PRR K4 boiler issue.

[Brickrail782]

This might just be driver error, but I am having a hard time getting the K4 to go anywhere. A train with 6 P70 coaches barely gets up to 30 mph before the boiler pressure falls to the point where the train will not move anymore. Is it just my incompetence or is there something wrong with the engine?

[gtrtroger]

As we speak.....

1-K4 + 6-P70
Altoona to Galllitzin

80%-100% throttle
35-55% reverser
204.8 boiler pressure

34.6mph
[edit] lowest 28.7 1.8% grade
[edit] lowest 27.5 2.4% grade to Tunnel....

....might be you.....

[buzz456]

" Is it just my incompetence". This locomotive has been out there near forever and this is the first I have ever seen posted about this problem. What do you think?

[CArailroader]

Its all about adjusting your throttle and reverser correctly. You should start out with the reverser as high as it will go, the slowly let out the throttle until the engine starts to move. As the engine begins to pick up speed, you can pull the throttle out more (depending on how fast you want to accelerate) but as you do so, you need to bring the reverser closer to the center. There really is no need to go less than 30% on the reverser unless you're trying to reach top speeds. As you get to your desired speed, you can lower your throttle. If you're starting to coast, close the throttle and put the reverser as high as it will go. If you need to make a few minor adjustments to your speed during coasting, bring out the throttle slowly and no more than 10%

[JohnS]

The boiler pressures and fire and water and boiling stuff are grossly over rated. There is no way to make the boiler pressure behave appropriately without heavily editing the simulation and engine bins.

[Brickrail782]

" Is it just my incompetence". This locomotive has been out there near forever and this is the first I have ever seen posted about this problem. What do you think?

Yeah, its probably me. I saw Matt Peddlesten (I think that's how you spell his name) livestreaming a trip from Altoona to Johnstown in a K4 and he didn't have a problem. I think I just stink at driving steam trains.

[buzz456]

Practice makes perfect my young friend. If you are hand firing for that thing 75-80% on the fire and 90-95% on the water.

[trev123]

Yes I have no problem driving it.

[CArailroader]

The boiler pressures and fire and water and boiling stuff are grossly over rated. There is no way to make the boiler pressure behave appropriately without heavily editing the simulation and engine bins.

This is very true. Now personally, I like to use auto fireman because IRL its always a two man job. I just want to focus on running the train. And as we all know, auto-fireman isn't that great. The dern safety keeps popping every minute or so, depending on the engine, but its something I have to live with running with auto-fireman.

[JOHNtheREDNECK]

The boiler pressures and fire and water and boiling stuff are grossly over rated. There is no way to make the boiler pressure behave appropriately without heavily editing the simulation and engine bins.

This is very true. Now personally, I like to use auto fireman because IRL its always a two man job. I just want to focus on running the train. And as we all know, auto-fireman isn't that great. The dern safety keeps popping every minute or so, depending on the engine, but its something I have to live with running with auto-fireman.

Better to have the safety valves always activated rather than barely have enough pressure for yard hostling.

[Brickrail782]

The boiler pressures and fire and water and boiling stuff are grossly over rated. There is no way to make the boiler pressure behave appropriately without heavily editing the simulation and engine bins.

This is very true. Now personally, I like to use auto fireman because IRL its always a two man job. I just want to focus on running the train. And as we all know, auto-fireman isn't that great. The dern safety keeps popping every minute or so, depending on the engine, but its something I have to live with running with auto-fireman.

Better to have the safety valves always activated rather than barely have enough pressure for yard hostling.

*Raises hand in agreement.*

[thor1969]

Had also these issues with it, if you are using manual firemen check if the stoker is running, I noticed that it seems to be activated (shovel rate set to high value) on scenario start, and so it overfills the firebox. Since I stop the shoveling on scenario starting I hadn't such issues again.

[biddydog9000]

I hope one day someone will make a mod for that

[buzz456]

It's being worked on.