Update on the steamers

[dtrainBNSF1]

I just got done taking the Cab Forward with tonnage and a mid-train helper for a nearly hour-long run using the F5 HUD; no problems came up.

The problems associated with the "Ran Out of Water" error could be rooted in the fact that each unit of an articulated locomotive is treated like its own engine. The main issue is that in articulated locos like the Big Boys and the Challengers is that you are technically in the rear unit, and thus the information provided to you may not fully represent what's going on in the unit in front of you. The Cab Forward seems to be behaving so far, and this is more thank likely because each unit of the Cab Forward is treated as a tank engine with its own fuel and water supply.

Perhaps a remedy for the Big Boys and Challengers may be to set up the first unit like a tank engine. I'll see what I can do once I get back to them.

The mod is now fully applied to all variants of the loco and stock. I'm taking care of one last thing before submitting it for publication: I'm releasing reworked versions of the Cab Forward standard scenarios to provide an opportunity to get right in the cab from the get-go. This includes implementing a rolling start in one scenario, rebuilding the consists to be a bit more prototypical in length and weight, and completely redoing the "Last Run" scenario which takes place on Dec. 1, 1957 because technically that run (the return trip to Sacramento) was a passenger run acting as the day's Overland Limited and the scenario's set up to be a freight scenario... I might make it a bit longer too, to Truckee. I'll set it in Fall because in the video clips I've seen there wasn't snow on the ground at least at Reno.

[dtrainBNSF1]

As of now I have mods released for the Big Boy, Challenger, Berkshire, SP&S Northern, and the Daylight. I'm working on a revised version of these mods plus releasing brand new mods for the Cab Forward and the PRR K4s.

[dtrainBNSF1]

Working on converting the Slippery Slope scenario. When you're trying to take nearly 1625t. down a 2.4% grade unassisted on a dark and stormy night it can get a bit hairy. Once I was traveling at 21mph when somehow I triggered the "oil on the tracks causes you to lose control!" message and by the time I got control again I was approaching a curve at 41mph with flanges squealing! And that's with all handbrakes on! I managed to keep it on the track, though.

I changed the starting location to just outside the entrance of Norden where you wait at the signal for an F7 passenger train before heading for the summit on track 1. I've also switched weather patterns in the scenarios so far to their equivalent 3D weather patterns; haven't changed the time of day. I think you'll agree in this scenario it adds a bit more atmosphere with heavy rain and high wind blowing the smoke off to the side:

Screenshot_Donner Pass Southern Pacific_39.31321--120.33766_18-36-29.jpg

Screenshot_Donner Pass Southern Pacific_39.31361--120.33679_18-36-35.jpg

Screenshot_Donner Pass Southern Pacific_39.31492--120.31568_18-39-44.jpg

Screenshot_Donner Pass Southern Pacific_39.30622--120.29682_18-45-42.jpg

Screenshot_Donner Pass Southern Pacific_39.30420--120.28690_18-50-48.jpg

[dtrainBNSF1]

For the Stuck in Snow scenario, I always thought it was odd that even though at the beginning of the scenario it states that you had just been dug out of the snow after being marooned but there was no evidence of any snow clearing efforts. Insert some strategically-placed assets and *voila!*:

Screenshot_Donner Pass Southern Pacific_39.31647--120.32567_20-00-47.jpg

Screenshot_Donner Pass Southern Pacific_39.31627--120.32455_20-00-32.jpg

Screenshot_Donner Pass Southern Pacific_39.31628--120.32547_20-00-22.jpg

[dtrainBNSF1]

Now working on The Last Run, according to a schedule right out of the 50s for the Overland Limited. The special took place over November 30 to December 1 in 1957 from Sacramento to Reno. It was chartered by the R&LHS. The return journey stood in for December 1's train No.27, the "Overland Limited". Power for the trip was provided for by AC-11 4274.

Here's a couple of shots of the preliminary changes.

