here after all trailing units are started, or if your locomotive is operating as single unit.

In the operator control console:

1. Place the GENERATOR FIELD switch in the control stand to the ON (up) position.
2. Place the ENGINE RUN switch in the control stand to the ON (up) position.
3. Place the DYNAMIC BRAKE switch in the control stand to the ON (up) position.
4. Configure the BRAKE PIPE CUTOFF in the command board to the FREIGHT or PASSENGERS position as required.

Engine start procedure for trailing units

Note: This assumes all locomotives are physically connected via the 27-pin jumper cable and the three brake hoses, to form a M.U. (Multiple Unit) consist. Note this is not the same as D.P. (Distributed Power), where not directly coupled locomotives can communicate through radio telemetry/telecommand. D.P. is still not supported in this simulator.

In the battery switch compartment, beneath the engine panel on the back wall:

• Close the battery knife switch (up position).

In the engine panel on the back wall:

• Circuit breakers in the FIRST ROW must be OFF (down position).
• Circuit breakers in the SECOND ROW must be ON (up position).

In the operator control console:

1. CONTROL switch is in the OFF (down) position.
2. GENERATOR FIELD is in the OFF (down) position.
3. ENGINE RUN is in the OFF (down) position.
4. DYNAMIC BRAKE is in the OFF (down) position.

Note: This four signals are read from the jumper cable in M.U. trailing locomotives.

In the engine panel:

1. Place the ISOLATION SWITCH in START position.
2. Press and release the ENGINE START button. Wait until diesel engine starts up.
3. Place the ISOLATION SWITCH in RUN position.
4. All 6 traction motors are in the IN (up) position.
5. SPEED SENSOR is in the IN (up) position.
6. LOCKED AXLE is in the IN (up) position.
7. DYNAMIC BRAKE is in the IN (up) position.

In the operator console:

1. Move the INDEPENDENT BRAKE lever to RELEASE position.
2. THROTTLE lever is in IDLE position.
3. REVERSER handle is in NEUTRAL position.
4. BRAKE PIPE CUTOFF is in the OUT position.
5. AUTOMATIC BRAKE is in the HOLD OFF (HO) position.

Now you can continue with the start procedure in the lead unit.

Engine stop procedure for all units

Follow this procedure to stop a running locomotive, or to configure a dead-in-tow / dead-in-consist locomotive.

1. Place the ISOLATION SWITCH in the back panel to the ISOLATE position.
2. Press the ENGINE STOP button in the back panel.
3. Place all switches in the operator console to the OFF (down) position.
4. Move THROTTLE lever to IDLE.
5. Move REVERSER handle to NEUTRAL.
6. Move the INDEPENDENT BRAKE lever to FULL position.
7. Move AUTOMATIC BRAKE lever to HOLD OFF (HO) position.
8. Move the BRAKE PIPE CUTOFF to OUT position.
9. All circuit breakers must be OFF (down position).
10. If required, open the battery knife switch (down position).

If the locomotive is to be dead-in-tow or dead-in-consist, move the INDEPENDENT BRAKE lever to RELEASE position.

Start moving the train

• Move the REVERSER handle forward or reverse, as required.
• Move the AUTOMATIC BRAKES lever to RELEASE (REL) position.
• Move the INDEPENDENT BRAKE lever to RELEASE (REL) position.
• Open the THROTTLE one notch at a time, keeping the speed at a minimum until all slack has been removed. Reduce throttle if acceleration is excessive.
• Continue opening throttle progressively until the required speed is reached.

With the REVERSER handle centered, mechanical interlocking prevents movement of the THROTTLE and DYNAMIC BRAKE handle.

Automatic brakes

This locomotive is equipped with the 26-L Westinghouse automatic air brakes. This is standard braking equipment.

Stop the train with automatic brake application

• Move the THROTTLE lever to IDLE position.
• Slowly regulate AUTOMATIC BRAKE lever between MINIMUM REDUCTION (MIN) and FULL SERVICE (FS) positions, while looking at the EQUALIZING RESERVOIR pressure indicator to know the pressure reduction you are requesting. Remember that a reduction in brake pipe pressure increases the braking.
• Look at BRAKE PIPE pressure indicator to know the current brake pipe pressure on the locomotive.
• Look at BRAKE PIPE pressure indicator on the END OF TRAIN receiver to know the current brake pipe pressure on the last car. The longer the train, the longer it takes to equalize pressure across the train.
• The BRAKE CYLINDER indicator gives information about the pressure that is currently being exerted on the wheels. Note that this indicator only displays the locomotive BC, you have no information about the pressure being exerted on other cars.

Automatic brake release

• Move the AUTOMATIC BRAKE lever to RELEASE (REL) position. This will restore the pressure to the brake pipe across the train.
• An increase of the brake pipe pressure quickly releases the brakes. Look at the END OF TRAIN receiver to know when the BP pressure increases on the last car, and therefore its brakes are released.
• When automatic brakes are released, auxiliary reservoirs in all train vehicles begin to fill to full pressure. This takes time, especially in long trains. You can know when all the auxiliary reservoirs are full by looking at the AFM indicator, that shows the air entering to the brake pipe from the locomotive main reservoir. When this indicator is zero, all the auxiliary reservoirs are full and the brake pipe pressure is fully restored.

Emergency brake

To apply emergency brake, move the AUTOMATIC BRAKE lever to EMERGENCY position (full forward).

To recover from an emergency application:

1. Move THROTTLE lever to IDLE position.
2. Move REVERSER handle to NEUTRAL.
3. Move AUTOMATIC BRAKE lever to SUPPRESSION (SUP) position.
4. Wait for at least 1 minute.
5. Move AUTOMATIC BRAKE lever to RELEASE. Restoring pressure to BP may take several minutes on long trains.