C&O BLC lumber camp crane question??

[NKP1]

How do I operate the cranes at the lumber camps? Do I need to be in a certain spot with the empty skeleton cars? Do the cranes give me logs?

[OldProf]

The lumber loaders work the same as any other loader: 1) align the car to be loaded with the loader (there's a small symbol in the F4 HUD ribbon to help with this, but it isn't always accurate, so eye-balling is better: align the "helicopter" camera with the car to be loaded, then turn the camera so you're looking across the car's side toward the loader and place the car and loader directly across from one another); 2) start the loader (yes, it "makes" its own logs) by pressing the T key or clicking on the loading symbol in the F4 HUD. That should do the trick. Here's another tip: once you've lined up the first car to be loaded correctly, press the 8 key to keep the camera in that position as you line up each of the rest of the empties in turn. Once loading is complete, press the 1, 2, or 3 key to return the camera to the engine.

Hope this helps,

[robbit]

Thanks for the 8 key hint. I do not know why that idea never came to mind before

[Machinist]

8 key is my old friend... especially with Krellnut wagons sound I like to go to head out view and press "8", and then appreciate the wagons rolling almost hitting my ears, and my ears hearing each one of those awesome wagons sounds fading in and out....

[robbit]

yes I like 8 key but I was referring to using it while using loaders

[Machinist]

So it means you didn't use it on Show Case at Cranes LEP freeroam?

[robbit]

no I kept moving to next car lol

[NKP1]

That does not work at BLC_SDG_Camp1Loading. Help please.

[OldProf]

All right: I just set up a simple Standard Scenario at Camp 1 to test that loader. I placed a Shay engine and three log skeletons, assigned a driver to the Shay, and then put in three load instructions for BLC_SDG_Camp1Loading. When I tested the scenario, everything worked exactly as it should.

So here are some questions: 1) what kind of a scenario are you using: Freeroam, Standard, or Timetabled? 2) what kind of cars are you trying to load (please be specific)? 3) are you sure that you're aligning the car with the logger properly (the car must be positioned precisely opposite the loader's clam-shell)? 4) did you create the scenario or are you using someone else's scenario (if the latter, please provide full name and source)?

Please do not respond to me via PM again: posting in the forum is sufficient.

[NKP1]

Freeroam BLC Shay. I am using the green Shay to haul up the three green empty log cars which are parked nearby. See attached pic. What's happening is when I have it lined up and click on it, instead of loading the logs the crane and stack of logs behind the guy standing on the stump turn dark for a second and then nothing. I must be missing something. Also at the sawmill area when I try to unload the logs, the load disappears ok but the program and computer locks up the moment it does so. It doesn't matter if TSX is on or not. Willing to try anything at this point. Appreciate your help.

[OldProf]

Freeroam BLC Shay. I am using the green Shay to haul up the three green empty log cars which are parked nearby. See attached pic. What's happening is when I have it lined up and click on it, instead of loading the logs the crane and stack of logs behind the guy standing on the stump turn dark for a second and then nothing. I must be missing something. Also at the sawmill area when I try to unload the logs, the load disappears ok but the program and computer locks up the moment it does so. It doesn't matter if TSX is on or not. Willing to try anything at this point. Appreciate your help.

So at this point, practically the only thing different between your experiment and mine is that you're running a free-roam scenario. I'll try to find time to test the loader in a free-roam situation later today. Do you have the latest version (4.5, I think) of the route installed and all of its resources? Have you verified the cache and defragmented your RW installation recently? Oh, more questions: what exactly are you clicking on? There are two possibilities: the small loading symbol that appears when the mouse pointer is hovered near the loader and the loading icon in the F4 HUD? Have you tried pressing the "T" key? I noticed that slight darkening as well just before the loader activates (or, in your case, does not activate).

[Machinist]

Just to let you know that I have a freeroam at cranes on San Bernardino, and the load/unload operations work fine with flatcars (not only default) with that (default) cranes.

[NKP1]

All of the above. It makes no difference whether I click on the loading symbol, the F4 hud icon or press "T". Same deal regardless. COA v.4.5 verified cache intergrity, cleared cache. Defragged. Incidentally running TS2012 on a dedicated SSD under Windows 7, 64bit. My only thought at the moment is to un-install and re-install the route. I also see in the village of Anthony there is a red object floating in midair above the village. With my version of COA there are only two scenarios involving the BLC. And those are free roam. One with UK stock and the other with the BLC logging set. If there are more scenarios for the BLC please enlighten me.

[dick8299]

You might want to reinstall the logging camp crane ( search file library for dick8299-Logging_Camp_Crane in the RW2 section.

[NKP1]

Thanks Dick! That did it. Installed your crane which apparently repaired the old one which seems to be broke in my copy of COA 4.5. Beautiful animation. I now have a full load of logs to take back to the sawmill. Been trying to do this for a week.