Excellent images, I love trains. And yes, what you say about the clouds being full of water but not raining also happened in my country in the 4 years prior to this one. This 2022 is the most normal for us.
If I remember correctly from my time in the MSTS, when the wheels spin, sand is poured on them to stop the skidding.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sandbox_(locomotive)
Well, as always it's a little bit more complicated
There are two cases. Slipping/sliding (brakeforce greater than adhesive force) and skidding (driving force greater than adhesive force).
According to the regulations of the "Deutsche Bahn" you are generally only allowed to use sand in case of emergency, but only in case of slipping but not below a speed of 25 kph, not above railway switches, turntables, traversers, bridges, wagon weighbridges and rail brakes. And you are never allowed to use sand while skidding. However, you can use a little bit of sand before you add power to prevent skidding before it starts. Also, when you used sand until wheel stop in an emergency, you have to report it to the train director because sand between the wheels and the rail can cause the block section to be shown as "clear" when it is not at all...
I personally keep it as simple as possible: I don't use sand so I don't have to bother with regulations
But I'm a lucky guy anyway since I don't drive heavy and long cargo trains. I drive modern "multiple units" so passenger service only. They tend to slip and skid as hell (due to their lightweight) especially during fall, but they have good anti skid and slip systems. They even use sand automatically. But you still have to have a good feeling of how to drive and brake...
By the way, there was a little bit of rain (just drops) today
Flirt3<sup>XL</sup> | Verkehrsverbund Rhein-Ruhr | 360°-Rundgang
www.36o.de