Amtrak HHP-8 Discussion: Use, Reliability, Disposition

ApproachMedium wrote: ↑Fri Dec 17, 2021 1:51 am

scratchyX1 wrote: ↑Thu Dec 16, 2021 11:17 am In the case of MARC, the "helltrain" caused so much bad press, they want to avoid it happening again.
Do the Stock Vectrons have the same MU port issue?

Stock vectrons use a completely different form of multiple unit communications.

This stupid thing wont let me make that many posts so here we go. I used to work in mechanical and know all about the formans second guessing your shops etc. I still have formans doing this now, and i am an engineer. These are people i worked under. i remind them if they are standing next to me i have called them because i cannot correct the problem or im legally not allowed to do so.

The regen with diesel in tow is the least of the problems. I havent gotten a diesel to work behind an ACS in forever. Whatever they screwed up it does nothing now. They need to replace the IO stations with the analog relay ones, at least the 2 that deal with the MU and COMM ports.

Seriously? You mean they can't do what the pennsy did (counts fingers) 70 years ago, and MU electrics with diesels?

They cant do what NJT does right now, and MU electrics with diesels. hell the AEM7s will still MU with a diesel. The ACS wont even talk to another ACS anymore since they finger fudged the software. Even with the 13t on like were being told to do now, it still doesnt respond correctly because most engines dont all have the same versions. Its INSANE that a version difference is causing so much trouble. The plugs should be monitoring commands and accepting them and vice versa regardless of whats on the other end.

I guess that explains why I've seen so many double headers with the second unit having both pans down, as seen at 30 sec and 50 sec here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P8j1NDYgIfE

Yep it has to be that way because you also cannot open the MCB or drop the pan from the lead unit so the trail unit MUST go dead.

AM: does this mean another connector is needed to do this? What about when the ACS is in push trail?

Another connector for what? ACS in push trail are only responsive to cab cars right now. They dont respond to other ACS with newer software. They might respond to a diesel controlling but who knows. they keep trying to have the acs lead the diesel and that certainly does not work.

ApproachMedium wrote: ↑Fri Dec 17, 2021 1:58 pm They cant do what NJT does right now, and MU electrics with diesels. hell the AEM7s will still MU with a diesel. The ACS wont even talk to another ACS anymore since they finger fudged the software. Even with the 13t on like were being told to do now, it still doesnt respond correctly because most engines dont all have the same versions. Its INSANE that a version difference is causing so much trouble. The plugs should be monitoring commands and accepting them and vice versa regardless of whats on the other end.

How the #@@# did they manage to have that much version differences?
What's the process of pushing firmware updates to locomotives?

And now I wonder if any of it is using log4j , and has an open vulnerability.

Everything has to be done manually, locally for software updates. Its not firmware. its very much software. Everything runs on a closed source system called Sibas32 which is siemens own stuff. I think it runs on some version of linux, at least the cab displays do.
https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sibas

Jeez sounds like a s@@tshow!

ApproachMedium wrote: ↑Fri Dec 17, 2021 1:58 pm They cant do what NJT does right now, and MU electrics with diesels. hell the AEM7s will still MU with a diesel. The ACS wont even talk to another ACS anymore since they finger fudged the software. Even with the 13t on like were being told to do now, it still doesnt respond correctly because most engines dont all have the same versions. Its INSANE that a version difference is causing so much trouble. The plugs should be monitoring commands and accepting them and vice versa regardless of whats on the other end.

I know from the autumn express that an ACS worked with an P42.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=414bXLyiGcU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jdkeKLvYc_Q
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jqso-aSDX8E
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cFZQQ8_qEF0

If the ACS doesn't work anymore with an p42/p32 or a SC44/ALC 42, then Siemens should fix it.

I think it was 67 that came into Boston the other day with an ACS leading two P42s. I thought a P42 couldn't lead an ACS

CSRR573 wrote: ↑Sat Dec 18, 2021 11:21 am I think it was 67 that came into Boston the other day with an ACS leading two P42s. I thought a P42 couldn't lead an ACS

It's quit simple. Set the P42 in isolate and the engine and traction motors doesn't operate.

I think you guys are missing the point, yes you can hook them up and tow the diesel dead but what he’s saying is that they cannot run MU’ed together as in diesel provides traction with ACS leading. Yes once upon a time the 2 did work together but after the software updates, they don’t! I personally have ran several instances with the pans down on the electric and the diesel providing power. As of now 2 ACS’s can’t work together nor can ACS request traction from diesel

ApproachMedium wrote: ↑Sat Dec 18, 2021 1:21 am Everything has to be done manually, locally for software updates. Its not firmware. its very much software. Everything runs on a closed source system called Sibas32 which is siemens own stuff. I think it runs on some version of linux, at least the cab displays do.
https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sibas

OK, as a long-time Linux admin, this makes sense.
A real time Debian variant, which seems to be a standard.
And flash drive,for updatedps,not the trendy IoT .
Which means manual update process.
Who does the updates? It feels like this requires level 2/3 sysadmins, as shop personnel.
https://support.industry.siemens.com/cs ... 0&lc=en-US

AM sorry for the poor wording. What I meant was a jumper ACS to ACS. However, after reading the posts and worse the WIKI cannot believe. Sounds like the software has probably been patched so many times that no one really can understand it. In reading the system referring it as a -16 makes one wonder if that means the OS is 16 bits? If that OH! MY GOSH. Change Gosh to whatever expletive.