Atomic Systems

Hi guys,

I have found that the v1 .eng calculator works fine for prototypical values of NG locos, except for the MaxWaterMass which sometimes gives a #NUM error.

Thanks for the info re. articulateds. I never did feel my FR Double Fairlies worked as they should. I'll try your method.

Martin G

Hi Guys, Lots of good stuff. Ian, I know the 'max power' is a very important parameter and is relatively independant from the 'max force' capability of a steam locomotive: the question is whether the entry in the .eng file actually does anything or not! My experience to date is that the 'Max Power' ...

Thanks Rick. An excellent treatise.

Martin G

Andrew, I know you are busy with all sorts of things but did you ever get the x2 Wren ready for upload? I may have missed it - if so then my apologies.

Martin G

Thanks for the help. If/when I find out the dimensions, I'll let you all know. Incidentally, I fired the Blanche in the early 70s (and the Alco, but never a Fairlie, mores the pity - I only got a ride across the Cob on the driver's side, sharing the space with Evan Davies) so I'll gladly give a dona...

Hi, I just typed a long and rambling message which was lost, probably mercifully, when I tried to submit. The essence was 1. I think it should stay square because it looks good!!! and 2. I would like to know about the hinted at design flaws. However my real reason for this message is a request for b...

Thanks again Rick/Ian, Plenty to play with now. I of course use Ian's calculator all the time and wonderful it is too - looking forward to the update. With regard to experience, Rick, mine is all narrow gauge (Festiniog fireman in early 70's) and then avid learning, so I was never employed - not pai...

Thanks Rick, Yes I know about the 'double acting' fix but I havn't thought about using a cylinder (in)effciency factor to as high as 3. I suppose that I have been fixated by the boiler generating its steam and then working out how to use it correctly. I see now that if I get the usage rates correct ...

Hi Rick, Your comment about water consumption strikes at the heart of the problem. For a long while I have used values for 'max water mass' of between about a half and a third of the correct values since this causes the water in the glass to fall at more realistic rates. I obviously have to adjust t...

Hi Ian,

I agree with all you say, but it returns us to my original question - how can you raise or lower the steam consumption without altering our previously, and tediously, arranged 'correct' feed rates? I don't know how.

Martin

Ah ha! Thats one of the HUD displays that I have removed from the screen as irrelevant clutter. That'll learn me!

Martin

Ian, The spelling of 'varience' doesn't make any difference and so I was looking at your results again when something struck me. I don't know how you are measuring your feed rates but I am just looking at the rise in the gauge glass as a fraction of how much is in the boiler eg if the max water mass...

Fascinating stuff! Yes, I well remember the wet rag and buckets of water desperately trying to get an overheated 'lifting' injector to lift. Not something you forget in a hurry with the water in the bottom nut! Getting back to the Sim settings, Ian something different is happening in your models to ...

Hi, After exhuastive (pun) testing which took all of 1 1/2 hours! and which I should have done a year ago (to my shame) I have established to my own satisfaction that the InjectorWaterValveVariance line is inoperative. I tried figures of between -0.25 and 25 and all the sensible ones in between with...

Thanks Rick, most helpful. Martin G