DigitalTrainModel (DTM) is a provider of add-ons for RailWorks, featuring the craftsmanship of César "Mannu" Pach. Although César lives in Buenos Aires, Argentina, he is a big fan of US railroading and he's put together an outstanding set of Amtrak Superliner cars. These passenger cars are primarily of the Superliner I design, which were built by Pullman-Standard and delivered to Amtrak between 1978 and 1981. The set includes a Baggage Coach, Coach, Dining car, Sightseer Lounge, Sleeper and even a Superliner II Transition Sleeper. The models are highly detailed and meticulously painted. Each car includes an interior passenger view, unique audio effects, and scripted brake-status lights. Liveries include Phase III “tri-stripe” and Phase IVb paint schemes.

G-TraX Simulations LLC, under the direction of Rick Grout, has provided the motive power: the GE Transportation P42DC. The P42DC is the most ubiquitous of Amtrak's passenger locomotives. A total of 207 were delivered between 1992 and 2001. GE also built another 21 for VIA Rail of Canada. The P42DC is part of GE’s Genesis series, which also includes the P40DC and the P32AC-DM.

The P42DC is notable for its streamlined, low-profile design, making it more fuel efficient than its predecessors and enabling it to run on all Amtrak routes without clearance issues. In order to improve maintainability, Amtrak in recent years has installed bolt-on fiberglass nose covers.

Genesis locomotives can provide head-end power (HEP) of up to 800kW to consists. A separate alternator driven by the prime mover supplies 480 volt, 3-phase power. When running in HEP mode, the engine rpm is limited to 900 which results in a net power of 3,875Hp (2,890kW).

The P42DC model includes a custom 360° cab with numerous, extensively scripted operating and cab-environment controls. Features include flashing crossing (ditch) lights, horn sequencer, combined power/dynamic brake handle, as well as a pair of information displays with digital/analog speedometer and other animated indicators. The audio package includes simulations of a P42DC engine-generator, its bell and its distinctive Nathan K5LA horn. Liveries include the present-day Phase V "blue wave" scheme, dynamically numbered 1 to 206*, and a special 40th anniversary Phase III "tri-stripe" paint scheme, numbered 145.

Another version of the P42DC, painted in the colors of a certain North American passenger railroad, (emphasis on "North") is also included. This locomotive will be re-released with its full complement of logos and branding as soon as licensing issues are resolved. Steam users will receive the update automatically.

* What about number 207? Unfortunately locomotive 207 was damaged by fire in 2010. Number 207 and other units known to be out of service, either temporarily or permanently, are not reflected in the dynamic numbering list. Units that have been repainted by Amtrak in heritage livery are also not included in the list. As previously mentioned, one of the heritage units, Amtrak 145, is included in the Genesis Pack as a standalone locomotive.

Prototype Specifications

	P42DC
	Builder	GE Transportation
	Dimensions	69'-0" (21.03 m) x 10'-0" (3.05 m) x 14'-4" (4.37 m) high
	Wheel diameter	40 in (1,016 mm)
	Locomotive weight	268,240 lb (121.7 tonne)
	Fuel capacity	2,200 US gal (8,300 l; 1,830 imp gal)
	Rated Power	4,250 hp (3,170 kW); HEP mode: 3,875 hp (2,890 kW)
	Tractive Effort	88,570 lb (394 kN) starting, 60,000 lb (267 kN) continuous
	Prime mover	GE 7FDL16
	Engine type	45° V16, four stroke cycle, turbocharged, with EFI
	Maximum speed	110 mph (177 km/h)
	Motors	4 - GE752AH DC motors, axle suspended
	Head End Power	1 - GTA33 alternator, 800 kW, 480 V, 3 phase, 60 Hz
	Air Brakes	26L Integrated Electronic Air Brake Control
	Radiator Fan	1 - GYA30
	Equipment Blowers	2 - GDY76
	Alternator	1 - GMG195
	Alternator Blower	1 - GDY74
	Dynamic Brake Blowers	2 - GDY72
	Air Compressor	1 - WABCO 3CDCLA
	Superliners
	Builder	Pullman-Standard (Superliner II: Bombardier Transportation)
	Dimensions	85'-0" (25.91 m) x 10'-2" (3.10 m) x 16'-2" (4.93 m) high
	Weight	148,000 lb (67.1 tonne)
	Entry	Step
	Maximum speed	100 mph (160 km/h)

Cab Controls

Functions of operable cab controls are as illustrated below.

1.	Combined Power Handle ( A - D keys )	12.	Crossing Lights ( cab )
	Throttle and dynamic brake	13.	Alerter Reset (yellow button – Q key )
2.	Reverser ( W - S keys )	14.	Horn Sequencer ( C key )
3.	Train Brake ( ; - ‘ keys )		Plays long-long-short-long for crossings
4.	Locomotive Brake ( [ - ] keys )	15.	Main control display ( see below )
5.	Horn (light blue buttons – Space key )	16.	Loco Information display ( see below )
6.	Bell (black button – B key )	17.	Aspect Display Unit ( see below )
7.	Sander (gray button, behind horn – X key )	18.	Sun Shades ( use U key to reset )
8.	Headlights ( H key )	19.	Task Light ( typical for 4 – cab )
9.	Wipers ( V key )	20.	Dome Light ( in rear of cab – cab )
10.	Emergency Stop ( Backspace key )	21.	Windows ( separate left and right – cab )
11.	Emergency Stop/Engine Shutoff ( cab )	22.	Road Number ( dynamic )

Items marked ( cab ) are available in Cab View only.

Control and Information Displays

The two displays have a number of dynamically updated parameters. All other parameters are static.

