Via Rail - "The Canadian" - Enhancement Pack 1.5

This is a texture and sound upgrade of the "VIA Canadian Pack" you can download here:
https://railworksamerica.com/index.php/download-library/rolling-stock-repaints?view=document&id=391:via-canadian-pack&catid=19:rolling-stock-repaints

I also included a repaint of the California Zephyr F40PH in Via Rail livery with the K3L horn and the Transtronic E-Bell.

Version 1.5 Change(s):

Added multiple HEP options.
Installing the “Amtrak F40PH ‘California Zephyr’ Super-Pack” is not required but recommended. (https://www.trainsimcommunity.com/mods/c1-train-sim-classic/c77-enhancement-packs/i4610-amtrak-f40ph-california-zephyr-super-pack-20)

Engine Performance:
This pack simulates the F40PH-2, which has a power output of 3,200 hp and a HEP capacity of 800 kW.

HEP Implementation:
Train Simulator Classic does not implement HEP capability on diesel locomotives. Coach power demand depends on coach type, season, time of day, and daily weather conditions. For instance, a train consisting of Superliner cars, including dining and sightseer lounge cars, traveling through the southern US in the middle of summer and during the dinner shift, will have a significantly greater HEP demand than a train traveling through the Midwest in autumn, but consisting of only Amfleet cars. So, implementing an accurate/realistic HEP mode for a locomotive is particularly challenging.

Regarding the F40PH-2 (GPA-30a) locomotive, it has the HEP alternator driven by the diesel engine (prime mover). To provide a steady 480 volts of AC power at 60 Hz, the prime mover needs to run at a constant 893 RPM (max speed), regardless of the throttle position. The more power the coaches demand from the HEP alternator, the less power is available for traction. So, to simulate the decrease in performance according to HEP demand, I provided multiple versions of the HEP engine—with and without driver (ND)—identified by the HEP demand in kW: 500 kW, 591 kW, 780 kW and 800 kW.

Please, bear in mind I could not find any power consumption data for the different Via Rail car types. So, I used the power demand estimates for different types of passenger cars found in this webpage: https://www.nwrail.com/HEP_config.html. According to the website, Western Canadian and Via Rail HEP systems allow for two locomotives providing HEP. Given how many coaches The Canadian can have during the summer season, I don’t think the 500-800 kW provided by a single locomotive would be enough.

Car Type Power Consumption:
• Coach Class Car: 20 kW
• Dining Car: 100 kW
• Sleeper Car: 50 kW
• Sleeper Lounge Car: 50 kW
• Baggage Car: 1 kW
• Skyline Dome Car: 50 kW

I based the different HEP demands on what I considered the summer and winter consists of Via Rail’s Canadian. During the summer season The Canadian can have up to 30 cars and in the winter, it can have as much as 12 cars or less:

Via Rail Canadian Summer Consist:

x1 baggage Car: 1 kW
x 3 Coach Class Cars: 60 kW
x 3 Dining Cars: 300 kW
x 5 Skyline Dome Cars: 250 kW
x 18 Sleeper Cars: 900 kW
x 1 Sleeper Lounge Car: 50 kW
Total HEP Demand: 1561 kW (Two locomotives supplying about 780 kW HEP each)

Via Rail Canadian Winter Consist:

x1 baggage Car: 1 kW
x 2 Coach Class Cars: 40 kW
x 1 Dining Car: 100 kW
x 2 Skyline Dome Cars: 100 kW
x 6 Sleeper Cars: 300 kW
x 1 Sleeper Lounge Car: 50 kW
Total HEP Demand: 591 kW

NOTE: If you try to tinker with the power settings in the engine’s simulation file, please bear in mind that according to the “Train Simulator Developer Documentation” (Available here: https://web.archive.org/web/20231217020513/http://tscdevdocs.co.uk/reference-manual/blueprint-editor/diesel-simulation-blueprints/diesel-electric-subsystem.html), engine power values are expressed in kW and tractive effort in kN.

Requirements

Installation Instructions

You need to install these required add-ons FIRST in the following order:

G-TraX 4-Pack Lightweight Passenger Cars: https://railworksamerica.com/index.php/download-library/rolling-stock-repaints?view=document&id=128:g-trax-4-pack-lightweight-passenger-cars&catid=19:rolling-stock-repaints
VIA Canadian Pack: https://railworksamerica.com/index.php/download-library/rolling-stock-repaints?view=document&id=391:via-canadian-pack&catid=19:rolling-stock-repaints
VIA Canadian Pack Texture Update: https://railworksamerica.com/index.php/download-library/rolling-stock-repaints?view=document&id=392:via-canadian-pack-texture-update&catid=19:rolling-stock-repaints
Amtrak F40PH ‘California Zephyr’ Loco Add-On: https://store.steampowered.com/app/208296/Train_Simulator_Amtrak_F40PH_California_Zephyr_Loco_AddOn/

After installing all the required add-ons, now you can install this enhancement pack:

Go to your Rail Works directory.
(Typically: C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\RailWorks).
Drop the "Assets" folder in the directory (Overwrite the previous version).
Go to the "AmtrakPhaseIII" folder (Assets\RSC\F40PHPack01\RailVehicles\Diesel\F40PH\AmtrakPhaseIII) and copy the "f40ph.GeoPcDx" file.
Paste the "f40ph.GeoPcDx" file inside the "ViaRail" folder.
If you haven’t done it already, make sure that you set "Ambient Occlusion" to, at least, the "Low" setting (Preferably "Dynamic").