BR (LNER) Peppercorn K1 Released!

[trainfan11111]

Hey Kirk Heath,

I read similar complaint from somebody else. I also had trouble keeping up pressure when I switched to Advanced driving mode, but I discounted that to my own inexperience with steamers.
The JT 5MT has a bit too much power - perhaps that's why she's off like a rocket? The next update will adjust the power curves to be less powerful, especially at higher speeds, and more in line with reality.

--Tim

Hey Tim,

Cheers for that, the makings are there to be driven as in reality, regulator wide open and driving by the cut off. Tricky one to judge which is right, as you said down to inexperience. I do fine with other engines. Why I asked in the videos thread, if anyone made a recording of them using steamers tackling gradients to see their style and approach. I shall see If I can get a question/reply from Karma, this is a great add on, so want to get most out of the driving.

Having been doing a LOT of reading lately on locomotive performance you would be suprised just how much of the time was spent with the regulator only partly open

[arabianights]

Hey guys,

Just wondering if others are really struggling keep up pressure with this in second valve? Fire mass seems ok, as I try to keep it around 1150 lbs on West highland extension. Engine is really worked hard up the steep grades, and can't maintain pressure when driving hard as needed to get up the gradients. I keep on top of the fire, and pressure is right on the mark. But, when driving with the regulator in 2nd valve and I aim to keep cutoff between 25-40. But no matter what, pressure drops so fast. I am not positive if I am applying similar realistic driving standards. Seems the only method and way of doing it whilst aiming for realism. Dampers are open, brakes running position; Just checking to see if it's a case of my driving method, or possibly the way the engine is set up.

Just as a side note I apply similar driving with the JT5 and steems like a rocket!
Cheers

I have no trouble keeping the pressure up when the fire's going, but I do think the numbers may not be right (i.e. I might have cut off at 15 and loco performing roughly what I would expect from 30).

Maybe the scaling to the reverser in the cab isn't working (as I know the train simulator reverser has to be manipulated to make it behave like the real thing so only the reverser in the cab should be "read")

[plewsy2105]

Having been doing a LOT of reading lately on locomotive performance you would be suprised just how much of the time was spent with the regulator only partly open

a lot of the time if the loco is coasting the driver would have the cut off at around 50 to 60% and the regulator would be just cracked open to let a small amount of steam into the cylinders in order to keep the engines motion from banging ect. If the loco is running at a set speed on flat track you would only need the regulator cracked as you can control your speed with the reverser

Hey guys,

Just wondering if others are really struggling keep up pressure with this in second valve? Fire mass seems ok, as I try to keep it around 1150 lbs on West highland extension. Engine is really worked hard up the steep grades, and can't maintain pressure when driving hard as needed to get up the gradients. I keep on top of the fire, and pressure is right on the mark. But, when driving with the regulator in 2nd valve and I aim to keep cutoff between 25-40. But no matter what, pressure drops so fast. I am not positive if I am applying similar realistic driving standards. Seems the only method and way of doing it whilst aiming for realism. Dampers are open, brakes running position; Just checking to see if it's a case of my driving method, or possibly the way the engine is set up.

Just as a side note I apply similar driving with the JT5 and steems like a rocket!
Cheers

if you get the fire mass up around 1350-1400 she will make lots of steam even when being worked hard you can get away with around 1250ish as for cut off and second valve thats about right for this sort of engine i took one over the west highland line last night with 7 mk1's on, the regulator was in the roof and when i was climing the cut off was between 35-45% the fire mass around 1350 and i had no problems making steam

[kirkheath]

Yeah I can get her to steam easily on the lesser grades - maybe a bit too much (wooooosh )

Ahhh see I didn't think that much would be ok, I thought that might have choked it! I shall have to give that one a try!