1.	Analog Speedometer	6.	Track Speed Limit
2.	Digital Speedometer		Flashing when exceeded. Configured routes
3.	Equalizing Reservoir Pressure		only; otherwise default value of 100 mph
4.	Brake Line Pressure	7.	Alerter Visual Alarm ( flashing )
5.	Amperes	8.	Combined Power Handle Position
	Blue bar to right ( normal load ); red bar	9.	Reverse Lever Position
	to left ( dynamic brake )	10.	Road Number

Aspect Display Unit

The Aspect Display Unit (ADU) is active when the train is operated on routes equipped with Cab Signal functionality. As of this release, only the Northeast Corridor route is so equipped. Legacy routes may be upgraded and new routes may be equipped with this functionality, subject to the discretion of the individual route developers. This ADU is used in the G-TraX P42DC:

Below is a table based on NORAC rules. Use it to interpret the ADU displays for position-color signals, such as the ones used on the NEC, and standard color-light signals.

It is important to note that the ADU will only function on routes that have been specifically equipped with cab-signal functionality. On all other routes the ADU will remain unlit.

Special Controls

Crossing Lights

When you press either of the light blue horn buttons or the Space key, the horn sounds. The two crossing lights on the front of the locomotive, also known as ditch lights, flash alternately for a set period of time and then return to their previous on or off state.

The crossing lights are continuously lit whenever the headlight switch is in the “Headlight 1” position. Sounding the horn will initiate the flashing action regardless of the headlight-switch position.

Crossing lights can also be actuated by a switch on the control panel (see screen shot of cab). Using the switch, the crossing lights will flash continuously and then reset after 120 seconds.

Horn Sequencer

The horn sequencer is operated by the foot switch at the engineer’s position. Operating the horn sequencer in Cab View, or pressing the C key, initiates the long-long-short-long horn sequence required at grade crossings. It also causes the crossing lights on the front of the locomotive to flash alternately and the bell to ring repeatedly. The flashing and ringing continues for a set period of time after which the bell stops ringing and the crossing lights return to their previous on or off state.

Alerter

Actions of the engineer are monitored by an alerter system, sometimes called a vigilance system.

Within any 90-second time frame, the engineer must operate or adjust any of the following controls: combined power handle, train brake, locomotive brake, horn, or horn sequencer. If the engineer fails to do so, a visual alarm in the form of a flashing indicator appears on the main control display. From this point on, the alerter can only be reset by pressing the Alerter Reset button (or Q key). If after 12 more seconds the engineer has failed to reset the alerter, an audible alarm sounds. After an additional 12 seconds, the emergency brake is applied.

The alerter system is disabled at speeds of less than 20 mph.

The alerter system is not the same as an Automatic Warning System (AWS), although as with an AWS it uses the Q key to reset the alarm timer. Therefore, a visual AWS indicator does not appear on the graphic driving interface.

Brake Status Lights

Beside the entry door of each Superliner railcar is a pair of brake status lights. These allow the front-end crew to look back and verify that the brakes of each car are functioning properly. When the train brake is released, the lights go from red to green.

Credits

• Locomotives: Rick Grout
• Superliners: César Pach
• Passengers: Derek Siddle
• LUA Scripts: Rick Grout, Ricardo Rivera, RSC
• Research and testing: Timm Schulze, RSC Beta team
• P42DC generator, bell and horn sounds: www.dieselairhorns.com, used by permission
• Certain cab-detail textures were made from photos provided courtesy of Steven McKay

Release Date

The Genesis Pack is now available on Steam.

How to Order

The Genesis Pack is available only on Steam. Here's a link to the Genesis Pack's Steam Store page.

Known Issues

• Currently, the in-cab signals will only work on the Northeast Corridor route. That route uses signals with new scripting. The P42DC, AEM-7 and Acela locomotives have in-cab signal displays that are designed to work in concert with the new signal scripts. It's likely that other routes will be developed, or upgraded in the case of existing routes, to take advantage of signal-to-cab communication.
• Use the mouse to adjust the windshield shades. Use the U key only to quickly reset the animation.
• The horn sequencer initiates the crossing flashers and also rings the bell continuously. You can manually turn off the bell if you want. The horn button also initiates the crossing flashers but doesn't ring the bell. Tell us what you think about this.
• Some of the controls in cab view are touchy when it comes to operating them with the mouse. For example you may have difficulty finding the "sweet spot" where the mouse will find some of the smaller switches, or even the main throttle which has 18 discrete, but small notches. After a while you should get the hang of it.
• Due to rounding, the digital speedometers will sometimes display a different number than the HUD, but the error should only be 0.1 mph.
• Raildriver software currently does not fully support the G-TraX P42DC. This is also the case for several other recent, complex locomotives. So far, nobody seems to understand why this is, including the technical support people at PI Engineering (who in fact have been very supportive). Various Raildriver enthusiasts are continually conducting experiments with the Raildriver software. If and when Raildriver compatibility is achieved, it will be probably be announced on a technically oriented forum such as UKTtainsim, and certainly here.
• After saving a scenario and then continuing it, the locomotive may go into emergency braking mode and come to a complete stop. This will require the brake pressure to be re-built before the locomotive will run again.

Updates

	Current update: January 10, 2012.
	Revised the scenario "Ridin' the Chief." Mostly, deleted or rerouted conflicting AI consists. Revised locomotive LUA script to activate Superliner brake status lights in consists with multiple P42DCs.
	Previous update: November 2, 2011.
	Added projected headlights and crossing/ditch lights. Added switchable cab interior lights. Added windshield rain effects. Minor texture mods. Minor audio mods, mainly increased volume level.

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