All Aboard!
Tsunami2 Diesel User’s Guide 6
Ring the Bell
Turn on F1 to ring the bell. Press F1 again to stop ringing the bell. The bell is generally rung
before moving the locomotive, when approaching crossings, to alert people or equipment near
the track, and as a warning signal when necessary.
Blow the Airhorn
Signaling can make your operating sessions more fun! Engineers signal to notify passengers,
crew, and other trains of common locomotive movements, such as stopping, moving forward,
backing up, and approaching grade crossings. Tsunami2 provides three functions for signaling.
Use F2, F3, and F9 to signal prototypically while you operate, as described below.
Press and release F2 to blow the “long” airhorn. Contrary to most function keys, the duration of
the airhorn blast is determined by how long you press F2. In other words, the airhorn blast will
start when you press F2, and stop when you release F2. Press F3 to issue the single “toot” of
the “short” airhorn. The short airhorn will be the same length every time you press F3, unlike the
long airhorn.
Note: Function key F2 on the NCE Power Cab command station is on/off or “latching”, i.e.,
pressing F2 to turn on the function will start the airhorn blast, and pressing F2 again to turn off
the function will stop the airhorn blast. To issue momentary airhorn blasts with the NCE Power
Cab, press and release the “Horn/Whistle” button instead of using F2.
To issue the long-long-short-long grade-crossing signal automatically, turn on F9 as your
locomotive approaches a grade crossing. Refer to Table B to view some more common signals.
Table B. Whistle Signals Long = –
Short = ●
Signal Description
– – ●– Approaching a grade crossing: hold final blast until crossing is occupied
●Applying brakes
– – Releasing brakes, proceeding forward
●●●When moving, stop; when stopped, back up
●●●●Request signal from trainman
– ●●●Signal flagman to protect rear
– ●Warning signal: use when approaching areas with obstructed views and when
approaching/passing passenger/freight trains
– Approaching stations, junctions, and railroad crossings at grades
Operate the Diesel Prime Mover
To start the diesel engine, simply increase the throttle until the track voltage is such that the
engine cranks over several times and settles into a nice idle. Once the engine has reached idle,
it will change RPMs automatically in response to changes in the locomotive speed. Alternatively,
pressing F5 will ‘start’ the engine and increase the RPMs with subsequent presses. Pressing F6
will cause the sound of the engine shutdown.
Contrary to the way your car works, a diesel engine generates power by turning an electric
generator. The generator delivers electricity to traction motors mounted on the axles, which then
set the locomotive wheels in motion. The traction motors are able to produce ample rotating
power at any speed without needing to shift gears.