[michaelhendle]

Hi

I have a slight problem with the K1 when using RW Tools,I can't seem to open it,it shows up in in the Victory Works folder,but when I click on the whirling wheel,then blank,( I have unpacked it) the only difference in the Q1\Small Prairie and 1400 folders which all show up OK there is no _.SBN and no _.sbn.MD5,but in the K1 folder it has them,do I need them?or can I delete them.
All the other loco's work OK in the sim with out them

Mike

[Trev123]

I think the smoke coming out of the exhaust is really great. No coming out in the odd puff as in other steam locos including JTs 5MT. I drive in outside view using the F4 HUD and every now and then here a church bell sound when there are no churches around.

[karma99]

Thanks for the feedback all, and for the kind words. Much appreciated.

I didn't want to comment too much on getting the best out of driving her as to my mind that's the thing to be discovered with each locomotive - the thing that makes them all different.
If I produce a list of "ideal driving settings" that really kills the involvement of learning your new loco and how to make her perform to her best. All VW locos have sweet spots for working them, some quite different, and all of them as close as I can get to feedback I've had from loco crew. It's just a case of driving them out and seeing what makes them sing the best

I'm going to look to try and rebalance the sounds a little. Obviously each person has a totally different audio set up (from pc card to type of output) and it seems we may have missed the mark a little on the mix for this one. I'm definitely up for increasing the clanking volume as I think they are some of the best samples I've got of that sound!

I've also come here today to ask a bit of a favour, which is to request that if anyone is enjoying the K1 they might review it on Steam please. I'm not sure how this person has managed to come to this conclusion but of the 2 current reviews on Steam one of them is slating Advanced mode for a reason I can't even fathom I suspect it's a lack of reading the manual, however I still can't think how "closing the regulator and applying the brakes" is the only way to change the reverser! It really isn't!

The Peppecorn K1 is an OK locomotive. It runs well, is good steaming, and can really pull.
It would be a great locomotive if not for the fact that the Advanced mode is unplayable. You cannot change the reverser settings in advanced mode unless you close the regulator and apply the brakes. TOTALLY UNREALISTIC! \
So, if you want a good locomotive that pulls well, give it a shot. If you are buying it for the advanced mode, stay the hell away

If anyone else is having this issue then please let me know how it's caused, but after 50+ hours of driving the K1 I've seen nothing that would cause this.

So if anyone would like to add reviews saying that Adv mode is not a heap of dung, I would really appreciate it. Thank you. http://store.steampowered.com/app/325969/

[Trev123]

I see sergeant oddball has only played for 233 hours so cannot take to much from his review. For those using the F4 hud and driving outside I have found the best % of coal in the fire is between 60 and 70% which actually equates to the fire mass figures as already mentioned.

[niclouse3]

Left a nice review for you, certainly one of the best locos available for TS, I would recommend VW products to everybody.

It's quite clear that a lot of time and love has been put into creating all VW locos.

Many thanks again,
Nick

[sundog]

I'm at work at the moment and I can't remember my Steam log in details but I'll give the K1 the recommendation it deserves tonight.

On a happier note, one thing I've found is that my style of driving seems different from many others on this thread in that I tend to wind the cut off right back as early as I can and reduce the regulator accordingly and balance the two throughout the journey keeping an eye on the pressure gauge. Depending on the loco I can have the reverser right back In the 20% area but often it sits around 30-odd% with the regulator probably around the same. This ties in with what I've read about real practice where it was mentioned in a book on the Great Central there was a particular driver from a shed "up north" that used to drive with the regulator wide open most of the time and he and his mates thought it was a bit weird! I know there are quite a few liberties that have to be taken with TS2016 and it depends on the road your travelling, but it's interesting to see how we all approach driving. Having said all that I do - sometimes - end up a bit red faced with no steam

As happy as I am with the K1 I'm happiest with the weathered version. A gleaming steam loco in BR days seems a bit of an irony, although I do realise there are those folk who like the "preserved" look

Cheers
Ken

[tnleeuw01]

Karma / Pete,

Did you read my comments regarding not being able to close the fireman injector's water tap, on the tender? The control moves to the 'closed' position, but the water keeps running (animation of water drops, and tender water level dropping).
Only happens in standard mode and only with that injector, as far as I've been able to test, but happens to me each time I use that injector.

