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.
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Index
Wheel Bearing Temperature Impact
Refill from Water Trough or Pan
Refueling Locomotive and Load/Unload Coal Wagons
Braking - British Rail Brake Controller
Braking - London North Eastern Railway (LNER) Controller
Braking - Great Western Railway (GWR) Controller
Manual Braking Demonstration - No Brakes
Manual Braking Demonstration - Brakemen and Locomotive Steam Brake
Manual Braking Demonstration - Mixed - Vacuum, Steam and Manual
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
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.
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.
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.
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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