TTDX railways and other stuff

Open wagons are, as the name suggests, wagons without roof, used for transporting goods that do not need shelter from the weather. Historically they were one of the largest classes of freight wagons ever and are still use in large numbers by Deutsche Bahn today.

Contents

DRG load board wagon (1920)

capacity 15t, 60 kph

Verbandsbauart

Austauschbauart

This wagon is the first open wagon in the set. It offers little capacity, and a speed limit that becomes an issue by the late 1920s already. However, that limit is realistic, as most freight wagons at the time did not have brakes, centralized air pressure braking systems were only standardized well after World War I and subsequently introduced in Germany by the late 1920s.

The wagon is tagged as two-axle low board wagons, which already creates a classification dilemma, as low board wagons are classified as flat cars instead of open wagons in todays classification scheme. But then again today's classification was still far away future, while the German state railway wagon association (Deutscher Staatsbahnwagenverband, DWV) had already standardized several such wagons before World War I. This classification was taken over by Deutschen Reichsbahn-Gesellschaft (DRG). These types then saw further development, so for the time range of 1920-1930 there are several models that may be the source for this specific wagon in the set (the time frame for production is given differently in different publications, but that is not of much relevance in this context):

A1 open wagon (built 1911-1925): Google image search
open two-axle wagon with 15t capacity and attachable wooden side walls.

DWV-class Omk, DRG class "O Halle"
A6 coal wagon (built 1912-1924): Google image search
open two-axle offener wagon with 15t capacity, can be unloaded using tipping machinery, iron/steel walls.

DWV-class Omk[u], DRG class ""O Nürnberg"
A10 open wagon (built 1913-1928): Google image search
open two-axle wagon with 20t capacity, two doors at the middle on the sides, high walls, can be unloaded using tipping machinery

DWV-class Ommk[u], DRG class "Om Breslau"
open wagon Austauschbauart (built 1928-1935): Google image search
open two-axle wagon with 20t capacity, door on the middle of the sides, high walls, can be unloaded using tipping machinery

DRG-class "Om Königsberg"

Based on the name the wagon in the set belongs to the first type "O Halle".

Screenshots

The wagon shows the different cargos with specific graphics, so it is easy to see what is being transported by a train. Depending on the cargo there are also different graphics to show loading stages. For some cargos there is also a distinction between "moving train" and "train being loaded/unloaded".

Coal is loaded in several steps

The wagaon for iron ore shows a grey inner wall. The ore itself is loaded in multiple steps.

These are the loading stages for transporting grain. When the train is moving, the variant with the tarpaulin (on the right) is randomly used.

Steel only has two states, empty and full, although the wagon is loaded in steps of 5t.

Paper uses multiple loading steps. When moving, the train shows the graphics with the blue tarpaulin, as paper naturally reacts sensitive to moisture. Funnily enough the loading stage with only one paper roll has a wrong offset, the graphics are too low by one pixel, meaning the axles are cut off. This is really only ever visible when looking really closely in the train info window, the moving train does not utilize this sprite.

Wood is shown in multiple loading stages.

Loading goods shows a higher number of stages. The gray tarpaulin is added randomly for showing moving trains, some wagons in a train may show it, some may not.

Usage

This wagon is only useful in the early years of the game and is likely to be replaced as soon as the successor types become available in 1930. Main reason apart from the higher capacity is the speed limit, which becomes a real issue by 1930.

DRG low board wagon (1930)

capacity 25t, 80 kph

This wagon is the first four-axle open wagon in the game. It offers a higher capacity and a much higher speed limit compared to its predecessor, meaning it is much better in all relevant aspects. It can be refited for a smaller number of cargos, but then again more specialized wagons are already available for some of the cargos.

The wagon is a four-axle low board wagon. This was quite an uncommon type with the German railways, as both DWV and DRG had concentrated on standardizing two-axle wagons. Four-axle variants were first introduced during World War II, but by then this wagon is already replaced by other types. All in all I would assume this wagon is an addition for better game balance, not necessary reflecting some real-world model.

open wagon of KPEV (built 1890): Google image search
four axle open wagon with 15t capacity and attachable wooden side walls

DWV-class OOmk, DRG class "OO Oldenburg"

Based on the characteristics in game, this wagon would be classified as OOw, such types were used on narrow-gauge railways.

Screenshots

Wood is shown in multiple loading stages.

Coal is loaded in several steps

The wagon for iron ore shows a grey inner wall. The ore itself is loaded in multiple steps.

The wagon for grain transportation also shows the grey inner walls. Moving wagons may use the graphics with the tarpaulin at random.

Loading goods shows a higher number of stages. The gray tarpaulin is added randomly for showing moving trains, some wagons in a train may show it, some may not.

