There is a diagram of this in the cockpit now so no need to check this all the time.

@General, its a Simulator!!! The real engine dose NOT have electronic wires and motors wich move. You actually pull a steal cable wich pulles the gears to there needed position. You can NOT just cros steal cabels around where you want do to friction and mantinance. He is missing number 5 but just flipped then u have your nine.

I would recommend skipping the low ranges if not pulling heavy loads. Shunting empties, or a couple of full cars I would start in 2/2. If I'm just scooting around loco only, I will happily pull away in 2/3 or even 3/3.

I would also recommend learning the keyboard mappings. The quickest changes for me involve using the mouse wheel on the F4 dash to throttle down, followed by two quick keystrokes for the gear levers (always up first) then scroll back up throttle. Can be done in seconds without losing too much speed.

I usually skip 3/1 and 1/3 and just go from 2/2 to 3/2 even when under load.

Understanding the ratios here can help a bit, especially when shifting down.

https://derailvalley.fandom.com/wiki/DM3_Diesel_Shunter

The 1-3 gear is missing. As already stated, there is 9 gears not 8. Please update.

There should also be 9 gears, not 8.

Left stick should be Low Mid and High ranges, while right stick should be 1 2 and 3 gears.
I dunno why it has to be this complex.

@Boikinov you should shift when the needle is anywhere inside the red area, that will give you the most effective gear ratio for your throttle

@Lord Srednuas Thanks alot, that is finally a good explanation,for me, where you know the meanings of the different leverpositions. So i don`t have to remember a "picture in mind" but have a logic behind. Before i always tried to remember this pictures from this guide(also thanks for that) but when it especially comes to downshifting i was in trouble remembering the pattern.
And while i was a truck driver a long time ago, you explanation showed me that the DM3 shifting is more like manual shifting an old school truck ;)
Sorry don`t know how to explain it better in english, nevertheless thanks alot again.

decided not to use that loco ... the game for me should be and is to relax and not to overconcentrace and then have a rest from it :)

This is a life saver and honestly should be in game