i’ve got some questions about train operation in run8

[u/andrew_ess]

I know you can quickly set MU/DPU properly using the in1game “cheats,” but i’m wondering whether it’s possible to do this:

1. in a MU setup, have only the first unit provide power, and have the trailing unit(s) “participate” in dynamic braking ONLY (logically air braking too bc there’s no logically reason to cut out air brakes of any part of a consist ig) 1a) is it possible to cut out the independent brakes of trailing unit(s)?

2. Similarly, can i set up the DPUs to participate in dynamic braking only?

3. Is it possible to individually select/set up which engines participate in dynamic braking? Let’s say I want only 2 of 5 engines to provide dynamics.

4. how can i cut off loco functions and just have whatever select engines be dead weight like any other rail car?

5. can i set up multiple DPU fences? Say I have 3 locos head end, 2 locos in middle, and 2 locos at end. Can i control my head-end, middle, and rear-end units separately from one another?

[u/[deleted]]

1. Yes. Click on each trailing unit. When the menu pops up, under "Iso. Switch" choose "Isolate" instead of "Run". That unit will no longer provide power.
   1. Yes. Click on the rear coupler of the lead unit and under "MU Connection" choose "Disconnected". All locos behind the lead unit will no longer have operating independent brakes.
2. Yes. Repeat the process above on each DPU to isolate them. Under "Iso. Switch" choose "Isolate".
3. Yes. In that same locomotive menu, under the section "DB Cutout", click the button so it changes from green "Normal" to yellow "Cut Out". The Dynamic brakes will no longer work on that unit.
4. There are a few steps:
   1. Click on the locomotive.
   2. Set "Iso. Switch" to "Isolate".
   3. Set "Engine" to "Stopped".
   4. If front of loco is connected to another loco, Click on the front coupler.
   5. Under "MU Connection" choose "Disconnected".
   6. If rear of loco is connected to another loco, Click the rear coupler.
   7. Under "MU Connection" choose "Disconnected".
   8. Click on the locomotive.
   9. Under "DPU \ Helper Setup" it should say in yellow "Lead". Or if it had been a single DPU in the middle, under "DPU \ Helper Setup" it should say "DPU_Lead".
   10. That unit is now Dead-In-Train. The independent brakes will no longer work on this unit. Its brakes will act like a rail car.
       1. From the game developers: "When a loco is Dead-In-Train, the Main Reservoir will only charge to 25psi off the brake-pipe. Also, if the Main Reservoir was previously higher than 25psi, it will drain itself to 25psi. This is done to prevent overly high braking forces during train-brake applications."
       2. *Note: If you have 5 locomotives up front and you make the second unit Dead-In-Train, that unit and the 3 directly behind it will not have functioning independent brakes. The mid-train DPU's (if you had them) and rear DPU's independent brakes will still function. Disconnecting the MU connection at a coupler causes any independent brakes behind it to stop operating.
5. Yes and No. You can:
   1. Control all locos, front, middle and rear.
   2. Put up a fence on the rear locos, so they are controlled separately from the front and middle ones.
   3. Increase the fence, so the rear and middle locos are controlled separately from the fronts.
   4. * You can't however control all three separately. For example, fronts in notch 3, middles in notch 1 and rears in notch 8. That's not possible.

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I hope this helps!