Union Pacific FEF-3 4-8-4 Northern type steam locomotive, by Smokebox

[mrennie]

It may be easier, but you are unworthy if you can't run the Adv. I wouldn't have it any other way!

I've actually been running the Adv more and more and even doing an impressive job without the auto fireman. Keeps you busy it does.
This is the greatest thing that's happin to this game for a long time. Really am having a blast with this loco! Well worth the wait.

if you click the noticeboard on the left side of the cab (above the windows), you get a report that gives an idea of how well you're doing - the aim is to reduce the percentages of black smoke, white smoke, blockages, wheel skid, etc. It also shows the maximum speed you attained since the start of a scenario (and it remembers all that info when you save and resume).

[AdmiralLeviathan]

I'm slowly getting the hang of this beauty-- in 2 mph increments. It's a start

[FanRailer]

I noticed a few things while setting up for my Sherman Hill excursion:
1. The coupler slack on the SD70ACe and the passenger cars that comes with the pack is huge, meaning that the space between cars can be so large when accelerating that it is unrealistic (I fixed my own copy by subbing in the Amfleet coupler specs, which have almost no slack).
2. From the files contained in the folder scheme, it appears that the dome car SHOULD have a passenger view, but in the Dome_car.bin the section for the interior is empty (doesn't call for the DomeCarCabCamera.xml to be used, even though that file is there). Is this the case? Or was the dome car not meant to come with a passenger view camera?

[mrennie]

I noticed a few things while setting up for my Sherman Hill excursion:
1. The coupler slack on the SD70ACe and the passenger cars that comes with the pack is huge, meaning that the space between cars can be so large when accelerating that it is unrealistic (I fixed my own copy by subbing in the Amfleet coupler specs, which have almost no slack).
2. From the files contained in the folder scheme, it appears that the dome car SHOULD have a passenger view, but in the Dome_car.bin the section for the interior is empty (doesn't call for the DomeCarCabCamera.xml to be used, even though that file is there). Is this the case? Or was the dome car not meant to come with a passenger view camera?

It looks like you've got the borked version that they put in with the 48.9a beta preview. The dome car isn't meant to have a passenger view camera. The couplings was the last thing I fixed in the final release that is in 48.0a.

I could strangle DTG for all the hassle they've caused with this *%$£&? up release.

[FanRailer]

I noticed a few things while setting up for my Sherman Hill excursion:
1. The coupler slack on the SD70ACe and the passenger cars that comes with the pack is huge, meaning that the space between cars can be so large when accelerating that it is unrealistic (I fixed my own copy by subbing in the Amfleet coupler specs, which have almost no slack).
2. From the files contained in the folder scheme, it appears that the dome car SHOULD have a passenger view, but in the Dome_car.bin the section for the interior is empty (doesn't call for the DomeCarCabCamera.xml to be used, even though that file is there). Is this the case? Or was the dome car not meant to come with a passenger view camera?

It looks like you've got the borked version that they put in with the 48.9a beta preview. The dome car isn't meant to have a passenger view camera. The couplings was the last thing I fixed in the final release that is in 48.0a.

I could strangle DTG for all the hassle they've caused with this *%$£&? up release.

lolol. Well, I only discovered the coupling thingy AFTER I uninstalled the beta with the old busted tender and reinstalled the stable version with the complete tender. So technically, isn't this the 48.0a version? Idk...

[mrennie]

I noticed a few things while setting up for my Sherman Hill excursion:
1. The coupler slack on the SD70ACe and the passenger cars that comes with the pack is huge, meaning that the space between cars can be so large when accelerating that it is unrealistic (I fixed my own copy by subbing in the Amfleet coupler specs, which have almost no slack).
2. From the files contained in the folder scheme, it appears that the dome car SHOULD have a passenger view, but in the Dome_car.bin the section for the interior is empty (doesn't call for the DomeCarCabCamera.xml to be used, even though that file is there). Is this the case? Or was the dome car not meant to come with a passenger view camera?

It looks like you've got the borked version that they put in with the 48.9a beta preview. The dome car isn't meant to have a passenger view camera. The couplings was the last thing I fixed in the final release that is in 48.0a.

