Atomic Systems

Is there an idiots guide to driving a steam loco? I'm wondering what all the pressures should be kept at, when and how to use the controls, as it's alot more complicated than the diesel/electric accelerator and brake method.

Hi, I see no one else can be bothered to tell you the basics of how to drive a steam loco, so I will. I`m not saying i`m an expert when it comes to driving a steam loco because i`d rather breathe in the clag from a tractor or a duff than inhale the . from a kettle, but if you can drive a steam loco in msts, then you can drive one in RS in more or less the same way. But if your a complete noob with steam locos, then i`ll post my idiots guide to driving a steam loco & the idiots guide to braking videos once they`ve finished uploading to Youtube. And one final word of advice, if you decide to have a go at driving one, then make sure that the AI fireman is on & then you don`t have to worry about injectors & pressures.

Hi, just for the record, if you drive in intermediate skill mode, then you drive a steam loco in exactly the same way as a diesel. The only thing I don't like about driving steam is that you can't see much when inside the cab. I always drive in '2' view alongside the loco! I've been the full length of Templecombe Bath in both directions without running out of steam or any other problems, except for stalling on the 1 in 50 banks when I've got more than 4 coaches on the back. Then I simply add another loco and drive from the front one!

I haven't had time until now to find the materials I put in a package I created for setting up steam locos for the old TrainSim. Here are the hints I included for running steam locos. I've tried to delete things that don't apply to the way RailSim works:

(1) The first rule of efficient locomotive running is to use the largest throttle setting and the shortest cutoff setting consistent with the work to be done. This will use the least amount of steam at the highest pressure.
(6) Fire mass levels should be allowed to vary with the work to be done. Running at or slightly above the ideal mass when heavy work is to be done will help keep steam generation at a high level. Allowing the fire to drop to 67 – 75% of mass when steam usage is light will reduce pop-off waste. Building the fire up the 110 – 120% of maximum value in anticipation of a grade will help keep the fire hot when steam usage increases on the grade.
(7) Run the injectors as steadily as possible. During periods of heavy use a rate of about 50% ought to help keep the water level steady; 30% or so works better for lighter use. Prototype practice would have shut off the injectors when the loco was stationary for any period of time to avoid uneven cooling of the boiler. Periods of extremely high steam usage may require temporary shutdown of the injectors in order to keep steam levels up.
(8) Opening the cylinder cocks after being stopped for more than a minute or two was sometimes a RR requirement to keep from attempting to compress the condensed steam and blowing the cylinder head off.
(9) The engineer and fireman must work in complete harmony, anticipating what is to come. Since you will be both engineer and fireman this means that you must plan ahead and not just react. Anticipate grades and hill- tops. Don’t over fire for switching operations or drifting.
(10) Remember than running a steam locomotive was anything but a passive activity. One cannot expect to just set the reverser, open the throttle, and let her roll. Continual attention to the condition of the locomotive and boiler is necessary and frequent adjustments in the reverser and throttle should be expected. The fireman must keep a sharp eye on the glass and fire level to make sure that he is keeping up with the required steam usage. For his part, the engineer should not waste steam and create unnecessary demands on the boiler.

Bill Hobbs