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The various 4-wheeled carriages

Started by jamespetts, August 14, 2009, 05:03:52 PM

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jamespetts

I am in the process of adding comfort and loading time values for the Simutrans-Experimental version of Pak128.Britain. I have completed work on the 'buses and trams, and have started work on the rail vehicles. However, I notice that there are no fewer than four different types of four-wheeled carriages, all of them very similar to each other, introduced in the ten year period between 1866 and 1876. There are the MR 4-wheelers (1866), the GNR 4-wheelers (1870), the LBSCR 4-wheelers (1870) and the MSLR 4-wheelers (1876). They are all identical (apart from the graphics), except that the MSLR 4-wheelers have a lower speed limit of 110kph (the others having a limit of 120kph) and the LBSCR version has a capacity of 24, as opposed to the others, which have 34, is 9t instead of 12t, and has a maintenance and purchase cost of about 1/6th of the other three. The next oldest carriage from 1866 is from 1847, so there is a gap of 19 years, followed by four different (but extremely similar) types of carriage being introduced in the space of ten years. I notice that some of the carriages were made by Kieron Green and others by James Hood.

Might I know - is there a particular rationale for this pattern? On what prototypes were they based? Is there a reason that the later vehicle is identical to the earlier vehicles except for having a lower top speed?  Why is the LBSCR version so out of line with the others in terms of maintenance costs, the difference being out of proportion to the difference in passenger capacity? It would be helpful to know so that I know how to calibrate my comfort and loading time settings. If possible, I should very much like to have both a progression of gradual improvement between the later and earlier vehicles, and some degree of specialisation (some vehicles more suited to shorter trips, with higher capacities and lower loading times, but lower comfort, and others (perhaps the GNR vehicles - known, I have read, to be comfortable for their day) suited for long-distance travel, with a higher comfort rating but lower capacities and longer loading times). I know that old 4-wheeler carriages were, when displaced by 6-wheelers and later bogie coaches, cascaded to suburban work until eventually displaced by dedicated suburban vehicles in the 1920s, which appears to be acknowledged by the retirement date of 1920 being chosen for most of the vehicles.

One thing that I was contemplating was having two pairs of the vehicles: an early and late set of short- and long-distance suitable vehciles, comprising (for the early set) the LBSCR and MR vehicles for the short- and long-distance calibrations respectively (re-timing the LBSCR vehicle to appear in about 1868), with the later pair, the MSLR and GNR to be the second set, each better than its approximately equivalent predecessor in terms of comfort in particular. Perhaps the earlier pair could have the 110kph speed limit, and the latter pair the 120kph speed limit (or perhaps raise both to 120 and 130 respectively, given the speed limits of the locomotives of the day; if this is realistic - thoughts, anyone?).

Does that make sense, or would another pattern of use better suit the prototypes intended to be depicted with this particular set? Incidentally, can anyone tell me whether these vehicles ought have an overcrowded capacity? In other words, were passengers ever allowed to stand in them? Any assistance would be much appreciated.
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The Hood

The MSLR, MR, and GNR 4-wheelers are supposed to be identical, and just represent different livery options for use with different locos (I drew the MR and GNR ones off the MSLR ones IIRC).  Kieron drew the LBSCR ones to match the LBSCR A1 loco, so presumably the lower cost reflects their more suburban nature, but I think these costs should now be more in line with the other 3.  I think they are all supposed to represent fairly generic coaching stock of the day (I don't think there was that much distinction between distances then).  They are all compartment stock, so I'm guessing very little standing room.  Hope that helps...

mjhn

I don't know whether it is intentional, but the LBSCR carriages are advantageous for the smallest trains as they carry passenger in the last carriage rather than mail.