The Scrap Man

[MFMPorter]

I have just tried twice to run this scenario on the WLOS route, and seem to run out of water just after passing my first station a couple of miles along the route. I was wondering if anyone else has been on this, and if so, have they found the same thing?

Any driving tips much appreciated, please.

David W.

[MFMPorter]

BTW, I did remember to fill up with water right at the start!

David W.

[Stanlow]

I'll give it a bash tonight and see what happens. Manual or Auto fireman?

[MFMPorter]

I've always stuck with auto; perhaps I should have checked the options just to make sure. Am I not right in thinking that if it was on manual, and I concentrated purely on driving, the engine would eventually stop because of dropping steam pressure?

David W.

[bigmull]

I can drive a steam loco not probs with auto fireman,but swap to manual and i just cant do it,too many things going on at once for my simple mind to process!

[Trev123]

Where do you get this scenario as I have the route.

[chrisy11]

Hi

I think this is one of my scenarios i did for SSS or Dt a while ago. Was it with the 4MT?

Regards
Chris Baker.

[MFMPorter]

This is from SSS and yes, the 4MT.

David W.

[Alicatt]

I had trouble with one of the other SSS scenarios on WLOS in which I had the same result ie. running out of steam, after a bit of practice and figuring out that you cannot have the regulator at 100% all the time and that you have to juggle the reverser/cut off and the regulator and also the dampers and blower to keep the loco within the steam generation limits of the firebox/boiler to keep moving. I am really enjoying having to work within the limits of engine and successfully complete the tasks assigned.
Now my favourite loco is the DT 4MT 2-6-4 Tank with the SSS enhancements, it is a hard little worker for it's size.

[chrisy11]

Hi Guys.

It is indeed 1 of my scenarios. I did most of them for the 4MT' tender loco's . there are also some on DT's site for the tank.
I had i play with it lastnight and seems fine to me.
All i can think is its down to the way your driving it. When you say you have run out of water i presume you mean water in the boiler and not the tender?

If your using the HUD keep an eye on the pressure Gauge. Its a good yard stick to go by. IF its red you losing steam. Green for Making. You need to find the Balance between the 2.
You do this with the reverser. this way you are getting max power and still generating steam.
Once your on the move make sure the brake is in the running position .
when the gauge goes red wind the reverser back til it turns green again. You can also knock the regulator back a bit, it all depends on the situation .
The gauge may also turn red when the injectors are on so bare that in mind too. The auto fireman will turn them on when the level drops to 70% then turns them off at 90% .

In the real world steam loco's are all about listening, feel and being aware of what its doing and what it needs. Using the hud gauge is a good way of helping you with this.
It takes practice and for you to know the loco too. But this is a good basic way of doing it. Play with the reverser. and make constant adjustments to it that is the key thing.

Experiment and you should see what i mean.

Hope this helps

Chris Baker

[Alicatt]

Just finished the scenario with no problems, the 1:90 drag up the bank about 13 miles from Newton Stewart was interesting keeping the pressure up and not losing too much speed, I dropped down to about 20mph by the top and my boiler pressure had dropped to 200lbs and still going down. Nice scenario Chris, thanks for it, now the Milk run from Stranraer with the 7f now that was difficult the first time I tried it

[MFMPorter]

Chris - thank you. It would indeed seem to be down to the way I drive - just requiring practice. I had always been keeping an eye on the pressure: red/green, well, moreorless all the time. It's just that the game stopped so early on in the scenario that made me wonder what was going on. Seems I should give it another try(ies).

David W.

[Alicatt]

Also you have to remember to stoke the fire up a bit when climbing the banks and let it die off on the descents, for the long climb I had my fire stoked up to 83% - 85% (about 1250 - 1300lbs fire mass) and then damp it down for the next descent to prevent over generating steam and the boiler blowing off, but I'm still working on that and learning.

[MFMPorter]

Also you have to remember to stoke the fire up a bit when climbing the banks and let it die off on the descents, for the long climb I had my fire stoked up to 83% - 85% (about 1250 - 1300lbs fire mass) and then damp it down for the next descent to prevent over generating steam and the boiler blowing off, but I'm still working on that and learning.

Thanks for the tip. I had assumed that being on automatic fireman such things would be taken care of.

David W.

[Alicatt]

Thanks for the tip. I had assumed that being on automatic fireman such things would be taken care of.

David W.

Do you know, I have never used the automatic fireman! I am quite new to TS2014 but I wanted to do it myself so I don't know how the auto fireman works at all.