ET25 locomotive // Quick start and tricks

In this guide, I will show you how to prepare a ET25 hybrid locomotive for service and some operating tricks.

Introduction

This is the ET25 hybrid locomotive. Known by the factory name as the "Newag Dragon" it is a Polish locmotive built by Newag from 2009 onwards.
The locomotive has a maximum speed of 120 km/h (or 75 mph), and is used solely for freight trains.
The version used in SimRail is equipped with 3kV DC pantographs and a diesel engine. The diesel engine is mostly used for shunting purposes.
The hybrid version of the ET25 is officially called the ET26. However, in SimRail it is still referred to as the ET25, so that's the name I will use in this guide.

Quick buttons overview

Cold start to electric

Use the pictures above for reference!

Step 1: Turn on the cabin controls by turning the cabin activation switch to 1.
Step 2: Quickly press the SHP and deadman acknowledge button twice, to acknowledge the SHP and deadman switch.
Step 3: During normal operations, we use the rear pantograph. Raise the rear pantograph by pushing the pantograph back switch forward. After the pantograph has touched the wire, push the circuit breaker switch forward to close the high voltage circuit breaker.
Step 4 Enable the radio by pressing the enable radio button (it looks like a checkmark).
Step 5: Release the train brake by holding the pneumatic brake switch forward. Using the most forward setting allows you to charge the brake pipe quicker. (For heavy trains, especially on a slope, make sure there is still a little amount of air in your brake pipe to avoid uncontrolled rolling of the train.) You can use the locomotive brake to keep the train in it's place.
Step 6: Release the parking brake by pressing the release parking brake button on the rear wall.
Step 7: Set the desired headlight combination using the signal light selection switch.
Step 8: Put the train into the forward position by pressing the forward direction button.
Step 9: The train is ready! Make sure to release the train brake or locomotive brake if it's still applied. You can push the AFB/cruise control lever to your desired speed. You can see the maximum AFB speed on the DMI.

Cold start to diesel

Use the pictures above for reference!

Step 1: Follow the "Cold start to electric" guide, step 1 and 2.
Step 2: Press the button on the right diagnostics display with the image of a pantograph and a diesel engine (see image).
Step 3: Press the circuit breaker/engine switch forward. You should hear the sound of the engine spinning up.
Step 4: Follow steps 4 and beyond from the "Cold start to electric" guide.
Step 5: The train is ready! Note that the diesel engine provides less power than the electric motors, so your train acceleration speed is slower than when driving using the overhead wire.

Switching between diesel and electric power

Switching between diesel and electric mode can be done at any time while standing still, using the mode switch button on the right diagnostics display (see image). To switch, the pantographs must be lowered and the circuit breaker/engine must be opened/shut down.
Note that shutting down the engine takes a long time, and you can only switch modes after the engine has completely stopped, so try to use the overhead line whenever possible and keep switching to a minimum.

Tricks // Preventing wheelslip

Wheelslip can be caused by accelerating too quickly.
It is indicated by the traction power bars becoming orange and rapidly moving. To mitigate wheelslip, you should reduce traction power until you do not slip anymore, and slowly increase traction power until you find the highest amount of traction you can give without slipping.
The higher your speed, the less you will be affected by wheelslip.

Tricks // Stuck brakes

If you feel you are decellerating more rapidly than you should, you might not have released your brakes correctly. If your brakes are applied, you can see a yellow light on the right diagnostics display.
The big square means that your train brake or locomotive brakes are applied. The small square means that your parking brake is applied. You can release the train and locomotive brakes by putting the respective levers forward. You can release the parking brake by pussing the parking brake release button on the rear wall.
The big square does not light up when you are using the dynamic brakes. Dynamic brakes use the traction motors to give resistance and generate electricity, which does not use physical brakes.

Tricks // Switching cabs

Switching the cabs is as easy as setting the cabin activation switch to 0. The train will automatically apply full train braking force. You can then switch cabs by pressing the machine room door and selecting the "Transition to other cab" option.
In the other cab you follow the "Cold start to electric" guide. If you were driving diesel, your engine will still be running. If you were driving electric, your pantograph that was previously your rear pantograh is now your front pantograph. You can switch back to using the rear pantograph by pressing the pantograph back button forward, waiting for the pantograph to be raised, then pulling the pantograph front button backwards.

Closing words

Thank you for reading this guide! This was the first ever guide I wrote. If it has helped you, or if you want to see more guides like this, feel free to support me by pushing the thumbs up button or by giving an award. The comment section is open for suggestions and improvements.

I wish you a lot of fun with your next SimRail journey!

[NorwayLCAndTrains]

Just saying, this loco is technically only electric, although has a diesel engine for shunting. But nice tutorial!

[OwainGlyndwr]

Brilliant i didn't even know the loco was an electro diesel, thank you.

[wyscigowiec4]

Thank you for the diesel part, I didn't know how to use it before