Why does power output change w/constant throttle?? Annoying!

[LogicEngine]

Since the first time I played this game, I've always noticed that basically every engine will change the amount of power output (Amps) it is generating while the throttle stays constant. Say you're starting from a stop, throw the throttle to 100%. It will 'jump' up to say 2000Amps (depends on engine) as it starts moving. IMMEDIATELY after you start moving the Amp output starts to drop off DRAMATICALLY, losing ~50% of the initial "jump" before 10mph. This is all occurring with the throttle steady at 100%. After a minute or so of constant acceleration, the Amp output has dropped to ~300, and the speed is barely climbing any more. The in-cab views of the Ammeters show that they go to 2000 just fine, but there is NO way to get it close to that once you are already in motion.

Then, you'll be cruising along w/ the throttle constant, doing constant speed, and the POSTED SPEED LIMIT will change, and suddenly, the engine will "jump" up a bunch of Amps of power (thousands) and get a boost of speed before rapidly dropping Amps off again back to where it was before, WITHOUT CHANGING THE THROTTLE OR TOUCHING ANYTHING.

Can I pop open a game file and edit it so that the throttle and the power output are FIXED to one another? Or is this a dummy-proof helping tool built in to the game to PREVENT you from running at 100% amps all the time?

[BNSFdude]

Well part of it is where the MTE (max tractive effort) drops off from around 10-13 MPH. The CTE (continuous tractive effort) is usually reached at 11 MPH (on many GE locomotives). Hence the drop off of power draw from the motors.

[mikeg1250]

This is actually accurate. Amperage should decrease with acceleration. Since an electric motor (i.e. traction motors on a locomotive) develops its most torque near its stalling point, it would draw the most amps. As a train starts to move, the speed of the electric motor increases, resistance decreases (potential energy becomes kinetic energy) and thus the amps begin to drop. If you do not touch the throttle, your amperage will eventually level out when the train reaches max speed. The only time you will see and increase in amperage without touching the throttle would be if the drag increases (i.e. you make a brake application or the grade increases).

Diesel locomotives actually have a rating for max time in certain amperage ranges. For example, you may be able to start at 100 car train but you cannot accelerate past 5 mph and are pulling 1100 amps. Depending on the locomotive, it may only be rated to operate in that max range for 15 minutes. So, if you are climbing a short grade or doing a little switching and will only be in the red (max amps) for a short amount of time you should be okay. Otherwise, even though you are able to start and move the train, since you are maxing out the amps you will not be able to continue to operate like this without burning up the traction motors (amps = heat). However, this problem only exists with DC traction motors; AC motors can run for hours at max amps.