Railworks America

Should be nice power to use for switching in the route!

These units, how do engineers run them 'backwards', i.e. cab first? Older SW switchers had only a stool w/o backrest for the engineer, so I assume he turned around (with his back against the window) and had to look over his left shoulder a lot of the time?

Or were there proper dual control stands in MP units that did a lot more of mainline running?

Switcher units had back rests, even old school 30s ones. The newer stuff like in SW1500s thru to MP series is much better, this also goes without mentioning the replacement of chairs that happens at railroad discretion.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/mp1kiix5n3j4o ... 1.jpg?dl=0

That back rest seems like a slide in construction, the seat itself is like a stool.

Still, how does the engineer run backwards for lengths of time when there in only one forwards facing control stand?

They're not particularly directional, and you really don't look at controls that much when running glass out. Turning the seat perpendicular to the controls and looking left really isn't that much to ask.

Very nice! Glad to see this addition to the Caltrain route. As for running nose to nose or cab to cab... doesn't make any difference in operation other than how the engineer sits. Anthony is correct... most engineers run by the seat of their pants first... gauges second. It really comes down to crew preference. I worked with one engineer while on the work train, and he did not like running nose to nose... as the cab is that much more vulnerable in a grade crossing accident. One night, we had to wye one of the MP15's at Redwood City so he could get cab to cab. From a conductor's standpoint, when running nose to nose, the engineer is on the hot rail side of the double track (left side), making passing lantern signals a little more precarious. Also, the angle ** for the trainline hose was on that left side. We just tried to avoid being that close to an active main track.

The whole idea of running glass out, nose in, was so that the hog could see lantern/hand signs down a switching lead. I never understood why roads who use them primarily in switching service would run them nose out from the lead. It's a huge pet peeve of mine to be on the radio the whole time
Derailing topics here though.

BNSFdude wrote:...It's a huge pet peeve of mine to be on the radio the whole time...

Totally agree! For us, our managers preferred us not to be working on or next to the active second main. Besides, the way the yards were laid out, all the switches had to be thrown from the right hand side of the track. It was just faster for us to have the engines cab to cab. But that was our situation. I've watched conductors on the front steps of lite single engine... in plain sight of the engineer... using the radio to control the move. And the thing is... it's just as fast if not faster to use hand signals when switching. And you're off the radio. And you're not being recorded. Can you say plausible deniability? OK... I've done my share to hijack this thread. Now back to our regularly scheduled DLC.

Caltrain is whats keeping this game alive for us across the pond lol. It appears to be half decent and now we basically have the full roster for the route.

EngineerJohn wrote:Caltrain is whats keeping this game alive for us across the pond lol. It appears to be half decent and now we basically have the full roster for the route.

The roster is almost complete. There are the 2 ex-SP GP9's (3833 & 3842) that I believe are now off the property, along with the 2 ex-SP cabooses. Not sure if those are still around or not. Regardless, it would be nice to have these added, along with extending the route down to Gilroy. But I agree... the Caltrain route is the best USA TSW route so far... both in way of route and equipment. Although I am taking a strong liking to the newest CN route.

Overall I have good impressions of this addon, DTG seems to be doing well with the Caltrain addons, hopefully a sign of things to come with future North American DLC (hint, Oakville sub additional DLC’s)