INSTALLATION  (you have 6 separate locomotives)

MSTS takes the Passenger View (#5 key) from the first car/coach in any consist. In the case of our Class-B, you may want the passenger view of the next, or a subsequent, coach. Also, MSTS has not established a fixed wire height for all electric routes. In order to make the Class-B more versatile we have made some adjustments.

There are six separate xxx.eng files, to allow for three overhead wire heights and a choice for each of Class-B's passenger view or not. In the consist editor, the Class-B's without a passenger view have "NPV" included in their name. 

The file "its_class-b.eng" has the trolley pole and spark set for the MSTS default Tokyo Route, which has a wire height of 5.4 meters, or 16'8".

The file "its_class-b-M.eng" has the trolley pole and spark set for the Mesaba Route, 6.2 meters, or 19'6".

The file "its_class-b-H.eng" has the trolley pole and spark set for the default NEC Route, 7.2 meter, or 22'6".

In addition, there are three .eng files which include a "no" in their names, and these follow the same format as above, but do not have passenger views.

The locomotive will appear in the MSTS Activity Editor or ConBuilder (version 1.5.5) six times, with the route name (i.e. Tokyo, Mesaba, or NEC) after the engine name, and NPV, if there is no passenger view.

To create consists for use in MSTS, use the Consist Editor in the Activity Editor, or use a third party consist editor. Directions for creating a consist are on the Train-Sim website. Each consist would include a locomotive of the wire height you have chosen, so if you only run your consists on the Tokyo route, then all of the consists should include only the loco showing the Tokyo wire height. If you wish to run the loco on more than the Tokyo route, then you should construct consists (locos and/or trains) for those wire heights. In addition, you should construct consists having or not having a passenger view from the locomotive, as you may desire, for each wire height.

OPERATION:
The model includes reasonably accurate controls, but the horsepower has been increased to handle the MSTS terrain and also a prototypical train of 12-18 cars. The maximum speed of the locomotive has been set to 50 mph, as was the prototype. The air whistle sound is original, and from a Chicago Transit Authority elevated coach of this era. The bell sound is quite good, and the bell may be kept in operation (toggled on and off) by using the "B" key, in combination with the "Shift" key. The bell was hidden under the frame of these locomotives.

BRAKES - APPLICATION:
Considerable time has been spent on the brakes, and they have been adjusted to mimic those of the era. There are only four positions for the independent (or train) brakes: Release, Hold (or Lap), Service Application, and Emergency Application. This system is like that found in early steam and traction locomotives, is somewhat earlier than the 6SL brake, and was designed well before the 26L system was invented, so you will find no percentage lap or application. This means that you must apply the service application and keep an eye on the brake pipe needle. As it reduces, the brakes apply. If you leave it on too long, a full service application will result, and the locomotive will stop. So, you should reduce the brake pipe pressure perhaps 10 psi, then move the handle back to Hold, and see the effect on speed. A 10-psi reduction in brake pipe pressure is equivalent to a brake cylinder pressure of 25 psi. We have not provided a brake cylinder pressure gauge. You will soon get the hang of it, and you will be emulating the engineer or motorman of the era. 
The locomotive or engine brakes also work, but have only three positions: Release or Run, Lap or Hold, and Application. This is the typical independent or locomotive brake used in traction, steam, and earlier diesel locomotives.

BRAKES - RELEASE:
These brakes do not provide graduated release. You may apply them in steps, but they will release in one step, just as freight train brakes do today. You may be required to recharge the brake pipe/reservoir after more than one application. You will hear the compressor kick in when the pressure drops below 100 psi in the main air reservoir. There is an engine brake, but obviously this locomotive predates dynamic brakes.

LIGHTS:
At the time represented, the earlier large arc headlight had been replaced with the incandescent shown here. It has been adjusted to provide a rear light in the dim position, and forward in the bright position (with scenery lighting). Marker lights were not used until 1930, hence white flags are depicted, as on the special.

VIEW:
The passenger view (key 5) initially places you in a position to observe the interior of the locomotive, and the right of way behind the locomotive, if it is the last car. You may pan to other views by using the arrow keys. The passenger view is not available if the locomotive, or any other piece of equipment in the consist, placed ahead of this locomotive, has a passenger view. If you wish to disable the passenger view in upstream equipment, or if you wish to disable the passenger view of this locomotive so that you can use the passenger view of a following car, then you will need to use the Consist Editor to chose a locomotive which has no passenger view, or else edit the .eng or .wag files in such equipment, or in this locomotive. Instructions, which you could adapt, are found in each .eng file of each version of this locomotive. Eng and wag files should only be altered in Wordpad, to preserve the Unicode format.