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Coasting

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Coasting
Posted by Harley-Davidson on Wednesday, July 14, 2010 9:55 AM

In model railroading, what means "coasting"? Thanks.

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Posted by simon1966 on Wednesday, July 14, 2010 11:09 AM

Can you put it into some sort of context?

Are you perhaps referring to the momentum effects that can be programmed into DCC decoders and are available on some DC throttles that imitate a "coasting" effect as the locomotive slows to a stop?

Simon Modelling CB&Q and Wabash See my slowly evolving layout on my picturetrail site http://www.picturetrail.com/simontrains and our videos at http://www.youtube.com/user/MrCrispybake?feature=mhum

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Posted by Harley-Davidson on Wednesday, July 14, 2010 12:18 PM

In an ESU Loksound instructions for a particular sound, I read: "...Now open the regulator fully and wait for the chuff sound to reach full power and return regulator to zero, we are now coasting no chuffs...". Thanks, H-D

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Posted by Magnum019 on Wednesday, July 14, 2010 12:50 PM

 There is Two ways that I know of and use:

 1.  DCC programmed to Coast for a more Realistic Effect or Momentum.  For example; power at 50%; you pull your throttle to 0 % and it may take a few feet to stop.

 2.  A Motor that will still Coast even if you shut off the power or go over a Bad spot (maybe only a couple feet though)

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Posted by MisterBeasley on Wednesday, July 14, 2010 1:07 PM

Harley-Davidson
"...Now open the regulator fully and wait for the chuff sound to reach full power and return regulator to zero, we are now coasting no chuffs...".

This sounds like a translation of a German manual by someone who is not completely fluent in English.  Without knowing the full context, I'd guess that they are describing a technique for adjusting the engine sound manually to shut off the chuffing while "coasting" downhill.

It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse. 

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Posted by Hamltnblue on Wednesday, July 14, 2010 2:12 PM

My Mth Steamers chuff quiets down when slowing, especially if the throttle is quickly lowered.

Springfield PA

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Posted by Graffen on Wednesday, July 14, 2010 4:25 PM

MisterBeasley

Harley-Davidson
"...Now open the regulator fully and wait for the chuff sound to reach full power and return regulator to zero, we are now coasting no chuffs...".

This sounds like a translation of a German manual by someone who is not completely fluent in English.  Without knowing the full context, I'd guess that they are describing a technique for adjusting the engine sound manually to shut off the chuffing while "coasting" downhill.

I can´t see how it can be any doubt what the instructions is meant to describe. Okay that it is written in full scale terms (regulator = throttle and coasting as in rolling without power), so I don´t see why you should guess what it describes.

All full size steamers run "silent" when coasting with no or little power on, and that is what they mean. Okay it is surely taken out of context as there should be at least some mentioning of momentum (CV4) as well, as it can´t be any coasting without it.

Swedish Custom painter and model maker. My Website:

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Posted by tomikawaTT on Wednesday, July 14, 2010 5:27 PM

Harley-Davidson

In an ESU Loksound instructions for a particular sound, I read: "...Now open the regulator fully and wait for the chuff sound to reach full power and return regulator to zero, we are now coasting no chuffs...". Thanks, H-D

Howdy, Harley,

The description is what the full-scale lokfuhrer would experience operating a full-scale steam locomotive.  Having reached the desired speed on (most usually) a level or slight downgrade, the throttle valve is closed and the train rolls along on momentum, using the energy of its forward motion.  On a downgrade, this might be enough to maintain speed.  On a level, the train will very gradually slow and finally stop.  To control exactly where it will stop, brakes will have to be applied.

In the model, handling the speed control like a full-scale throttle causes the sounds of the prototype - the loud exhaust stops when the controller is returned to zero.  In the electronic guts of the DCC system a charged capacitor works through the rest of the circuitry to supply power to the locomotive wheels at a slowly diminishing voltage or narrowing square wave.  If the speed control remains OFF, the train will finally coast to a stop - rather like your rubber-wheeler when you take your foot off the gas but don't apply brakes.  Again, controlling the stop location will require the use of brakes.

A couple of my analog DC MRC packs have momentum and brake switches, which work the same way (but without sound.)

Chuck (Modeling Central Japan in September, 1964)

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Posted by Harley-Davidson on Thursday, July 15, 2010 1:22 PM

IOP. Thanks everybody. I see that steamers must low or shut down the chuffs when we slow down the control, that only appears in the last wheels turns, or if we regain control. Thanks.

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