Do trains not have gears?

[Maximum James]

I guess a steam engine wouldn't but neither do Diesel trains? I guess your always going for torque or whatever so it doesn't need a higher gear?

[Weeping Angel]

I assume you are referring to the Shunter. The Shunter is a Diesel-electric engine which means that the Diesel is not connected to the wheels directly, instead it powers a generator which produces electricity to power the electric engines that put their force on the wheels.

This is done to bypass the lack of torque a Diesel can provide at low rpm.

[Metallos]

The LINT (regional passenger train from LHB / Alstom) for example has gears but that's not common.
In Germany most diesel trains (from small shunter to bigger locos like the DB BR 218 with up to 2000 kW) have hydrodynamic transmission (Voith Turbo) and some actual types have dieselelectric (but not the shunters, DE makes more sense on higher power).

I wondered that the shunter is such a new / modern loco, in the game it looks more like pulled from a junkyard. Even old DB V 90 shunters from the 60's are looking better (example: https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Datei:F%C3%BChrerstand_295.JPG )...

[Weeping Angel]

Originally posted by Metallos:

...some actual types have dieselelectric (but not the shunters, DE makes more sense on higher power).

1. It is mentioned in the game that this shunter is Diesel-electric, e.g. at the shop where you can buy the quick guide it is described as: "step-by-step instructions on how to operate a DIESEL-ELECTRIC shunter".

2. This technique is especially made to have a better start pulling of a train, which makes it best for shunters since they usually do nothing else than start, roll a few meters, stop, and repeat.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diesel–electric_transmission

[Altfuture]

As others have pointed out the shunter is diesel-electric. This configuration is typical of most modern diesel locomotives, and will also be present in the upcoming large diesel locomotive.

The railbus, however, which will be added soon, will have a diesel-mechanical transmission - basically just like diesel road vehicles typically do, except without a manual clutch.

[TheLostPenguin]

All diesel loco drivetrains can come either in fixed gear configurations or with some form of variable transmission, mostly it comes down to the intended use of the loco and also its age as an older design may well come with a gearbox to compensate for weaker engines compared to what may be available for a locomotive designed to do similar work today. In just about all but the oldest designs gearboxes tend to be automatic, and not something the driver has to actively deal with too much.
Ingame I guess the shunter might be towards the larger end of designs with a fixed transmission since it does reach pretty high speeds and is more of a light local service loco than a pure yard shunter, but it's not at all ludicrous, and we'll be getting a bit of variety in the diesel drivetrains it seems anyway.

[Maximum James]

I guess trains are pretty cool for what they are considering they don't fly and cant turn around and aren't usually used to directly kill people.

[Metallos]

Originally posted by A Man of Culture:

Originally posted by Metallos:

...some actual types have dieselelectric (but not the shunters, DE makes more sense on higher power).

1. It is mentioned in the game that this shunter is Diesel-electric, e.g. at the shop where you can buy the quick guide it is described as: "step-by-step instructions on how to operate a DIESEL-ELECTRIC shunter".

And I mentioned the situation in Germany (as you can see in my conplete post) and the thread opener asked in general and not only the shunter in the game.

The shunter we have in the game: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C5%BDS_series_621

Originally posted by A Man of Culture:

2. This technique is especially made to have a better start pulling of a train, which makes it best for shunters since they usually do nothing else than start, roll a few meters, stop, and repeat.

That's why dieselhydraulic locos have a torque convertor. No need for converting to electric back and forth (except > 2000 kW). ;-)
A look inside the "king of dieselhydraulics", the DB BR 218: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vVh8BecfV0s
That "box" under the fan is the transmission, compact and very robust.

As you can hear, no gears and torque out of the stand:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GTuFUb5cUpw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OMM31y-8ntE
Not loaded but deeper sound (turn up the volume but not on laptop speakers): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pJbNbFaZ6G8

[Soupermarioworld]

CLASS 101

[Overland]

Can we have a class 03? :)
Thats got gears
Although a tad useless given how much this shunter already can pull

Might be fictional but shes a lovely engine.. I actually love the existing shunter design

Diesel electric yes but the railway we run on gives us enough challenges