Tackling Raquette Lake Hill

[bpetit]

I made scenario earlier today with the AT&N Consolidation climbing the 2.0-2.5% grade with 8 loads and a caboose. I hit the grade at 12 mph, then slipped and went down to 9 mph. I stopped her before the foot of the 2.5% grade to take more coal and water. I crested at 6 mph and proceed down to Eagle Lake.

Mike also gave it a shot and here is his words on it.

This'll sort the men from the boys.

This is very hard!

Succeeded at the fourth attempt! 5mph coming over the crest of the hill. You really do have to be on the ball with this one, watching the throttle, cut-off, fire and water all the time (I was almost getting dizzy flicking back and forwards between the two sides of the cab!). Then there's the downhill part - got to be very accurate setting the brakes and anticipate the right moment to release them before passing from the 20mph zone to the 40mph stretch. It's a really good test of skill.

And here is the file in case anyone would like to try. (It's doable with auto-fireman.)

http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/f ... =223847350

[mrennie]

I made scenario earlier today with the AT&N Consolidation climbing the 2.0-2.5% grade with 8 loads and a caboose. I hit the grade at 12 mph, then slipped and went down to 9 mph. I stopped her before the foot of the 2.5% grade to take more coal and water. I crested at 6 mph and proceed down to Eagle Lake.

Mike also gave it a shot and here is his words on it.

This'll sort the men from the boys.

This is very hard!

Succeeded at the fourth attempt! 5mph coming over the crest of the hill. You really do have to be on the ball with this one, watching the throttle, cut-off, fire and water all the time (I was almost getting dizzy flicking back and forwards between the two sides of the cab!). Then there's the downhill part - got to be very accurate setting the brakes and anticipate the right moment to release them before passing from the 20mph zone to the 40mph stretch. It's a really good test of skill.

And here is the file in case anyone would like to try. (It's doable with auto-fireman.)

http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/f ... =223847350

Ah, you stopped mid-way! I crested the hill at around 5mph, but without stopping (and 5mph was my slowest speed all the way), but ... it took me four goes to do that!! The first three times I tried it, I stalled out (first time because I ended up with too much coal on the fire, second time because I forgot to keep an eye on the water - best to maintain the ball near the top all the time, and it does goes down fast! - and the third time because I was so busy with the water that I forgot to adjust the throttle).

[slick204]

That 2.5% section is a killer! I did make it up and over at around 5 mph like Mike. I just had the fireman shoveling as fast as he could!
I didn't add any water until after cresting the hill. It was basically full at the start.

A nice challenging run; thanks for putting it together.

[bpetit]

That 2.5% section is a killer! I did make it up and over at around 5 mph like Mike. I just had the fireman shoveling as fast as he could!
I didn't add any water until after cresting the hill. It was basically full at the start.

A nice challenging run; thanks for putting it together.

Yes but the other side is way easier you could make it up there with 10 cars I wanna bet.

[NorthernWarrior]

Glad it's testing Engineer and traction! 2.5% should be the steepest grade (1 in 40 in BritGradeSpeak) - you could always put a pusher on the rear...

[mrennie]

Glad it's testing Engineer and traction! 2.5% should be the steepest grade (1 in 40 in BritGradeSpeak) - you could always put a pusher on the rear...

... and if you put the "AI Helper" variant on the rear, it automatically switches on its red classification lights.