--Tim

PS: Review posted in Steam.
Wish there was a clear way to respond to reviews in comments, after a bit of clicking around I reached this page where comments can be left on the review: http://steamcommunity.com/profiles/7656 ... ed/325969/. Perhaps he'll see the comments so he can answer.

PS2: These days, the abbreviation "VW" and "VW products" calls up a different association in me, and not necessarily one that has a positive recommendation attached to it anymore...

[trainfan11111]

Thanks for the feedback all, and for the kind words. Much appreciated.

The Peppecorn K1 is an OK locomotive. It runs well, is good steaming, and can really pull.
It would be a great locomotive if not for the fact that the Advanced mode is unplayable. You cannot change the reverser settings in advanced mode unless you close the regulator and apply the brakes. TOTALLY UNREALISTIC! \
So, if you want a good locomotive that pulls well, give it a shot. If you are buying it for the advanced mode, stay the hell away

If anyone else is having this issue then please let me know how it's caused, but after 50+ hours of driving the K1 I've seen nothing that would cause this.

So if anyone would like to add reviews saying that Adv mode is not a heap of dung, I would really appreciate it. Thank you. http://store.steampowered.com/app/325969/

Whats the bet that this guy has a diesel attached to the other end of his train?

[karma99]

Thanks guys, I really appreciate you doing that.

Tim, yup thank you for the details on that one. I've noted the issue and will be taking a look at that too. I suspect it is an oversight as I tend to assume that anyone using standard mode is using the F4 HUD so I'm probably not handling a value being changed that I should. It might be easier now that the HUD gets locked for the auto-fireman, that used to cause all kinds of control fighting problems!

trainfan11111, I hadn't thought of that - VERY good point! If he's trying to replicate a rail tour and hasn't used a dead engine for the trailing diesel that is quite likely.

[tnleeuw01]

Thanks guys, I really appreciate you doing that.

Tim, yup thank you for the details on that one. I've noted the issue and will be taking a look at that too. I suspect it is an oversight as I tend to assume that anyone using standard mode is using the F4 HUD so I'm probably not handling a value being changed that I should. It might be easier now that the HUD gets locked for the auto-fireman, that used to cause all kinds of control fighting problems!

trainfan11111, I hadn't thought of that - VERY good point! If he's trying to replicate a rail tour and hasn't used a dead engine for the trailing diesel that is quite likely.

Hi Pete,

I hardly ever use the F4 HUD but it's my workaround to closing that water tap I started out driving in "standard" mode because that's what the engine started in after installation, and I drove off before realizing that...

And indeed, the behaviour seen by sergeant_0ddball is very much like that when driving with a diesel in the consist. However then it would happen in any driving mode, standard or normal.

--Tim

[black8]

The Peppecorn K1 is an OK locomotive. It runs well, is good steaming, and can really pull.
It would be a great locomotive if not for the fact that the Advanced mode is unplayable. You cannot change the reverser settings in advanced mode unless you close the regulator and apply the brakes. TOTALLY UNREALISTIC! \
So, if you want a good locomotive that pulls well, give it a shot. If you are buying it for the advanced mode, stay the hell away

I am pretty sure that this guy has not read the manual about driving in advanced mode properly and has not used the 'E' key.
At the same time I am taking this opportunity to thank you Pete for making the K1 available in this sim. IMO it is the best steam loco so far; it drives well, steams well if handled properly, even with the simulated steamchest. I have had problems and losing control with other locos that had a simulated steamchest before. With the K1 I am slowly getting the feeling that I am driving a real steam engine. I also like the little extras that you built in, s.a. the ability to drive while 'hanging out the window', I think that should become standard, and the water-injection where you need to balance the (exhaust)steam supply for the boiler to actually fill with water, brilliant! Looking forward to more of this kind from Victory Works!

Cheers,
Jos