Demonstration Activities

Aim - to provide activities that can be run in Open Rails (OR) to demonstrate the relevant function and features incorporated into OR. The activities can also be used to test rolling stock configurations for new stock.

If you wish to provide any feedback on this page, please use the contact page. It would be great to have some feedback as this helps to ensure the accuracy of the information and models.

Index

Introduction

Wheel Bearing Temperature Impact

Refill from Water Trough or Pan

Advanced Coupler Operation

Refueling Locomotive and Load/Unload Coal Wagons

Visual effects for wagons

Lighting effects

Braking - British Rail Brake Controller

Braking - London North Eastern Railway (LNER) Controller

Braking - Great Western Railway (GWR) Controller

Steam Heating Demonstration

Manual Braking Demonstration - No Brakes

Manual Braking Demonstration - Brakemen and Locomotive Steam Brake

Manual Braking Demonstration - Mixed - Vacuum, Steam and Manual

Derailment Testing Scenarios


Introduction

The activities on this page are designed for the following purpose:

  • To demonstrate a particular feature or function within Open Rails
  • To allow a user to test rolling stock configurations of their own. This can be done by replacing the existing consist with their own consist.

For consistency, these activities have all been developed on a common test route, and using common rolling stock. All of these items are available from the Coals to Newcastle website, by following the links associated with each activity.

These activities have been specially set up with the optimal 'Option' settings for OR, which will temporarily 'override' the users configuration whilst this activity is being run. The users Option settings will NOT be permanently changed by running any of these activities. Users may edit the activity option settings by editting the relevant ACT file in the Activities\OpenRails folder.

It is recommended that this testing enironment be set up as a standalone installation.

Note: Currently some of these features demonstrated in the activities below are only incorporated into the OR MG or Unstable version, so try these versions before trying the stable version of OR. Make sure that you have the latest version installed of the relevant version of OR and the stock indicated installed.

These activities have been built on CTN test route, so refer to the test route schematic diagram for an overview of the activity layout and locations.

top


Wheel Bearing Temperature Impact

Demonstrates the effect of the wheel bearing heating and cooling. As the bearing heats up, the car resistance will decrease. Similarly as the bearing cools, the resistance will increase. This activity also demonstrates the impact of a hotbox (wheel bearing overheating). There are sound and visual effects also incorporated into the OR features.

Demonstration Activity - Wheel Bearing (Version 1b - updated Jan 2020)

Route Required: Coals to Newcastle test route

Rolling Stock Required: Hall Class Locomotive, Mark 1 Passenger Coaches.

OR Configuration: The only parameter that need to be set in OR is the BearingHotboxFX effect which adds smoke to the hotbox, and add Hotbox sounds as desired.

Reference Information: Wheel Bearing Temperature, Impact of Wheel Bearing Temperature Rise on Resistance.

top


Refill from Water Trough or Pan

Demonstrates the ability of a locomotive to refill from a water trough or track pan.

Demonstration Activity - Water Trough Filling (Version 1b - updated Jan 2020 - Consist changes)

Route Required: Coals to Newcastle test route

Rolling Stock Required: Hall Class Locomotive, Mark 1 Passenger Coaches.

OR Configuration: This feature operates in OR with default settings, or alternatively the user can customise the feature to their locomotive by using the parametrs described on here, Water Trough Configuration.

top


Advanced Coupler Operation

Demonstrates operation of Advanced Couplers in Open Rails (introduces slack to train operation and animated couplers).
Note: There are some additional tasks described in a readme file in the Activity folder that can also be undertaken to see the difference in starting a train with slack in the couplers, compared to rigid couplers.

Demonstration Activity - Advanced Couplers (Version 2 - updated Mar 2020)

Route Required: Coals to Newcastle test route

Rolling Stock Required: Norfolk Southern Test Set.

OR Configuration: This feature requires the configuration of coupler parameters in the ENG or WAG files, by using the parametrs described here, Couplers.

top


Refueling Locomotive and Load/Unload Coal Wagons

Demonstrates operation of loading/unloading coal wagons, as well as refueling a steam locomotive tender with water and coal.

Original activity by Peter Newell (Version 1.2 - updated Sept 2019)

Route Required: Coals to Newcastle test route

Rolling Stock Required: H6a Consolidation, Animated wagons.

OR Configuration: This feature requires the configuration of various parameters in the ENG or WAG files, by using the parametrs described here, Animation.

top


Visual Effects for Wagons

Demonstrates operation of visual effects for wagons.

Original activity by Peter Newell (Version 1.0a - updated Dec 2019 - Consist Changes)

Route Required: Coals to Newcastle test route

Rolling Stock Required: BR "B1" Class Locomotive, Mark 1 Passenger Coaches.