I could strangle DTG for all the hassle they've caused with this *%$£&? up release.

lolol. Well, I only discovered the coupling thingy AFTER I uninstalled the beta with the old busted tender and reinstalled the stable version with the complete tender. So technically, isn't this the 48.0a version? Idk...

Hmm, maybe there's still a problem with the SD70ACe - the only things I changed on that were the script, the tractive effort and the numbering. The rest is the same as the default SD70ACe.

[FanRailer]

Oh, also, apparently the 8444 is providing power to the rails even though the MU stand isn't commanding any power from it. Someone on youtube commented that he made one uphill run with the locomotive attached, but in "idle", and made it to the top; then he made another run with the same train, but without the 8444, and he stalled that time. I don't know if that was intended, but you may want to look at that.

[buzz456]

Talk about the picking of nits...................

[FanRailer]

Talk about the picking of nits...................

You make it sound like I'm not allowed to bring up possible issues..........

Just for the record, despite the minor stuff that has come up, this is still the greatest DLC released to date.

[buzz456]

Have you ever heard of PM?

[gtw5812]

How can you not love this locomotive!!! LMAO! Guys...text / messages are so "impersonal" ... "can't we all just get along?"!! (Famous words!)... I had to get off Sherman...and onto RWA, so I can practice! And I fire real locomotives! All in all, this is the BEST...the BEST, Hands down DLC that we have received. I love the removable parts (Elephant ears, Lights.. etc.), I would love to see a version which would date it earlier, i.e.; single stack, single light, smaller pilot, and 6 axle tender), obviously, there is "smart folks" like Mike that can make it happen! Thanks Mike, and everyone else who had a hand in this! I am loving it! Here is a couple of shots on the RWA...in HD Hud mode...since I am still learning the cab!

Best Regards!

Galen

[mrennie]

How can you not love this locomotive!!! LMAO! Guys...text / messages are so "impersonal" ... "can't we all just get along?"!! (Famous words!)... I had to get off Sherman...and onto RWA, so I can practice! And I fire real locomotives! All in all, this is the BEST...the BEST, Hands down DLC that we have received. I love the removable parts (Elephant ears, Lights.. etc.), I would love to see a version which would date it earlier, i.e.; single stack, single light, smaller pilot, and 6 axle tender), obviously, there is "smart folks" like Mike that can make it happen! Thanks Mike, and everyone else who had a hand in this! I am loving it! Here is a couple of shots on the RWA...in HD Hud mode...since I am still learning the cab!

Best Regards!

Galen

Thanks Galen! To hear this from someone who fires real locomotives ... it means a lot

[mrennie]

Oh, also, apparently the 8444 is providing power to the rails even though the MU stand isn't commanding any power from it. Someone on youtube commented that he made one uphill run with the locomotive attached, but in "idle", and made it to the top; then he made another run with the same train, but without the 8444, and he stalled that time. I don't know if that was intended, but you may want to look at that.

The m.u. connection is an aural and visual illusion. The core code doesn't allow proper multiple unit working between steam and diesel. When you've got the steam locomotive selected, the diesel will always obey the regulator and reverser settings of the steamer (and vice versa) - there's no way around that (maybe they'll do this better in TS2). So to give the impression (remember that everything in a simulator is all about creating a believable illusion) that you are operating the diesel, the m.u. controller in the FEF-3 does actually cause the diesel's throttle and reverser controls to match those selected on the m.u. controller (as long as you've switched on the Gen Fld) and (this is the aural illusion) changes the sound coming from the diesel to match the selected notch. However, until you switch cab views and go into the diesel (at which time you'll see that the notch and direction have been changed), the diesel physics will obey the "regulator" and "reverser" values of the steamer, regardless of the m.u. controller. Since the regulator of the FEF-3 can be at 100% a lot of the time, while you control the cut-off, it would mean that the diesel would be in notch 8 a lot of the time. That caused a lot of problems (such as making the FEF-3 skid). To avoid that, I deliberately reduced the tractive effort of 8444. So, you get some help from the helper when the throttle of 844 is open (or more precisely, when the "regulator" - which is actually the amount of steam in the steam chest - value rises). but not too much. The main benefit of the m.u. controller is that the sound coming from 8444 is correct for the notch that you've selected, so you get the sense of immersion and it feels as though you're controlling the diesel.

