MPXpress is a series of diesel-electric passenger train locomotives designed for commuter rail service. The locomotives are built by MotivePower, a subsidiary of Wabtec. There are five variants of the MPXpress: MP36PH-3S, MP36PH-3C, MP40PH-3C, MP32PH-Q, and MP54AC. Of these, only the MP54AC conforms to federal Tier 4 emissions standards, making it the only variant that can be sold in the United States. Wabtec no longer lists the MPXpress in its locomotive portfolio.[2] The MPXpress line of locomotives were the first production passenger locomotives to meet FRA safety regulations regarding crashworthiness and fire safety. The line also meets APTA crashworthiness standards.
Production of the locomotives have kept pace with increasingly stringent emissions regulations from the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Between 2002 and 2015, the EPA has issued four "tiers" of emissions standards and in each case the MPXpress was the first (and in some cases, only) passenger locomotive to meet the standard.
Numerous public transit agencies in Canada and the United States have ordered MPXpress locomotives for their commuter rail services. GO Transit is currently the largest client for MPI MPXpress locomotives, with 93 in their fleet.
The prime mover used in the MP36PH-3C is a EMD 16-645F3B. The Prototype has a seperate HEP unit for providing Power to the Passengers. This sound is also available in the in this file as a user dependant function that can turned on and off as needed. (Usually if 2 engines are used only the engine closest to the cars will have the HEP unit running)
These Locomotives are used Daily in "Push-Pull" service and are set up to do so as default in this decoder as well. Operating Front and rear red lights and Headlight/Ditchlights are set accordingly as default.
This project has a notch based low idle. It has a single late (silenced) 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.
This file has a Special feature providing the sounds and operation of the Head End Power unit. This is used on the prototype loco to provide electricity to the coaches as these locos are almost always used in passenger service.
To engage HEP you must be stopped in Idle. Pressing F26 (Shift 2) will engage the HEP unit and allow the prime mover to run at a higher RPM.
When in stations often the engineer will go into Standby mode to preserve fuel and to allow the noise levels to come down a little. Pressing F27 on the throttle once HEP has already been engaged will allow the prime mover to come down a little. Again this can only be done while sitting still as on the prototype there is not enough RPM to provide power to the coaches and traction motors at the same time in Standy Mode.
This file is also equipped with a Smart Start feature that cycles the prime mover on and off at intervals of your choice if the throttle is left at Idle and the loco is stopped.
Smart Start (Sound CV14):
CV168=0 No Smart Start Cycle - Default
CV168=1 - 3 Minute Cycle
CV168=2 - 6 Minute Cylcle
CV168=3 - 9 Minute Cylcle
CV168=4 - 12 Minute Cylcle
Etc.....
CV168=255 - 765 Minute Cycle
M36PH-3C Horn Pack 1
Horns (SoundCV9):
CV163=0 Nathan K-5LA (AMTK ALC-42)
CV163=1 Nathan C-5A-CWP
CV163=2 Nathan P-2
CV163=3 Nathan K-3LA
CV163=4 Nathan K-12
CV163=5 Nathan P-5A
CV163=6 Nathan K-5LA (AMTK ALC-42) Ed2
CV163=7 Nathan P-2-R2
CV163=8 Nathan K-5LA (NJT)
CV163=9 Nathan P-5
CV163=10 Nathan K-5LA (Metra)
CV163=11 Nathan K-2H
CV163=12 Nathan K-5LA (MARC)
CV163=13 Nathan K-3L
CV163=14 Nathan K5-CA-LS Horn
CV163=15 Nathan K5-CA-LS Half Air Horn
SD40-3 Bell Template Pack 1
Bells (SoundCV10):
CV164=0 Graham-White E-Bell 006
CV164=1 Graham-White E-Bell 009
CV164=2 Graham-White E-Bell 001
CV164=3 Graham-White E-Bell 004
CV164=4 Transtronic E-Bell 001
CV164=5 Ekyrail E-Bell 001
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...
3rd Gereration Brake Squeal Template Pack 1
Brake Squeal (SoundCV11)
CV165=0 Composition Shoe #1
CV165=1 Composition Shoe #2
EMD 3rd Generation Air Dryer Template Pack 1
Air Dryer (SoundCV12)
CV166=0 GP60 Air Dryer 1
CV166=1 SD60E Air Dryer 2
CV166=2 SD70M-2 Air Dryer 3
CV166=3 SD70MAC Air Dryer 4