RSC 2-8-0 CONSOLIDATION

[CaseyRhodes]

About the radio, I rode in cab of UP 844 on September 17, and it was amazing!

The radio wasn't all that chattery, pretty silent really. Th only thing that made noise somewhat consistently was the beeping of the in cab signals whenever we passed a signal. We went through some MOW and used the whistle to signal to the workers that we were coming through. The radios were mainly used only when starting, contacting dispatch, and when stopping again.

I have a video of it on my youtube channel
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T7A94WMbKLo

(sorry, my camcorder took a crap on me and I had to use my digital)

I understand that every operation is different, however, on the short-line railroad which I have worked on for the past several years we don't do any high speed mainline running over longs distances. Our railroad is only 20 miles long, our speed limit is 10 mph for freight and 15 mph for passenger, and the section that the steam locomotive pulls excursions over is about 6-7 miles. In a day of operation we have a fair amount of switching, therefore there is a lot of radio communication. I am speaking purely from my personal experiences on the railroad. I'll say as i have said before, it would sort of simulate the operation I have come accustomed to. I am aware that it is not the same as all others, all operations are different. It was merely a suggestion, and I wasn't fishing for anybody's correction or criticism, the post was merely an idea to the developer of the locomotive, "mrennie." Nothing more.

I'm very sorry if it seemed stand-offish, I didn't mean to insinuate any prowess over anyone. I try to be as friendly as possible and I don't compare myself to others. Sometimes i just get a little frustrated because I'll post something that is merely a suggestion and I get made made fun of or challenged for suggesting it because it's modern or for whatever reason.

[mrennie]

On both the locomotives I work on there is a switch that controls both the locomotive and tender lights. It has 5 positions(front-bright, front-dim, center position-off, tender-dim, tender-bright.

That's a pity, because the one I've made has only three positions. Perhaps I could put two side by side. I've made it so that the locomotive and tender lights are operated independently anyway (but they work only if the generator has been started - I've added a steam throttle rooster on the steam turret for that).

[CaseyRhodes]

On both the locomotives I work on there is a switch that controls both the locomotive and tender lights. It has 5 positions(front-bright, front-dim, center position-off, tender-dim, tender-bright.

That's a pity, because the one I've made has only three positions. Perhaps I could put two side by side. I've made it so that the locomotive and tender lights are operated independently anyway (but they work only if the generator has been started - I've added a steam throttle rooster on the steam turret for that).

There may be some like that, I'm not sure, but if that's the way you design it i will certainly not be complaining even a little bit.

[CaseyRhodes]

On both the locomotives I work on there is a switch that controls both the locomotive and tender lights. It has 5 positions(front-bright, front-dim, center position-off, tender-dim, tender-bright.

That's a pity, because the one I've made has only three positions. Perhaps I could put two side by side. I've made it so that the locomotive and tender lights are operated independently anyway (but they work only if the generator has been started - I've added a steam throttle rooster on the steam turret for that).

There may be some like that, I'm not sure, but if that's the way you design it i will certainly not be complaining even a little bit.

[CaseyRhodes]

On both the locomotives I work on there is a switch that controls both the locomotive and tender lights. It has 5 positions(front-bright, front-dim, center position-off, tender-dim, tender-bright.

That's a pity, because the one I've made has only three positions. Perhaps I could put two side by side. I've made it so that the locomotive and tender lights are operated independently anyway (but they work only if the generator has been started - I've added a steam throttle rooster on the steam turret for that).

There may be some like that, I'm not sure, but if that's the way you design it i will certainly not be complaining even a little bit.

[mrennie]

There may be some like that, I'm not sure, but if that's the way you design it i will certainly not be complaining even a little bit.

Thanks Casey, much appreciated! The selector looks so good now that I think I will put two side-by-side. It means there's nothing to stop someone having both headlights on at the same time, if they really want to.

The cab is nearly finished. After I've done the sawtoothed damper handle, the cab light (it'll be the kind that is turned on/off by simply unscrewing the bulb), the generator steam throttle, the tender headlight selector and animated the roof ventilator hatch, I'll send some more screenshots to Matt.

[BNSFdude]

There may be some like that, I'm not sure, but if that's the way you design it i will certainly not be complaining even a little bit.

Thanks Casey, much appreciated! The selector looks so good now that I think I will put two side-by-side. It means there's nothing to stop someone having both headlights on at the same time, if they really want to.

The cab is nearly finished. After I've done the sawtoothed damper handle, the cab light (it'll be the kind that is turned on/off by simply unscrewing the bulb), the generator steam throttle, the tender headlight selector and animated the roof ventilator hatch, I'll send some more screenshots to Matt.

Screw screenshots. Throw up some video!

[mrennie]

Screw screenshots. Throw up some video!

Good idea

Mind you, it would mean having to buy a licenc(/s)e for FRAPS or something, to get rid of the watermark

[mrennie]

I've done so more scripting and effects for the pick-up injectors. First, there's a working steam throttle. That's a valve on the steam pipe from the steam turret/manifold to the injector. The throttle has to be opened first (just once, after that it can be left open). Then, to operate the injector, you have to open the water supply valve first (you'll see water coming out of the overflow pipe under the cab, and the amount depends on how much you open the valve), before pulling the lever to admit steam into the Venturi chamber to pick up the water. If you pull the lever before opening the water valve, the injector fails to pick up, no water is injected into the boiler, even if you open the water valve, and steam comes out of the overflow pipe (the amount of steam depends on how far you pull the lever). If that happens, you need to close the lever, then open the water valve (and see that there's water overflow), then pull the lever. If the water valve is fully open, there'll still be a dribble of water at the overflow.

[thecanadianrail]

I've done so more scripting and effects for the pick-up injectors. First, there's a working steam throttle. That's a valve on the steam pipe from the steam turret/manifold to the injector. The throttle has to be opened first (just once, after that it can be left open). Then, to operate the injector, you have to open the water supply valve first (you'll see water coming out of the overflow pipe under the cab, and the amount depends on how much you open the valve), before pulling the lever to admit steam into the Venturi chamber to pick up the water. If you pull the lever before opening the water valve, the injector fails to pick up, no water is injected into the boiler, even if you open the water valve, and steam comes out of the overflow pipe (the amount of steam depends on how far you pull the lever). If that happens, you need to close the lever, then open the water valve (and see that there's water overflow), then pull the lever. If the water valve is fully open, there'll still be a dribble of water at the overflow.

so...um if everything on this is going to be this realistic is it even possible to be able to drive it on our own without either blowing up the locomotive or something crazy like that?

[mrennie]

He added in a secret little gadget for that, gotta wait till release to find out though

The secret gadget (actually, there's more than one) is to stop the player's computer from blowing up

As for driving the loco, have no worries. I didn't go as far as simulating the effect of not draining the compressor or locomotive cylinders properly, i.e. the cylinder heads won't get blown off. The blowdown valves also work fine, but if you do find the water level going down dangerously, you can always ... search for the manual :)

[mrennie]

Your driving me nuts, when is the release date already!!!???

I don't know about a release date, but I think I'm getting closer to a "sending it over to the beta testers" date. I'm doing the sounds now (mostly stereo for extra clarity), and that's almost the last thing to do.

[mrennie]

Don't forget about me

Sorry, I have to send it to the RSC test team.

[BNSFdude]

Don't forget about me

Sorry, I have to send it to the RSC test team.

Yes! I'll break out my red ink.

[mrennie]

Yes! I'll break out my red ink.

I think I'll do a bit more testing first then