SDJR activity Morning school run

[SDtrains]

Hi,

I have progressed this activity to picking up the freight and then proceeding to Bath, keeping good time. Then, just north of Evercreech New, the loco grinds to a halt on the slope with 180Lbs in the boiler and 160Lbs+ on the cylinders. I tried repeating it, but the same problem appears. Am I missing something? I know that the 2P was fairly light footed being a 4-4-0, but it looks like these physics will never get it to Bath, even with only a few wagons in tow.

Regards

[casperdog]

Hi,
I assume dampers are at 100 %, brakes at running, regulator 99 % and sanding constantly.

You should reach Evercreech New at about 20 MPH accelerating to about 38 MPH on the flat section. At the start of the climb usually about 35% cut off. As speed drops, increase cut off. Around mp24 i was down to 22MPH and 47% cut off. From then on it was juggling the cut off to keep just below the steam generation rate. As i reached the Landrovers about halfway between mp 24 and mp23, 75% c/o and 14 MPH. Just about maintained that speed until the line started levelling off at Shepton.

Hope that helps.

cheers
Clive

[SDtrains]

Hi Clive,

Thanks for your quick reply. I have tried getting the 2P to go through hoops but it's obviously not using the same physics as yours. Was there a revision? If so, this could be the solution, but If so, I must have missed the download. The 2P looks like it was never intended to lug freight around. 6'9" drivers compare unfavourably with the T9's 6'7"", and the T9 was rated 3P, and rarely seen on the S&D. I don't recall seeing any evidence of the 2P replacement class, the BR Standard 4 tanks, hauling freight either. Far more likely to have been a 4F or 7F ( 8Fs later on). At least I had a go!

Regards,

Steve

[eholly]

Hi Steve

At milepost 23 I had 75% c/o - 97% regulator - Sanders on - was managing 17.7 mph - my Small Ejector (J key) was closed - Dampers 100% - steam heat (Shift - U) off - Boiler pressure steady at 178psi - and then the line levelled out and I adjusted everything down a few notches to pick up speed and attack the final climb to the summit at Masebury. Yes, I agree the 2P was not built for hauling max loads up gradients - but a bit of fiddling around and the fireman with bacon & eggs on his shovel to scoff on the easy run down through Midsomer Norton works a treat!

Best Regards

Eric

[michaelhendle]

Hi,

As I gave Clive the Idea for the Shepton Mallet School Run, looking at the working Time Table the 2P arrived back at Evercreech Junc at 09.05,dropped the stock off and it's next booked service was Pilot Loco for 1M01 Pines Express departing Evercreech Junc at 1103.

It seems the 2P was mainly used as a Pilot Loco.it's next booked journey from Bath was to Pilot the 1O16, 15.06 Down Pines Express,as far as Evercreech Junc.

What I think Clive has done is to use the 2P to make up a series of different trains,to make the activity more interesting,although not prototypical,for the School run,4F's were used on trains to and from Shepton Mallet,It seems the 2P was mainly used as a Pilot Loco.it's next booked journey from Bath was to Pilot the 1O16, 15.06 Down Pines Express,as far as Evercreech Junc.

I'm not sure what other services are involved with this activity,but try useing a 4F instead of the 2P the S&D used them on both Passenger & Freight Trains

Or Persevere and try and get the 2P as far as Bath, it will test your driving skills just like the real S&D,you ask any ex BMO,Templecoombe, Bath driver.

[casperdog]

Hi Michael
Yes, i've finally got around to trying to make some activities using those services you suggested. The 9H42 is coming within a week or so.

Your timings for the 2P shows how difficult it is to actually make 'real to life' activities. A run to Shepton, back to Evercreech and sit there for 2 hours. No doubt the crew did something else but to replicate that is probably difficult, i think. I've seen complaints that a red has stopped someone for 3 minutes. And arriving late!!!!!!!! lol. From my memory in the early sixties if you were 15 mins late you were early.

Funny enough, i 'dumbed' down the activities for the DVD (it is coming) by adding pilots and bankers because of the cries of it can't be done on the original activities, only for Pete at UKTS to ask if i minded him making 'clones' of the activities without the helpers because they were too easy. Can't win so i've stopped trying. If i can run the activity then it stands.

I've got some more ideas from those suggestions you made, but i cant find any decent ex LNER coaches at the moment.

Cheers
Clive

[eholly]

Hi Clive

I absolutely loved this activity and can't wait for your next! Please make it another long one. For anyone who is interested, here are my timings for the completed Morning School Run:-

