Nuclear Train Engine w/ JKnuckle
Straight from the workshop of JodianGaming comes the next level of pure rail power. This engine, which we've classified as the "Eclypse", boasts a compact yet very powerful nuclear core outputting over 3000 SWatts of electrical awesomeness. You'd think with such a heavy engine it would be sluggish, but let me tell you this. With it's high-speed gear mode and it's anti-slip wheel control the engine is capable of speeding at upwards of 85 meters per second (306kph / 190mph) along the rails. Better have your cargo strapped down because it'll go flying if you hit a corner at that speed... ;)
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HOW TO START
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The main engine itself runs off a bank of 7 medium batteries, with the reactor running off a separate circuit powered by 4 small batteries. As such you don't actually need the "reactor" to be running for the train to actually move. That said, the batteries will run down fairly quickly if you don't keep them charged up, so it's always a good idea to fire up the reactor once you spawn the train in. The reactor batteries are also supplemented by a rooftop solar panel, and there is a power port on the right side of the engine should you completely run out of power in the reactor batteries and need a "boost" to get it started.
When you first step onto the train engine you're going to want to enter the cab and find the generator control center (light green in color). The reactor has been setup virtually dummy-proof, so all you need to do to get it going is to turn it on with the toggle button. Keep your eyes on the rod temp and boiler temp indicators. This will give you a clue as to where the reactor is in it's startup routine. Once the boiler reaches 100 degrees celsius you'll start to see hear the turbines kick in and the generator output will climb. When the generator output levels off at little over 3000 SWatts the reactor is fully online and you're ready to go. You can then sit at the conductor's console, switch the train to "Master" mode, and get rolling... Or you can leave it in slave mode and connect a "Master" train engine to it. For more on that, read the JKnuckle section below.
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JKNUCKLE CONTROL SYSTEM
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To give more of a simulation feel to my train system, I developed a unique "knuckle" and microcontroller combination that allows all of my JKnuckle train cars and engines to literally "speak" to each other. This system works on a Master/Slave control scheme, where the "Master" vehicle sends out the commands and the "Slave" vehicles obey the commands. It's important to note that you can only have ONE train car/engine set as the "Master" in the train consist, or weird stuff will happen (just like in real life). To prevent such errors all JKnuckle enabled train engines/cars are set to "Slave" mode by default. Only ENGINES will have the option to be switched to "Master", usually at the conductor seat.
This enables their control console, as the console doesn't work in Slave mode. So what does this actually mean for you?
Well, if you have a train with 3 engines, you can use the "Master" engine to control the brakes, throttle, and reverse of the other 2 engines. The "Master" engine will also control the brakes of any JKnuckle train cars you have attached to it. The train knuckles always search for a valid signal along the train consist, so it doesn't matter where you install the "Master" train engine, it should be able to control the entire train consist so long as all cars use the JKnuckle system. You can see if the train is connected properly, and the JKnuckle system is active, by looking for a green light on the actual train knuckle.... Happy conducting!