Usage

This wagon is a short-term solution, by 1935 there already is a newer type with a better capacity. Still, the increased speed limit of this one is a huge improvement over the older two-axle type.

DRG high board wagon (1935)

load capacity 28t, 80 kph

Just five years after the four-axle low board wagon a high board wagon is introduced, offering a slightly higher capacity. This type is then the last open wagon for quite some time.

It is rather difficult to find a real-world counterpart for this type. The German railways used two-axle open wagons almost exclusively until way after World War II. With the ongoing standardization efforts by the UIC a four-axle wagon was standardized in the 1960s, but it was only ordered by the Bundesbahn in 1978. Other countries were faster to adopt four-axle wagons, but these already had a way higher capacity than the one in the game (e.g. class Eal used by the Reichsbahn of East Germany). Conclusion: The wagon in the set is not really based on a real-world type, but rather helps with balancing the game.

Based on the characteristics in game, this wagon would be classified as Eaklo.

Screenshots

The wagon for grain is loaded in multiple steps - surprisingly these steps differ from the ones used for coal and iron ore, although they are all bulk cargos. The moving train will randomly show the graphics with the tarpaulin.

Coal is being shown in multiple loading stages.

The wagon for iron ore shows a grey inner wall. The ore itself is loaded in multiple steps.

Loading goods shows a higher number of stages. The gray tarpaulin is added randomly for showing moving trains, some wagons in a train may show it, some may not.

Usage

Until the 1950s this wagon is the best choice for bulk cargos. By then, more specialized wagons with higher capacity become available.

DB self-discharging wagon (1950)

capacity 40t, 80 kph

The self-discharging wagon is classified as an open wagon, even though it is totally different from regular open wagons. As the name suggests, the wagon can be unloaded without manual work: the side walls are opened, the cargo then just slides out due to gravity.

The type of wagon had been developed already during the 1920s to improve the efficiency of coal or iron ore transportation. Even these early designs were already capable of loading 50t per wagon. Cargo like grain, which is sensitive to moisture, can be transported in similar wagons which has a roof that can be opened. That makes an important difference for the classification, changing the open wagon (class O) to wagons with swing roof (class K).

open self-discharging wagon DRG: Google image search
DRG class OOt Oldenburg, after 1935 OOt Saarbrücken
opening roof wagon DRG: Google image search
DRG class KKt Oldenburg, after 1935 KKt Saarbrücken
open self-discharging wagon DB (1950): Google image search
DB class OOtz

Based on the year of introduction this wagon is most likely a class OOtz (at least for coal and iron ore, the grain variant belongs into class KKt as described).

Screenshots

Iron ore is loaded in multiple stages.

After 1997 the wagon color is changed from brown to red.

Coal is loaded in multiple stages.

After 1997 the wagon color is changed from brown to red.

The graphics for the grain variant are a bit different, as the wagon has the opening roof as described. For the moving train the roof is closed (graphics to the right), it is opened for loading and unloading.

After 1997 the wagon color is changed from brown to red.

Usage

This wagon is the best choice for bulk cargo (coal, iron ore, grain), as far as capacity is concerned. The speed limitation becomes an increasing nuisance over the years, until a faster successor becomes available in 1990.

DB high board wagon (1970)

capacity 30t, 100 kph

This is the last ordinary open wagon to become available in the game. It provides a slightly higher capacity and an improved speed limit.

The real-world counterpart is easy to find, it is the standardized four-axle open wagon as defined by the UIC:

open wagon according to UIC 571-2 (built 1978-): Google image search
UIC-class Eaos or Eanos

Based on the speed limit and capacity this wagon should be classified as Eaklos angehören.

Screenshots

Coal is being shown in multiple loading stages.

The wagon for iron ore shows a grey inner wall. The ore itself is loaded in multiple steps.

Loading goods shows a higher number of stages. The gray tarpaulin is added randomly for showing moving trains, some wagons in a train may show it, some may not.

Usage

This wagon does not play a huge part in the game anymore as by the time of introduction wagons with higher capacity and/or higher speed limits are available.

DB self-discharging wagon (1990)

capacity 40t, 120 kph

This self-discharging wagon is an upgrade of the original type from 1950, finally upgrading the speed limit. By the time of the introduction all other freight wagons already allow higher speeds, the heavy trains with bulk cargo therefore often disrupt traffic flow. For coal and iron ore as insensitive cargos the wagon as is classified as open wagon, the refit for cargo uses a sliding roof, changing the classification accordingly. The roof is needed as grain is sensitive to rain, so bad weather needs to be kept away from it. As this is only relevant for the refit to transport grain and the base wagon is classified as open wagon, the specific subtype is also mentioned here.