Screenshot_Donner Pass Southern Pacific_39.52872--119.81281_06-33-41.jpg

Screenshot_Donner Pass Southern Pacific_39.52893--119.81168_06-33-23.jpg

[dtrainBNSF1]

The mod for the Cab Forward has been submitted, and hopefully in the near future should be available for download.

CF5 The Last Run will not be featured in the pack unfortunately. However I created a whole new bonus scenario to make up for its loss. I won't spoil what's in it here - you'll just have to download it when it comes out

On to the K4s!

[dtrainBNSF1]

Fellas, in a trial with the K4s pulling 8 heavyweight coaches on the East Coast Mainline (York-Newcastle) the loco hit 100mph ...and maintained it

That after a successful trial pulling the 1938 streamlined version of the Broadway Limited out of Altoona over Horseshoe Curve means that the mod is pretty much ready for publication Don't think I'll do any scenarios for this one, though.

I'm just going to adjust the particle emittor for the cylinder cocks later today and she should be ready to go.

Here's a shot of the speed trial on the ECML:

Screenshot_East Coast Mainline_54.12333--1.26206_12-13-15.jpg

[dtrainBNSF1]

Hey guys, I'm starting work on the final mod for the Berkshire, the SP&S E-1, and the GS-4. One of the things I'm trying to do is fix the sinking engineer issue is the Berk - I've already done it for the E-1. Chacal made a post a while ago about fixing the issue in all 3 of the locos, but I can't find the post. Can someone point me to that post?

[Railfan587]

Hey guys, I'm starting work on the final mod for the Berkshire, the SP&S E-1, and the GS-4. One of the things I'm trying to do is fix the sinking engineer issue is the Berk - I've already done it for the E-1. Chacal made a post a while ago about fixing the issue in all 3 of the locos, but I can't find the post. Can someone point me to that post?

I think this is it. viewtopic.php?f=47&t=12417&p=142994&hilit=+Berkshire#p142994

[TheOldDessauer]

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[ZekTheKid]

I've been waiting for a K4 mod!

[dtrainBNSF1]

Hey guys. Been a bit since I last updated. I'll summarize my activities.

Something in the steam simulation blueprint that in the past has been crucial to modifying steam engines now seems to be ignored: the effectivity line in the cylinder section. In the past I could go to the boiler section, adjust the maxoutput and exhaustlimit, then fine-tune the steam usage by going to the cylinder section and either adding or subtracting from the value in the effectivity line. Recently this line seems to be ignored, as the steam usage rate now seems to be unaffected by the effectivity line, so now I have some modified locos running around constantly blowing off at top speed with full throttle and full cutoff. I'm trying to figure out a workaround for this, perhaps by messing around with the various multipliers

So yeah, that's a thing.

[dtrainBNSF1]

Guys, as of now I am making a decision:

Any attempt to apply new mods to the Big Boy and Challenger just doesn't work right. Of the two the Big Boy appears more broken. It appears that for now those two locos are going to be put on hold until further notice . The newest revisions for these mods promised to be some of the best I've done so far. It's not an issue of backing up the work or anything, but the issue is that the steam production is uncontrollable now and nothing I do seems to even work anymore (and yes they are read/write according to RWtools). How in the world did DTG manage to "update" these engines and not only ignore the real issues with these locos but then leave them worse off than they were!?

That being said I think I can salvage the other locos since DTG hasn't tried to "update" those yet. I'll check the G-TraX locos and the K4s tomorrow to be sure.

[TexAvery]

Were you ever able to find out why the brakes wouldn't fully release on the G-Trax locomotives? I've been trying to find a solution for ages and can't find anything. I've been running it with the automatic fireman. After a few brake applications, the brake pipe pressure will release, and not entirely. After every subsequent release, the brake pipe recharges less and less. What gives?

[dtrainBNSF1]

Were you ever able to find out why the brakes wouldn't fully release on the G-Trax locomotives? I've been trying to find a solution for ages and can't find anything. I've been running it with the automatic fireman. After a few brake applications, the brake pipe pressure will release, and not entirely. After every subsequent release, the brake pipe recharges less and less. What gives?

I still have no clue, myself. I tried to alter the brakes, but then they wouldn't apply