UP DD40X Cab

From the cab of Union Pacific's DD40X, we're rolling through Kalispell's industrial area.

To mark its centenary in 1969, Union Pacific commissioned the manufacture of a locomotive that would not only celebrate 100 years of the railway but also bring back the spirit of its huge steam locomotives, colloquially referred to as the "Big Boys".

Basically the DD40X is two locomotives built on one chassis frame. It boasts 6600hp and is 30 metres in length. Fifteen or sixteen were built and used in heavy freight work. After their working life was completed, UP donated one to a US rail museum.

The UP DD40X is a free download from the Auran site (bear with the free registration process). However, this free download doesn't include sounds or a cabview. Recently, a cabview was posted at Train-Sim.com so we'll work through the steps to give the DD40X a proper cab.

Files you need

A special UP excursion passes over Two Medicine River on the Marias Pass route.

Firstly, you'll need to have downloaded Auran's free demo of the Union Pacific DD40X from the Auran site at www.auran.com/trainz/msts/ (3.6Mb download). Be patient with the registration (it's free) process.

From the Train-Sim.com file library, download the following:

• dd40eng.zip (05-Aug-01, 7Kb): improved ENG file (head-out, more exhaust smoke, uses GP38 cab & sound)
• dd40mod.zip (06-Aug-01, 970Kb): modified ENG file, cabview CVF files, modified GP38 sound files (ignore the author's comments on using the SD40 sound set - see below for the required download that installs these for you with an installer)
• dd40upgd.zip (17-Nov-01, 1.2Mb): DD40X working cab, requiring the F45 cab by NALW
• dda4011.zip (26-Dec-01, 440Kb):
• f45cab.zip (05-Nov-01, 3.3Mb): F45 cab by NALW (note: installer has incorrect drive letter for path to the MSTS folder - change D: to C: when prompted for default MSTS folder)
• f45v11.zip (26-Dec-01, 502Kb): an update to the left-hand view for the F45 cab
• emd40snd.zip (17-Nov-01, 2.6Mb): a convenient installer of the SD40 sound set; they're installed into the Common.Snd folder for you so they can be used by other locos (ignore this download if you've already got these sounds). This download supercedes sd40snd2.zip (11-Sep-01).
• gp40_snd.zip (22-Jan-01, 3.2Mb): may as well get these too, even though they're not required (unless you already have them) then you've got the main sounds stored in Common.Cab for other locos. This download supercedes sd40snd.zip (23-Jun-01).

Once you've downloaded the above files, we'll go through the steps to make the DD40X do its stuff!