What do those train numbers mean?

[Rikki]

Okay, I feel kinda dumb for not knowing this by now but what do those hyphenated numbers associated with engines signify?  Number of wheels?  A rating of some kind?  If it was in the manual I somehow missed it.

While I'm on the subject, does anyone know if letting your train run dry of oil/water/sand with frequency increases the base chance of a breakdown over time, beyond just the period that it's running dry?  In other words, does the game model longterm effects of mistreating the engine?

Thanks for any input...

Rikki

[Hawk]

The hyphenated numbers tell the wheel configuration.

Pilot wheels, driving wheels, and trailing wheels.

For instance, The General is a 4-4-0. 4 pilot wheels, 4 power wheels, and 0 trailing wheels.

[Rikki]

Ah.  OK.  And I assume the wheel configuration has no impact on performance beyond what is shown in the speed charts?

Anyway, mystery resolved!  Thanks, Hawk!  :)

[Hawk]

I'm sure the wheel configuration is already figured into the charts, although in real life it has a lot of bearing on the performance of the engine and what particular type of route it would run best on and load it would haul.

[JayEff]

The middle number, the number of driving wheels seems to correlate well with for hill climbing ability.