Thames Trent Act.

Hi.
Act: G2 TO TOTON
When running this Act it says Scoop up water at Loughborough troughs but in the Hud Display it says Scoop broken is that correct please??

Art
I cannot answer your query but would suggest that you specify the relevant activity in order to gain a more direct response.
Alec

Hi Art,

When you start the activity, before you move the engine, have a look in the F5 display and see if it is broken at the start.

If it isn't broken at the start, then either one of 2 things are happening:
1) You have accidentally tapped the Y key whilst under way (I have done this myself), this causes the water scoop to 'hit the sleepers and break".

2) If you are at the water troughs wait till the tender is over the trough end before tapping the Y key and make sure that you raise it before the front of the engine gets to the end of the water troughs. Dropping the scoop too early or pulling it up late will cause the scoop to break.

These are my best guesses as to what is going wrong.

Justin

Hi Art,
I haven't run this activity, but it's possible that you broke it yourself

If the scoop is not raised before the end of the troughs, or even if you lower it when there aren't any troughs will, I believe, cause it to break!

Cheers,
Ged

EDIT : Just beat me to it, Justin!

Hi Justin.

Done that and it is not broken i think i did tapp it during the run so i know now. Thank you.

Hi.

Also i find that this Route has a lot of climbing to do and i get slowed right down because i am not sure what the Loco settings should be in this situation can any one advise please or should i start a new Thread for this?????

Hi Art,

When you start to notice the speed dropping off during a climb there are 2 things that you should do:
1) If you aren't driving with 100% regulator, then increase the regulator.
2) Wind the reverser out. I'll explain: My 38's will generally cruise along with 20 on the reverser, but as they start to climb I have to incerase it to 30-45 (they have a maximun setting of 80) depending on the grade, line speed limit and load behind the tender. The amount of reverser used varies between enignes, I know that an A4 works harder than a 38 going uphill.

So unfortunatly it is mostly just trial and error with the reverser, if you have the track monitor (F4) open keep an eye on the current speed and projected speed whilst adjusting the reverser (only move it about 5-8 at a time an wait a few seconds to see if the engine responds if not give it a bit more) as soon as you see the projected speed jump above the current speed don't adjust it any further (but keep an eye on the boiler pressure and steam usage rate in F5, you may have to shut off the regulator and use the blower for a bit if the boiler pressure starts to fall).

I hope this helps,

Justin

Hi Justin.
Thank you that is great i will give it a few tries next.

Hi Art,

Glad to be of help.
Incidentally, your question helped me make up my mind for doing a "driving a steam locomotive" tutorial.
It is nearly ready for uploading here on the forum. It will be in the "getting started with MSTS" section.

It is not a definitive “how to”, nor should it be considered the wording of a true train driver (I am not a real train driver…. yet ), but is based on what I have read in the book about a particular class of locomotives (the NSWGR C38 class) and learnt by them driving in MSTS. It is based on the driving style that is used with my NSWGR C38 class locomotives that I have been driving in the sim for the last 7 years.

It should give a general idea of what to do, but remember every class of steam engine is unique, so what works well with a 38 may not work well with a 57XX or an A4.

Justin

Thank you Justin i will wait for that and copy it.

That HFL part on driving a steam locmotive (Part 15) has now been posted.
Alec