The ALCO 251 prime mover was the most popular and abundant prime mover ever made by the company. While it proved to be quite successful, it sadly outlived its original manufacturer, ALCO who closed their doors in 1969. The 251 prime mover is actually still available to purchase today from Fairbanks Morse for use in Marine, Generator, and locomotive uses. The 1500 horsepower 8cyl version of the 251F could be found in the following locomotives:
C-415
The C415 was a large switcher or small road switcher equipped with a raised cab mounted slightly off-center, with a lower, narrower hood on either side. The longer one contained the diesel engine, a 1,500 hp (1.1 MW) eight-cylinder turbocharged Alco 251-F, while the shorter contained auxiliaries. The C415 could be ordered with three different cab heights; a low one for minimum clearances, a regular height one, and an extra-height one for maximum visibility.
Trucks fitted were either Type B road trucks or ALCO Hi-Ad (high adhesion).
Recorded from a ALCO RS-3
This project is a normal idle version. It has a single exhaust stack.
File also contains an "Isolation Switch" Mode on F15 when Standing Still.
Pressing F15 while not moving will lower the prime mover and lock the motor. F15 must be turned off to begin moving.
Another Mode is "Reverser In Center Position". When pressing F24 while stopped, the motor will lock so you can throttle through the notches like the prototype in neutral. F24 must be turned off to begin moving.
This project has "Run 8" mode. When turning on F26 with F28 off, the prime mover goes to run 8. Turning off F26 returns the prime mover sounds back to normal mode.
This project has "Coast" mode. When turning on F27 with F28 off, the prime mover goes to idle for coasting purposes. Turning off F27 returns the prime mover sounds back to normal mode.
You can still use F26 and F27 for manual notching. You have to keep both F26 and F27 off before pressing F28 to turn on manual notching. Once F28 is on, you can use F26 to notch up and F27 to notch down. F26, F27, and F28 must be turned off to return to normal mode.
This project has "Load" mode. When turning on F29 with F15, F24, F26, F27, F28 off, the prime mover goes into load mode. While you are using load mode, the prime mover will notch up 1 or more notches based on primary load settings(CV104). The throttle notches up using speed instead of requested speed while using the load feature. F29 must be turned off to return to normal mode.
Prime mover volume selection mode. By default the prime mover has volume dynamics. Meaning idle is soft while notch 8 is loud. This is very prototypical. The next option is volume maxed out. Meaning idle and notch 8 are the same volume. This is more suitable for people who like it loud.
Change the sound configuration of the prime mover sound slot 1
CV31 = 16, CV32 = 1
----------------------
CV263 = 0 Prime Mover Dynamic Volume Control
CV263 = 1 Prime Mover Max Volume
1st Generation Switcher Horn Pack 1
Horns (SoundCV9):
CV163=0 Handcock 4700 Whistle
CV163=1 Leslie A-125
CV163=2 Leslie A-200
CV163=3 Leslie S-25
CV163=4 Leslie S-2M
CV163=5 Leslie S-3K
CV163=6 Leslie S-3L
CV163=7 Nathan M-3
CV163=8 Nathan M-5
CV163=9 Nathan P-2
CV163=10 Nathan P-3-OC
CV163=11 Nathan P-5-OC
CV163=12 Wabco A-2
CV163=13 Wabco AA-2
CV163=14 Wabco E-2
CV163=15 Nathan K-3L
ALCO Bell Template Pack 3
Bells (SoundCV10):
CV164=0 ALCO Bronze Bell 004
CV164=1 ALCO Bronze Bell 007
CV164=2 ALCO Bronze Bell 009
CV164=3 ALCO Bronze Bell 012
CV164=4 ALCO Bronze Bell 013
Auto Bell:
Many Second and Third Generation locomotives have been fitted with an Automatic Bell that is triggered when the horn is blown. In MANY cases this cannot even be bypassed on modern locos. Before the FRA mandated this feature on new locomotives the bell was of course turned on and off separately. Some locomotives were delivered with a manual bell and have been converted to an automatic bell. This creates a challenge in sound file creation.
We realize that not every loco with a particular prime mover had this feature. As such we have built in an option to turn the feature on and off. We will set the default in the file to be what is most appropriate for the particular file.
To turn the feature OFF - Auto Bell OFF:
1. Remove the Auto bell sound slot from the function mapping chart
CV31 = 16, CV32 = 8
----------------------
CV311 = 4
2. Change the sound configuration of the Auto bell sound slot
CV31 = 16, CV32 = 1
----------------------
CV287 = 0
To turn the feature ON - Auto Bell ON:
1. ADD the Auto bell sound slot from the function mapping chart
CV31 = 16, CV32 = 8
----------------------
CV311 = 12
2. Change the sound configuration of the Auto bell sound slot
CV31 = 16, CV32 = 1
----------------------
CV287 = 1
Auto Bell Timer:
The Bell timer is amount of time the bell will play after the horn if the auto timer is active. The timer is broken down into 1/4 of a second increments.
CV169=4 - 1 Second
CV169=8 - 2 Seconds
CV169=12 - 3 Seconds
CV169=16 - 4 Seconds
CV169=20 - 5 Seconds - Default
Etc...
Switcher Brake Squeal Template Pack 1
Brake Squeal (SoundCV11)
CV165=0 Composition Shoe #1
CV165=1 Cast Iron Shoe #1
ALCO Air Dryer Template Pack 1
Air Dryer (SoundCV12)
CV166=0 S-1 Air Dryer 1
CV166=1 C-425 Air Dryer 1
CV166=2 RS-18 Air Dryer 1
CV166=3 RS-18 Air Dryer 2
S0769 - Release Notes
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V-4 R-4:
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- description mispelling fix
- description brake squeal error fix
- soundslot brake squeal spelling mistake
- remastered prime mover
- updated prime mover comment
- prime mover volume selection mode