SERVICE STATION ARRIVE ACTUAL DEPART ACTUAL
Templecombe MPD START 07.40
Templecombe Empties Templecombe 08.02 08.02.15
Morning School Run
Evercreech Junction 08.20 08.18.38 08.20 08.20.21
Evercreech New 08.26 08.23.59 08.26 08.26.02
Shepton Mallet 08.33 08.30.56 08.33 08.33.15
Carriages to Siding Shepton Mallet 08.35
Mixed Freight to Bath
First Pick-Up Evercreech Junction 08.43.17
Second Pick-Up at Evercreech Junction 08.46.06
Right-Away 08.50 08.50.04
Arrival at Bath 09.31.40
Bath to Writhlington Empty Coal
Coupled to Empties 09.36.20
Right-Away 09.41 09.41.15
Arrival at Writhlington 09.58.28
Writhlington to Templecombe Coal
Coupled to rear 10.01.47
Right-Away 10.06 10.06.30
Arrival at Templecombe 10.50.48
Templecombe to Evercreech Junction Mixed Freight
Coupled to Freight 10.58.23
Right-Away 11.00 11.00.15
Arrival at
Evercreech Junction 11.17.54
Light Engine to Shepton Mallet
Right-Away 11.19 11.19.20
Arrival 11.27.59
Shepton Mallet to Templecombe Local Passenger
Right-Away 11.38 11.38.20
Evercreech New 11.44 11.42.47 11.44 11.44.05
Evercreech Junction 11.50 11.47.23 11.50 11.50.02
Cole 11.56 11.53.28 11.56 11.56.02
Wincanton 12.03 12.01.45 12.03 12.03.06
Templecombe Upper 12.13 12.10.34 12.13

There was only one area that caused me to scratch my white hair! At the start of the last leg, I didn't pay enough attention to the pop up message that stated - "Take the coaches to Platform 1 and use the reverse points to run around etc,." So me being me, I ignored that little gem and put them into the first platform that offered itself - Platform 2, which totally screwed up the whole operation! Once I sorted that out, it was plain sailing.

And also, while driving the 2P up the gradients, as well as the other settings given above, don't forget to use your blower (N key) and make sure your Fire Mass is sufficient to generate enough steam.

Many thanks Clive (and thanks too to Jim Ashman for all his hard work testing this and many more of our best activities).

Eric

[jimmyladd]

On the freight part from Templecombe to Evercreech, I get a red just before the pointwork for the sidings in Evercreech and get stuck there. I even get the popup message about leaving Shepton Mallet. There doesn't appear to be any traffic about causing a standoff. Anybody else had this?

[eholly]

Hi Jimmy

The red you describe is there for you to gently nudge! If you don't get the 2P as close as possible to this red, the reverse point behind your train will not clear. As soon as the reverse point clears, reverse the mixed freight into the MIDDLE siding between the main running lines at Evercreech Junction station. Take the brakevan as near as possible to the Buffer Stops and the reverse point for this movement will clear. Uncouple and wait for the Right-Away to Shepton Mallet light engine.

I repeat, the Red you are stopped at will not clear! You reverse from same red into the middle siding near the platforms.

Hope this helps.

Eric

[jimmyladd]

Hi Jimmy

The red you describe is there for you to gently nudge! If you don't get the 2P as close as possible to this red, the reverse point behind your train will not clear. As soon as the reverse point clears, reverse the mixed freight into the MIDDLE siding between the main running lines at Evercreech Junction station. Take the brakevan as near as possible to the Buffer Stops and the reverse point for this movement will clear. Uncouple and wait for the Right-Away to Shepton Mallet light engine.

I repeat, the Red you are stopped at will not clear! You reverse from same red into the middle siding near the platforms.

Hope this helps.

Eric

Thanks Eric, I thought I was pushing my luck as it was! Fortunately I saved the game just before I got to Evercreech, so no time lost.
Cheers
Jim

[jimmyladd]

Just completed it and I have to say, this is probably the best activity I have ever run, Absolutely supurb. The only very minor question mark is, why was it set so you supposed to stop at every station you passed irrespective of the instructions given? At the end it said I had failed to stop at 31 stations!
Jim

[CrisGer]

I am really looking forward to driving this act once i finish the one I am currently working on for the S and D thanks to the writers for the great acts!

[eholly]

Hi Jim

Yes, I had the same thought about missing all those stations. But if you think about it, Clive had imposed that 45mph speed limit throughout (and you got a bollockin' if you nudged 44!) - to then stop at 31 stations would have put you so far behind time, perhaps everything else wouldn't have fallen into place so nicely?

I agree Jim, fabulous act - I'm looking forward to to the release of Clive's DVD - just in case there are more activities of this quality on there.

Glad I could help you earlier.

Best regards

Eric

[casperdog]

Hi
Glad the activity is giving a bit of fun and yes those 31 extra (non) stops wasn't a perfect solution but was the only way i could get those last few passenger stops too work correctly. I think so many crossing paths was seriously confusing MSTS so that when i left them out, the last run just wouldn't register.

I quite liked the 'speed limiter' warnings idea. No one has reported being thrown off the footplate yet, so i can only assume all drivers have behaved themselves. lol.

Cheers
Clive

[jimmyladd]

Hi Clive, thanks of the explanation, I've never created such a complex path as that so never had an issue with msts getting station stops fuddled. I hate to think how long it took you to write and debug that act! Knowing an msts activity foyble, and because I dallied a bit with the banked freight to Templecombe, I did 60 running light engine in reverse to get to my next train quickly to gain back a few minutes! I'd fogottten to do a save for ages and didn't fancy going back. Other than that I stuck to 45.
Cheers
Jim