RSC working on an LNER A4

[prairie4566]

Yep, personal opinion, but it's the colour schemes that really look inferior on the JT ones.

That said, JT are the only producer that do a brunswick Bittern at present, which would still be very useful as well as the current blue one.

[Leaf85]

To add comparison, I find the lamps to be a bit brighter in the JT version. The light thing might just be me noticing because I'm used to blazing lights that light up the night for miles with our motive power here in Canada...The horn in the RSC version is rather muted (like holding ones hands over ones ears) unlike the JT version which is fairly crisp and clear. The JT version has been around a lot longer, through a few iterations of the sim, so graphically they will suffer somewhat; still fun to drive. Can't have too many A4s in my opinion, and I really like the RSC offering.

[kevpotts]

Oh, and I forgot to add that I like the soundset too, especially the high speed loop - and the fact that I can sit head out and still hear a muted aws indication!

In common with all products, the general roar, crashing etc sounds of a footplate at speed are still quiet, and I'd like to hear the loud hiss of air as the vacuum is destroyed on braking. But now I'm being picky!!

Overall, if you're hesitating...buy this one, especially at the reduced price!

Cheers

[Trev123]

Thanks thetrainfan for your screen shots. I take it that the duller looking one is the JT's one. Also thanks to the other posters for your comments.

[thetrainfan]

You're very welcome Trev. Yeah the darker one is the Just Trains one - I by far prefer RSC's!

[K2rover]

Does anyone know if the AP Mk1/2 sound pack will work with the coaches supplied with the A4? I can't bear the absolute silence from the coaches after the engine has gone past. Takes all the realism away.

[Trev123]

I see there are some scenarios on Steam Workshop.

[JamesC]

Does anyone know how I can force steam to redownload the A4 Pack? as I have an issue with the couplings not showing on A4s and coaches.

[thetrainfan]

Does anyone know how I can force steam to redownload the A4 Pack? as I have an issue with the couplings not showing on A4s and coaches.

Verification of game files will do the trick.
Steam library - right-click on TS2013 - Properties - Local Files tab - Verify Integrity of Game Files.

[ChrisBarnes]

For those interested, at last I am able to *partially* back up my thoughts from a few pages back, regarding Mallard's performance during the record breaking run. I don't feel comfortable quoting directly with the murkiness of copyright infringement, but all points are derived from the words of former Top Shed shedmaster, Peter Townend, and have been picked as the points that I personally find the most remarkable. I don't know whom his sources were, but he states in his introduction that documents and reports stored at NRM, colleagues and some other books were used for his book, East Coast Pacifics at work . Read on:

1) (To introduce the "story") Stoke Summit was passed at 74.5mph.

2) At milepost 94.5 to 93 the driver used 45% cut off to produce the highest drawbar HP of 1800 at 116mph, but at 119mph cut off was reduced to 40%.

3) At 40% cut off, the world record of 125mph was achieved at milepost 90.25 (according to Gresley, the 126mph reading was due to a systematic error).

4) For 3 miles speed exceeded 120mph continuously and for 2 miles ranged between 123-125mph on partly easing gradients.

5) Five miles were at an average of 120.4mph.

Ok, just the one direct quotation, "...it is astonishing that the locomotive boiler could be maintained against the 40-45% cut off used almost throughout."

Reference:

Townend, P.N. (1982) East Coast Pacifics at work. Shepperton: Ian Allan Ltd.

I agree with John (jarmstro), cut off at 16% (was that read from the F3/F4 panel or from the F5 text?) and a flat gradient would probably not accelerate a real A4 with 7 Mk1s from 110 to 118mph, but I feel that this doesn't matter so much since part of the product's appeal is to beat Mallard's record with your highest speed and win an oh so exciting RSC mug and jumper or whatever it is. In other words, it does a good job of entertaining, whether it entertains you because you're having alot of fun out of thrashing it, or because you find the physics amusing, or even because the mere concept of wearing official RSC adorned clothing and the looks you'd get from your mates is absolutely hilarious, so I see that as a win-win-win that makes this a very good product overall. To be fair, I only *just* managed 90mph with 12 in tow on the WCML section of WLoS, on the up line, and to me that seems perfectly reasonable.

Chris

[Leaf85]

Nice read, thanks for sharing that. So far I've managed to get the Dominion of Canada up to 93mph on the flat (0.0 grade) stretches between Newcastle and York on the venerable (gamewise) ECML using only the RSC fireman-- since I'm rather incompetent as both driver and fireman. It was going swimmingly until I heard the cry of the alerter too late and brakes locked up...that's what I get for burying my head in North American routes for so long. I'm not looking to win any swag, just having a good time trying to fine tune my steam driving

[Trev123]

On the London to Brighton driving the Sir Greasly or whatever it's name is, I forgot to slow down on the part it warned you about and rolled off the track and on the second attempt got up too 114mph.

[Carinthia]

1) (To introduce the "story") Stoke Summit was passed at 74.5mph.

2) At milepost 94.5 to 93 the driver used 45% cut off to produce the highest drawbar HP of 1800 at 116mph, but at 119mph cut off was reduced to 40%.

3) At 40% cut off, the world record of 125mph was achieved at milepost 90.25 (according to Gresley, the 126mph reading was due to a systematic error).

4) For 3 miles speed exceeded 120mph continuously and for 2 miles ranged between 123-125mph on partly easing gradients.

