FGC EM A1 (former ORA-PREDAZZO Railroad)

TRACTION AND ELECTRIC BRAKES

The A1 EMU has a rheostatic starter system and two speeds in continuous service,
in this way:

- SERIES: the two groups of motors (two in every trucks are always series
  connected) are connect in series, therefore Vmot = Vline/4 = 750V each motor
  with Vline = 3000V

- PARALLEL: the two groups of motors are connect in parallel, therefore
  Vmot = Vline/2 = 1500V each motor

- ELECTRIC BRAKES: the two groups of motors are connect to the rheostat and
  work as D.C. generators

Rheostat's exclusion, PARALLEL or SERIAL connection and ELECTRIC BRAKES command
are operated through a mechanical switcher (CONTROLLER) with 17 positions. The
controller is operated through a roller chain by the wheel in front of the
manuever bench.

Positions of this wheel are corresponding to these situations:
1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 > SERIAL CONNECTION (in position n.7 the rheostat is
switched off)
8 - 9 - 10 - 11 - 12 > PARALLEL CONNECTION (in position n.12 the rheostat is
switched off)
F1 - F2 - F3 - F4 - F5 > ELECTRIC BRAKES operation

The rotation of the wheel operates the controller through a chain and a shaft.
The controller is placed in a proper high voltage cab, in the middle of the car.
Switchings (rheostat exclusions and motor connections) are operated by a cam
shaft inside the controller.

The reverse command is pneumatic and operated by a lever on the manuever bench.
Compressed air is supplied by a 48V compressor and monitored by a manometer in
front of the cab.

- It has not been possible to insert the 12 traction positions in the FILE
  because of the program's limit, that allows only 8 of them, therefore I have
  attributed the first 4 to the SERIES and from the 5 to the 8 to the PARALLEL
  THIS OPERATION IS DONE BY PRESSIG A AND Z KEYS.

- ELECTRIC BRAKES operation is not simulated  
  

VACUUM BRAKING (HARDY SYSTEM)

A vacuum braking (Hardy system) is fitted on this EMU. A 3000 V vacuum pump
generates vacuum in cylinder and pipes. The cilinder's rod piston operates
brakes levers and there is a vacuum cylinder in every car.

The FILE previews 8 positions of braking + two in emergency. The operation is
executed through the keys ; - : - ù (for Italian keyboard).


INSERTING FGC_A1 FILE IN OTHER ROUTES

In order to insert the file in other routes it is necessary to open the route
file (by ex. montagnina.rw) using WORD PAD or NOTEPAD and replace in the TRAIN
section the existing item FILE=Existing_Train with FILE=Fgc_a1.

CONSIDERATIONS

I have tried to reprocuce all things as real as possible by inserting real
sounds for opening and closing doors, air release, start ad stop of air
compressor, motors in traction and vacuum pump (background sound loop.wav).
Unfortunately there are limits in the program. By example (trying the engine
on the maximum 4.5% slope in FGC line) while both the SERIES that PARALLEL
speeds are realistic enough, the starter, in case of stop, is possible only
in 6 or 7 PARALLEL notch while in the truth it is possible in the 3 of series.


TANKS to Luigi Cartello, Mauro, Marco, Stefano e Paolo as well for indirect
ideas as for the supply of essential instructions (Luigi Cartello).


Sergio Usai - Genova

sergiousai@tin.it

www.ferroviagenovacasella.it
http://digilander.iol.it/gen2000