Knuckle Coupler

[MrYeeYee0319]

So with the ET&WNC 2-8-0 Engine having knuckle couplers will we see cars/rolling stock with knuckles in the future?

[Pyrotrainthing]

The devs say we will but I think we'll have to wait a long time for them.

[Kitsune Dawn]

Originally posted by Pyrotrainthing:

The devs say we will but I think we'll have to wait a long time for them.

I wouldn't say a **long** time, but yeah, we're working on it. I can kinda help you understand the problem we're facing, in case you were curious.

Specifically, knuckle couplings on the ET engine, are something called 'split face' or 'transition' couplings. They're a stop gap type of coupler which were used in the US in the transition period between roughly 1890, to around 1918.

Split face couplings allowed link and pin couplers to work with knuckle stock, by allowing a link to slip into the split, and then you could drop a pin down through the hole in the knuckle. (That hole is still present today.)

So here's the problem we face:

We need to work out a way to allow two coupling formats to work in the same space, and for the game to recognize when it's coupling knuckle to knuckle, or knuckle to link.

That's actually never been done before. Previously, in games like Trainz, the couplings just weren't animated. So you could couple anything, to well anything. We however have the whole process animated, from placing of the link, dropping of the pin, and the requirement of dropping the pin in the other side. Thing is though, no one has ever actually tried to make the split face type of coupling actually work the way it's supposed to. So with the animated knuckle, the option to drop a pin in, or add a link as needed.

So, we're breaking new ground with this. We do have ideas on this, as to how to pull it off, but it's a matter of testing various methods and ideas, and making them work as intended. That's why they're just cosmetic for now. We're still working out the best method is all.

[terrellj22]

Originally posted by Kitsune Dawn:

Originally posted by Pyrotrainthing:

The devs say we will but I think we'll have to wait a long time for them.

I wouldn't say a **long** time, but yeah, we're working on it. I can kinda help you understand the problem we're facing, in case you were curious.

Specifically, knuckle couplings on the ET engine, are something called 'split face' or 'transition' couplings. They're a stop gap type of coupler which were used in the US in the transition period between roughly 1890, to around 1918.

Split face couplings allowed link and pin couplers to work with knuckle stock, by allowing a link to slip into the split, and then you could drop a pin down through the hole in the knuckle. (That hole is still present today.)

So here's the problem we face:

We need to work out a way to allow two coupling formats to work in the same space, and for the game to recognize when it's coupling knuckle to knuckle, or knuckle to link.

That's actually never been done before. Previously, in games like Trainz, the couplings just weren't animated. So you could couple anything, to well anything. We however have the whole process animated, from placing of the link, dropping of the pin, and the requirement of dropping the pin in the other side. Thing is though, no one has ever actually tried to make the split face type of coupling actually work the way it's supposed to. So with the animated knuckle, the option to drop a pin in, or add a link as needed.

So, we're breaking new ground with this. We do have ideas on this, as to how to pull it off, but it's a matter of testing various methods and ideas, and making them work as intended. That's why they're just cosmetic for now. We're still working out the best method is all.

Thank you for explaining the challenges you're facing getting it to work. It gives us an idea why some things take a while :)