Does that all make sense?

[mikeg1250]

Oh, also, apparently the 8444 is providing power to the rails even though the MU stand isn't commanding any power from it. Someone on youtube commented that he made one uphill run with the locomotive attached, but in "idle", and made it to the top; then he made another run with the same train, but without the 8444, and he stalled that time. I don't know if that was intended, but you may want to look at that.

The m.u. connection is an aural and visual illusion. The core code doesn't allow proper multiple unit working between steam and diesel. When you've got the steam locomotive selected, the diesel will always obey the regulator and reverser settings of the steamer (and vice versa) - there's no way around that (maybe they'll do this better in TS2). So to give the impression (remember that everything in a simulator is all about creating a believable illusion) that you are operating the diesel, the m.u. controller in the FEF-3 does actually cause the diesel's throttle and reverser controls to match those selected on the m.u. controller (as long as you've switched on the Gen Fld) and (this is the aural illusion) changes the sound coming from the diesel to match the selected notch. However, until you switch cab views and go into the diesel (at which time you'll see that the notch and direction have been changed), the diesel physics will obey the "regulator" and "reverser" values of the steamer, regardless of the m.u. controller. Since the regulator of the FEF-3 can be at 100% a lot of the time, while you control the cut-off, it would mean that the diesel would be in notch 8 a lot of the time. That caused a lot of problems (such as making the FEF-3 skid). To avoid that, I deliberately reduced the tractive effort of 8444. So, you get some help from the helper when the throttle of 844 is open (or more precisely, when the "regulator" - which is actually the amount of steam in the steam chest - value rises). but not too much. The main benefit of the m.u. controller is that the sound coming from 8444 is correct for the notch that you've selected, so you get the sense of immersion and it feels as though you're controlling the diesel.

Does that all make sense?

So just to clarify, the MU Controller is just there for looks and really does not effect the power output of the 8444 (only the sound) correct? If you knock down the Generator Field switch, will the 8444 still provide assistance based on the 844's regulator or is just along for the ride at that point?

[FanRailer]

Oh, also, apparently the 8444 is providing power to the rails even though the MU stand isn't commanding any power from it. Someone on youtube commented that he made one uphill run with the locomotive attached, but in "idle", and made it to the top; then he made another run with the same train, but without the 8444, and he stalled that time. I don't know if that was intended, but you may want to look at that.

The m.u. connection is an aural and visual illusion. The core code doesn't allow proper multiple unit working between steam and diesel. When you've got the steam locomotive selected, the diesel will always obey the regulator and reverser settings of the steamer (and vice versa) - there's no way around that (maybe they'll do this better in TS2). So to give the impression (remember that everything in a simulator is all about creating a believable illusion) that you are operating the diesel, the m.u. controller in the FEF-3 does actually cause the diesel's throttle and reverser controls to match those selected on the m.u. controller (as long as you've switched on the Gen Fld) and (this is the aural illusion) changes the sound coming from the diesel to match the selected notch. However, until you switch cab views and go into the diesel (at which time you'll see that the notch and direction have been changed), the diesel physics will obey the "regulator" and "reverser" values of the steamer, regardless of the m.u. controller. Since the regulator of the FEF-3 can be at 100% a lot of the time, while you control the cut-off, it would mean that the diesel would be in notch 8 a lot of the time. That caused a lot of problems (such as making the FEF-3 skid). To avoid that, I deliberately reduced the tractive effort of 8444. So, you get some help from the helper when the throttle of 844 is open (or more precisely, when the "regulator" - which is actually the amount of steam in the steam chest - value rises). but not too much. The main benefit of the m.u. controller is that the sound coming from 8444 is correct for the notch that you've selected, so you get the sense of immersion and it feels as though you're controlling the diesel.

Does that all make sense?

Yes, that makes sense. Thanks for the explanation.

Have you ever heard of PM?

In fact I have, believe it or not, and I have privately contacted Mike for more personal issues and questions. But I prefer to ask certain questions publicly, as a public answer might, just MIGHT, be beneficial to those who are wondering about the same things.