OR Configuration: This feature requires the configuration of various parameters in the ENG or WAG files, by using the parametrs described here, Visual Effects.

top


Lighting Effects

Demonstrates operation of lighting effects.

Original activity by Peter Newell (Version 2.0 - updated Sept 2019)

Route Required: Coals to Newcastle test route

Rolling Stock Required: Atlantic locomotive test rolling stock, 4 wheel freight test rolling stock.

OR Configuration: This feature requires the configuration of various parameters in the ENG or WAG files, by using the parameters described here, Lighting Effects.

top


Braking - British Rail Brake Controller

Demonstrates operation of the British Rail (BR) Brake Controller fitted to BR steam locomotives. Note: When running this activity make sure that the "Simple Control/Physics" option is not ticked in the Simulation TAB of the Options Menu.

Original activity by Peter Newell & Darwin Smith (Version 1.0 - updated Jan 2020)

Route Required: Coals to Newcastle test route

Rolling Stock Required: BR "Duke of Gloucester" (71000) Class Locomotive, Mark 1 Passenger Coaches.

OR Configuration: This feature requires the configuration of various parameters in the ENG or WAG files, by using the parameters described here, Vacuum Brakes.

top


Braking - London North Eastern Railway (LNER) Controller

Demonstrates operation of the London North Eastern Railway (LNER) Controller fitted to LNER steam locomotives. Note: When running this activity make sure that the "Simple Control/Physics" option is not ticked in the Simulation TAB of the Options Menu.

Original activity by Peter Newell & Darwin Smith (Version 1.0 - updated Jan 2020)

Route Required: Coals to Newcastle test route

Rolling Stock Required: LNER V2 Locomotive, Mark 1 Passenger Coaches.

OR Configuration: This feature requires the configuration of various parameters in the ENG or WAG files, by using the parameters described here, Vacuum Brakes.

top


Braking - Great Western Railway (GWR) Controller

Demonstrates operation of the Great Western Railway (GWR) Controller fitted to GWR steam locomotives. Note: When running this activity make sure that the "Simple Control/Physics" option is not ticked in the Simulation TAB of the Options Menu.

Original activity by Peter Newell & Darwin Smith (Version 1.0 - updated Jan 2020)

Route Required: Coals to Newcastle test route

Rolling Stock Required: Modified Hall Locomotive, Mark 1 Passenger Coaches.

OR Configuration: This feature requires the configuration of various parameters in the ENG or WAG files, by using the parameters described here, Vacuum Brakes.

top


Steam Heating Demonstration

Demonstrates operation of steam heating in wagons.

Original activity by Peter Newell & Darwin Smith (Version 1.0 - May 2020)

Route Required: Coals to Newcastle test route

Rolling Stock Required: BR "V2" Class Locomotive, British Railways Class D16/2 (#10203), British Railways Class 20, Mark 1 Passenger Coaches, Heated Banana Van, Steam Heating Boiler Van.

OR Configuration: This feature requires the configuration of various parameters in the ENG or WAG files, by using the parameters described here, Steam Heating.

top


Manual Braking Demonstration - No Brakes

Demonstrates braking where no brakes have been fitted to the train. This scenario is demonstrated in a mini route based upon the Rocket's performance in the Rainhill Trials. The mini-route can be run as a stand alone route, and has all the components necessary to run a number of activities.

OR Configuration: This feature requires the configuration of various parameters in the ENG or WAG files, by using the parameters described here, Manual Braking - No Brakes.

top


Manual Braking Demonstration - Brakemen and Locomotive Steam Brake

Demonstrates braking where brakemen are used to control individual cars, and the steam locomotive is fitted with an independent steam brake. This scenario is demonstrated in a mini route based upon the performance of a logging steam railway with a Climax Class A locomotive. The mini-route can be run as a stand alone route, and has all the components necessary to run a number of activities.

OR Configuration: This feature requires the configuration of various parameters in the ENG or WAG files, by using the parameters described here, Manual Braking Systems.

top


Manual Braking Demonstration - Mixed - Vacuum, Steam and Manual

Demonstrates controlling a mixed braking train which has manual, steam and vacuum braking.

Route Required: Coals to Newcastle test route

Rolling Stock Required: BR "B1" Class Locomotive, Manual Braking Stock.

OR Configuration: This feature requires the configuration of various parameters in the ENG or WAG files, by using the parameters described here, Manual Braking Systems.

top


Derailment Testing Scenarios

Demonstrates a number of derailment scenarios, and solutions by remarshalling the train. Includes a mini route test track.

Route Required: Included in above pack.

Rolling Stock Required: Included in above pack.

OR Configuration: This feature requires the configuration of various parameters in the ENG or WAG files, by using the parameters described here, Derailment Coefficient.

top