Code: Select all
Gauge Speed Axle wt Electrification
B A A N
S B B E
N R C 3
D
E
Label Comments (FRSet definitions: t kmh y )
SAAN "Very light", unelectrified (starter track) ( 13 70 1840 )
SABN "Light", max speed A, unelectrified ( 15 100 1840 )
SABE "Light", max speed A, catenary ( 15 100 1840 )
SAB3 "Light", max speed A, 3rd rail ( 15 100 1840 )
SBBN "Light", max speed B, unelectrified
SBBE "Light", max speed B, catenary
SBB3 "Light", max speed B, 3rd rail
SACN "Medium", max speed A, unelectrified ( 18 130 1890 )
SACE "Medium", max speed A, catenary ( 18 130 1890 )
SAC3 "Medium", max speed A, 3rd rail ( 18 130 1890 )
SBCN "Medium", max speed B, unelectrified
SBCE "Medium", max speed B, catenary
SBC3 "Medium", max speed B, 3rd rail
SADN "Heavy", max speed A, unelectrified
SADE "Heavy", max speed A, catenary
SAD3 "Heavy", max speed A, 3rd rail
SBDN "Heavy", max speed B, unelectrified
SBDE "Heavy", max speed B, catenary
SBD3 "Heavy", max speed B, 3rd rail
SAEN "Very heavy", max speed A, unelectrified ( 22.5 220 1935 )
SAEE "Very heavy", max speed A, catenary ( 22.5 220 1935 )
SBEN "Very heavy", max speed B, unelectrified
SBEE "Very heavy", max speed B, catenary ( 22.5 360 1975 )
NABN NG, "light", max speed A, unelectrified ( 15 80 1881 )
NABE NG, "light", max speed A, catenary ( 15 80 1881 )
NAB3 NG, "light", max speed A, 3rd rail ( 15 80 1881 )
NRBN NG, "light", rackrail, unelectrified ( 15 15 1881 )
NRBE NG, "light", rackrail, catenary ( 15 15 1881 )
NBBN NG, "light", max speed B, unelectrified ( 15 130 1975 )
NBBE NG, "light", max speed B, electrified
These might be possible railtypes, together with a description that could be a guideline for trainset creators' to define their track's limits. The numbers at the right are those I have in mind for my French Set.
My thought is that, to ensure the maximum compatibility without pigeonholing vehicle sets' creators, it would be best if this scheme only had loose definitions of max axle weight and speed, rather than defining specific values for weight and speed all the sets will have to comply with. Depending on the variety of rolling stock historically available across the countries, single trainsets might need their own limits in terms of axle weights, speeds, etc. as well as multiple railtypes of the same axle weight supporting different max speeds. "Common sense" should be what makes the sets ultimately compatible.
For instance, what should the max axle weight of a "light" engine be? IMO it should be around 15 or 16t. Perhaps the CETS will define it to 16t, whike the French set will define it to 15t; as long as all the trainsets have these thresholds at comparable levels, there should be no major compatiblity problems.
Same goes with max speed. For instance, some sets might need two types of "light" tracks, a slow and a fast one, while other sets could do with just one with the max speed set in between.
As for compatibility in case someone plays with a trainset and a trackset that support different tracktype labels, we could code the engines so that they're always compatible "upwards", i.e. to heavier tracks of the same gauge and electrification type. So, a "medium" catenary-powered engine should be compatible with SACE, SBCE, SADE, SBDE, SAEE, SBEE. Ideally, if a trainset defines an engine as "SADE" railtype, and it's used in conjunction with a trackset that doesn't support "SADE", then that engine should automatically be compatible and powered on the "SAEE" tracktype (if defined).
But perhaps this is over the top?
What do you guys think?
