Manual or AI

[dcduncan]

I will use both methods, but for different reasons. I will use the manual firing for developing .eng files, at least to tune the coal and water consumption. But for most driving I run with the AI fireman, there are several reasons for this, and only one is lazyness. In a real steam engine you either drive or fire it (unless it's very small), whereas here you would have to do both. It is far more difficult to fire and drive on the routes partly because I for one don't know any of them in enough detail to balance steam production and use, with the exceptions of the SVR and WLLR. That means that I get things wrong too often to really enjoy it. Lastly I like to look at the scenery and if firing as well you get less chance.

David

[mjt222]

Manual all the time except for the BATS B1, thats a real hard one to get sorted so I cheat and use AI for that one only.

[supergoods]

I missed this one when originally posted since I was on zero internet in Northern Norway at the time.

I always run with manual firing rather than AI for the better reality it can deliver.

The main issues in AI are:

1) The injectors function together so it is very hard to get even steam consumption, this makes for great difficulties when slogging up hill.

2) The blower functions randomly

3) The dampers are actually still available, but do not appear on the HUD so you wouldn't know it.

As Rick, in his post of December 24 so rightly says, you can still overide these controls to some extent.

But if you have to do this to get even passable results, why would you not want to go to manual firing and get a better result in the first place.

A lot depends on how refined the overall .eng file is, the dreaded default scotsman file can do just about anything, but does not have prototype performance and certainly not prototype consumptions. The more demanding you make the performance, the more you need manual firing and the more satisfaction you can derive from running the train once you have mastered the use of the firing controls.

[thenudehamster]

Exactly, Ian - and I'm still trying to sort out 'best practice' figures for most of my stuff....

[dcduncan]

I still maintain that there is more to it than just knowing and mastering the controls. To fire a steam engine well you need to know the line in detail to know where steam is needed, where you can rely on building pressure for the hard slog and where you should be relaxing so as not to have too much.

In my own experience, which is limited to a couple of turns on the TR a long time ago, the actual job is a lot easier than it is on the sim. I don't know why but I have always found it a lot harder to fire manually than I ever have on a real engine, not from the simple physical effort involved but having the engine not always short of steam or blowing off.

The nearest I have acheived is my own .eng files for The Earl and Countess on the WLLR where I can manage the ups and downs of that line perfectly.

I suppose the next question will be would people who do manually fire let a more competant AI fireman do the job if it was more realistic than what we have?

David

[supergoods]

Expetive deleted no, it would take half the challenge away.

As if this wasn't sufficient, I have been experimenting with a loose coupled un braked coal train where the guard can apply the brakes.

So a three man job now done by one, sounds like modern mismanagement

[dcduncan]

Somehow I expected that sort of response, Ian. I remembered you mentioned before about the unbraked trains. Sounds like you are a glutton for punishment.

Given the state of most modern railways it's a wonder they have not done away with the driver in preference of remote computer control, after all it would be bound to save money!

David

PS how are you getting on with a release of version 2 of the emg file calculator?

[chrisj94]

I usually drive with AI fireman,cause the driver firing as well on a top link express like tehe royal scot,pah,unlikeley,anyway,just pressing R just fill up the firebox,theres no element of skill in having to place the coal over holes where air can get in.
Thanks
Chris

[thenudehamster]

So a three man job now done by one, sounds like modern mismanagement

No, no, Ian.
The modern method is to get the three men to train one man in India to do all three jobs.
The unionised version, is, of course, to have three men doing each man's job.