Loss of Power.

This is an example of how to drive a steam locomotive

Starting with the Regulator shut (0%), Cut-off set at 15%, Brakes at 100% Released, Small Ejector is Open, Exhaust Sanders on and Drain Cocks open. Close the Drain cocks and turn off the Sanders, then 'Close' the Small ejector (using the 'J' key) and keep this closed at all times. Now adjust the Cut-off to about 40% and open the Regulator to about 45% and you should now maintain your current speed, as the speed increases slowly reduce the Cut-off to about 25% as your speed increases, also reducing the Regulator setting (as required) to avoid running at excessive line speed.

When you are at a station, While loading the passengers re-adjust the Cut-off to 70% (ready for the restart) and when given the "OK to proceed" fully release the Brakes (100%) and open the Regulator to about 60%, as speed increases adjust the Brakes to 0% Release (or very close) or 0% Apply if using the keyboard keys (better to use the Mouse 'in cab' then you can adjust to exactly '0% Release'). Always allow the Brake lever to stay a little time at '100% Release' to allow the Brakes to fully release, if you move the lever too quickly from 100% to 0% release, the Brakes will still stay slightly applied affecting the drag of the train. Make sure that the release value is as low as possible once the brakes come fully off. Try and get it at 1% and the amount of extra steam used to hold the brakes off will be tiny. So give it full release until the brake pressure reaches about 21 inches (some use 25 inches) then move the setting back until you have the lowest release setting possible.

As speed increases, slowly adjust the Cut-off towards 25% and start shutting down the Regulator accordingly (these both need to be done quite slowly or you will slow the Loco's acceleration too quickly). Try to adjust these two controls so that the 'Steam generation rate' is always higher than 'Steam usage rate (these can be seen in the displays using F5), the only exceptions being, when the water injectors are in use or you are climbing a 'Steep' incline with a heavy train). Ideally once up to a reasonable speed you should have been able to adjust the Cut-off to about 25-30% and the Regulator set at around 30% for much of the time.

One way of thinking about this is that the Cut-off are like the gears (25% being high gear and 75% being a low gear) on a car and the Regulator is the accelerator. :-?
So sometimes you need low settings on the Cut-off and Regulator (Normal Running), sometimes higher Cut-off and medium- high Regulator (Hill climbing, heavy trains) and of course, high Cut-off and high Regulator setting (Pulling away from a stand).

Remember that a steam loco uses steam to do just about anything - including releasing the brakes. You MUST have the brake control in a position where it is not actually Releasing  or you will run out of steam; I usually run with it at "Apply 0%" - not difficult to achieve if you dab the keys rather than press and hold; just make sure the brake pipe pressure is at 25 in/Hg before getting it there. Steam consumption will also increase when you are injecting water, but it is better to use the Exhaust Steam Injector ('O' key) and the least rate of water injection you need, water level is easier to control if you add it with a tap not a fire hose...

While everyone drives differently, I've never turned the ejector off, just to make sure I always have vacuum; I also prefer to drive the way long-lap engines were meant to be - widest possible regulator and shortest cut-off as soon as possible, though MSTS is less than perfect in this regard and often no more than 70% regulator is allowable for minimum steam consumption.

mikehendle wrote:Hi Art

Yes that is right,I'm afraid steam loco's are trial and error with juggling the reverser and regulator,and a msts steam loco is just like a real one no 2 are the same,your best bet is to put a X in automatic fireman,it allows you to concentrate on the two main controls,unless it is a Western\Great Western Loco then you have to use the J key as to open and close the small injector.

Mike