5) Five miles were at an average of 120.4mph.

6) and then it conked out with an over-heated bearing and had to crawl to Peterborough for an engine change.

John

[jarmstro]

For those interested, at last I am able to *partially* back up my thoughts from a few pages back, regarding Mallard's performance during the record breaking run. I don't feel comfortable quoting directly with the murkiness of copyright infringement, but all points are derived from the words of former Top Shed shedmaster, Peter Townend, and have been picked as the points that I personally find the most remarkable. I don't know whom his sources were, but he states in his introduction that documents and reports stored at NRM, colleagues and some other books were used for his book, East Coast Pacifics at work . Read on:

1) (To introduce the "story") Stoke Summit was passed at 74.5mph.

2) At milepost 94.5 to 93 the driver used 45% cut off to produce the highest drawbar HP of 1800 at 116mph, but at 119mph cut off was reduced to 40%.

3) At 40% cut off, the world record of 125mph was achieved at milepost 90.25 (according to Gresley, the 126mph reading was due to a systematic error).

4) For 3 miles speed exceeded 120mph continuously and for 2 miles ranged between 123-125mph on partly easing gradients.

5) Five miles were at an average of 120.4mph.

Ok, just the one direct quotation, "...it is astonishing that the locomotive boiler could be maintained against the 40-45% cut off used almost throughout."

Reference:

Townend, P.N. (1982) East Coast Pacifics at work. Shepperton: Ian Allan Ltd.

I agree with John (jarmstro), cut off at 16% (was that read from the F3/F4 panel or from the F5 text?) and a flat gradient would probably not accelerate a real A4 with 7 Mk1s from 110 to 118mph, but I feel that this doesn't matter so much since part of the product's appeal is to beat Mallard's record with your highest speed and win an oh so exciting RSC mug and jumper or whatever it is. In other words, it does a good job of entertaining, whether it entertains you because you're having alot of fun out of thrashing it, or because you find the physics amusing, or even because the mere concept of wearing official RSC adorned clothing and the looks you'd get from your mates is absolutely hilarious, so I see that as a win-win-win that makes this a very good product overall. To be fair, I only *just* managed 90mph with 12 in tow on the WCML section of WLoS, on the up line, and to me that seems perfectly reasonable.

Chris

Hi Chris.

I quite agree that as a form of entertainment the RSC A4's are great fun much in the same way as Trains vs Zombies is. But I would still maintain that the performance of these set of engines is utterly ludicrous and that the JT offering is much more realistic.

Mallards run was a deliberate publicity stunt. One two car set had been removed from the Coronation rake and the remaining coaches were lightly loaded. Up to Stoke the driver had nursed the boiler to the point where many people believe that the speed at the summit was unnecessarily slow and that an even faster top speed could have been attained down the bank. And that's the point. It was all downhill for miles with a very light load. If, for instance, an A3 or a King had been thrashed down the hill in the same way with such a light load no doubt a similarly phenomenal top speed would have been achieved. The initial invitation run of the Coronation only managed 109mph down Stoke Bank. I dare say my wife's hideous Fiat Punto would do 126mph down Stoke Bank! Mortgage the boiler with these RSC A4's on the level and you will do 120mph!!

O S Nock logs many many runs with A4's in actual service. I have in front of me detailed logs of runs between Darlington and York. ('Great Locomotives of the LNER' page 190) Of the six engines listed the Maximum Speed attained by Woodcock was 89mph (pulling 335 tons) and all the rest 80mph and below (135 to 515 tons). This is a fairly level line and gives a good indication of the sustainable boiler effort. To be fair I am not sure of the Speed Limit in those days but all the runs show what superb performers these engines were. North of Darlington where double blocking was introduced 100mph was occasionally reached with the silver 'Streaks' and Coronation set.

As I mentioned before the RSC A4's between Paddington and Reading will comfortably sustain 110mph at 16% cut off!!. In fact they are still blowing off intermittently at that speed!!! They also accelerate just as fast as an HST!!!!
This is stupidly and wildly over the top and bears no relation to reality.

The Just Trains A4's are about right with a balancing speed on the level of about 90mph ish. The RSC engines are 20mph too fast and to get that extra 20mph probably means their steam production rates are some 50% too high!!

Cheers
John

[jarmstro]

I must admit these are great fun. Here's a log of a run I've just made from Motherwell up over Beatock: A leisurely approach with boiler maintained at around full pressure.

Mallard with 7 Mk 1's

GRADE SPEED (mph) Cut Off Comments

1) Motherwel
2) Wishaw 1:100 60 24%
3) Garringhall jnc 60 Brake to speed limit
4)Carluke 1:100 81 21%
5)Craiginhill Summit - 85 21%
6)Carstairs -1:200 90 21% Slowed to speed limit through station
7)Symington - 107 21%
8)Lamington 1:200 108 16%
9) 1:300 90 16% Slowed to speed limit before Abington
10) Elvanfoot 1:136 105 18%

Then ignored speed limits

11) BEATTOCK SUMMIT - 101 21% !!!!!!!!
12) Beattock Bank -1:94 115 18% Restrained speed on bank or train derails until just before 125mph speed limit
13) 125mph Speed Limit Maximum speed attained after numerous tries because of derailments 136mph @ 18% cut off and still accelerating.

John A