2 foot Steam Loco problems

[Danny252]

I decided to have a play with the 2 foot gauge trains available on the DLS today, using the Foxshire Light Railway layout. However, I'm having difficulty finding any steam loco that works correctly!

Firstly, it appears all locos by clam1952 and edh6 have some problem with the boiler definitions - upon opening the regulator even by 5%, the boiler empties completely of steam within seconds, and never creates any more. An example from each author includes:
425700:101808 WHR Baldwin 590 clam1952
403746:755 FR Taliesin I - 1900 edh6

The DHR locos by narrowgauge have boilers that do work, and can actually get themselves moving. However, the locomotives are extremely slip prone, which inexplicably becomes even worse as cut off is reduced. Opening the regulator more than a few percent with any load results in violent slipping. They can get moving light engine, but then have a habit of getting into an unstoppable slip that won't end even when the regulator is closed no matter what combination of brakes and sand are used, meaning they can neither speed up or slow down. Additionally, there is a script error, with a null reference on line 417 of "steamcabinfireman0906dhr.gs" in the example asset below:
44700:8779 24 DHR Loco B779 narrowgauge

I know little to nothing about enginespecs, never mind for steam, so is anyone able to have a look and diagnose the problems? It seems that almost every 2ft gauge loco on the DLS is by one of those three authors and suffers the same problems, so I've yet to find any alternatives!

 

[edh6]

To stop the boiler pressure dropping you need to use the blower. To put the blower on press N (shift+N to turn it off). The slipping issue is I think a general issue with trainz, not specific to these locos, however you should bear in mind that most 2ft locos are working on the very edge of their capacity and thus do slip very easily...

 

[HiBaller]

Peter's (Narrpwgauge) engines were made specially for the DHR. They have characteristics that make them work properly on the DHR with its steep grades. As for the script error, there is a later version that eliminates this error. The slipping is actually normal for the DHR. We have videos of real-life trains unable to move because the wheels slip. The sanders (men assigned to drop sand on the rails from the pilot) are busily throwing sand, yet the loco just spins. Consists on the DHR are rarely over two cars and, perhaps, a baggage car.

Bill

 

[clam1952]

Need to learn how to drive them properly, No one else has problems to my knowledge, just tested 590 in TANE, no wheelslip running up the FR with a full load Boiler at 150psi that's after 30 minutes, used the blower once when the boiler dropped a bit to 100psi as I wasn't watching the coal / water properly.

Forget how Standard gauge stuff works, need to be gentle with Regulator and cutoff until you get going. You shouldn't need full cutoff on a flat route or full regulator. Remember most UK NG stuff runs at 15 to 20 mph although in trainz they will go faster!

If you want to make life easier on my stuff - first automatic fireman off, scripted one on, need to scroll down a bit to see it, it's below Load Water and barely visible as it's black text! 3rd line down. not my fault not my script.
Put the sliders around half way for coal and water adjust the sliders if it looks like too much or too little and just concentrate on driving until you get the hang of it. the ~ key toggles the auto fireman on or off.

 

[edh6]

Similarly I just drove Taliesin up the FR route with 5 bogie and 4 four-wheel coaches. I used the blower in stations to keep the pressure up whilst stopped, other wise just drove with ~50% cutoff and ~70% regulator for most of it with plenty of pressure to keep the engine at line speed.
The only locos I normally struggle to drive are Linda and Blanche which slip very easily, however this mirrors real life, so probably shouldn't be considered too big a problem!

 

[Danny252]

Need to learn how to drive them properly, No one else has problems to my knowledge, just tested 590 in TANE, no wheelslip running up the FR with a full load Boiler at 150psi that's after 30 minutes, used the blower once when the boiler dropped a bit to 100psi as I wasn't watching the coal / water properly.

And now you've said that, I can't repeat my problems! Full regulator (and copious wheelslipping, of course), and the pressure won't even drop below 150psi for me either.

Given that it was affecting all locos, I wonder if I toggled some weird setting or bug during my test. It really was strange - 10% regulator would completely empty the boiler of steam, and it would remain at 0psi even after several minutes.

 

[edh6]

And now you've said that, I can't repeat my problems! Full regulator (and copious wheelslipping, of course), and the pressure won't even drop below 150psi for me either.

Given that it was affecting all locos, I wonder if I toggled some weird setting or bug during my test. It really was strange - 10% regulator would completely empty the boiler of steam, and it would remain at 0psi even after several minutes.

It could well just be Trainz being silly! On the plus side, whilst trying out Taliesin in response to this I discovered the carrying wheels rotated the wrong way, which I have just uploaded a fix for. I doubt I'd have noticed this of you hadn't prompted me to test it out!

 

[Danny252]

It could well just be Trainz being silly!

Nothing unusual there! I was assuming it was some change in TANE that broke the config files from earlier versions, but it's good to find out it does all work after all.

 

[clam1952]

And now you've said that, I can't repeat my problems! Full regulator (and copious wheelslipping, of course), and the pressure won't even drop below 150psi for me either.

Given that it was affecting all locos, I wonder if I toggled some weird setting or bug during my test. It really was strange - 10% regulator would completely empty the boiler of steam, and it would remain at 0psi even after several minutes.

Aghh!! don't you just love Trainz,
The DHR script error I am getting, however as its related to the automatic fireman oddly enough the scripted auto fireman seems to be working, bit tricky to get the DHR loco moving with 5 FR carriages stuck on the back however I persevered and got it moving, was OK once I got it moving.

 

[RPearson]

I'm in the process of making new especs for the DHR Class B locos (current 140 psig and original 160 psig BP). They were made to work in TRS04/06 and I didn't upgrade them for the new steam container in TC3 and TS09 thru 12 and now Tane. Someone else may have re-done them but I'd have to check the espec on the dls against what I have to verify.

The programmed fireman won't work correctly (keeping the pressure up and fire under control) in TS09 and up so I'd disable him in the surveyor set out dialog or set disabled as the default in the script. Wheel slip for steam locos was introduced in TC3 and wasn't really a factor in TRS06.

Bob Pearson

 

[narrowgauge]

Bob

I'm in the process of making new especs for the DHR Class B locos

The ones on the DLS are yours, for a long while you were out of contact and your original version had problems in TS12. I took the liberty of making a 'corrected' copy under my KUID and uploading it. You are still listed as creator within the config. The locos on the DLS use that new number, so give me warning when you are uploading the later spec and I will upload new loco files with the corrected number.

Please do it before the DLS limit goes over the current 3.6, after that, I doubt whether I will be uploading anything. Perhaps the best way is for you to copy the file on the DLS, upload that copy and I will upload modified locos to suit then you can upload the updated version at a time to suit you. Whatever works best for you.

Peter

 

[jjanmarine3]

Nice goodies all them steam loco's, they have to be treated with respect and care, like ladies...
when I have real heavy loads and I battle, I just ask AI to pull away and when the speed is up I take over again..love to play with trains , you know....