Boiler Pressure Issues

[gb1290]

I've been trying to drive Ben Neal's Light Baldwin 2-8-2 (reskinned as a VGN MA class by cincysouthernrwy, though I don't believe any of the dependencies were changed, so I wouldn't think that would matter) and I am having a miserable time keeping the boiler pressure up. I've had this issue with other locomotives, but not all. I get the water level up to where I want (it starts at 31%, I usually keep it 70-75%), turn on the blower, go do something else for a while to let the new water I put in heat up, go to drive the thing, and boiler pressure drops insanely, levels out, and then starts dropping more gradually. Letting it sit without touching the water and just turning on the blower, I've actually watched the water level go down. I tried editing the e-spec to have a higher starting boiler temperature, but that just caused a bunch of errors. I then tried swapping out the e-spec with a different one that I used on a locomotive that didn't have this problem, but then the locomotive wouldn't move (controls worked fine, it just refused to budge...and yes, I did make sure I released the brakes).

Does anyone know how I can fix this? I am perfectly willing to believe that I'm a terrible engineer, so feel free to give me all the lessons you want. I'm using TS2010 and I always drive in cab mode. Thanks in advance!

PS. Out of curiosity, is there a way to adjust the initial water level?

 

[fran1]

No idea if this will help. from the 2010 manual.


St eam controls
Shovel Coal SPACE
Coalman Wave SHIFT SPACE
Fans SHIFT F
Regulator Up W, FULLSTOP, KP8, KPUP
Regulator Down S, SLASH, KP2, KPDN
Reverser Up F, KPSTAR
Reverser Down R, KPSLASH
Injector Up I
Injector Down O
Blower Up N
Blower Down SHIFT N
all locos
Lights L
Lights SHIFT L
Toggle on/off Flashing Ditch
lights
; (semi-colon)
Pantograph KP1, KPEND, END
Horn H, KPPLUS
Sand V, KPMINUS

 

[rweber95]

Sounds like an enginespec problem. Most of bdaneal's enginespecs are from the TRS2004 era and need updating for 2012. Some possible choices for you are:
1. Find a loco which has similar mass and that works properly and check the locos config.txt to get the enginespec kuid number. Open the config.txt file of the problem loco and replace the current enginespec kuid with the newer one.
2. Read http://online.ts2009.com/mediaWiki/index.php/HowTo/Tune_a_Steam_Locomotive_Enginespec and use info from it to edit the values of the locos enginespec. However, this is a much more difficult solution to get to work properly.

Bob Weber

 

[nimec]

Hi, as Bob suggests, it is an e-spec problem. All Bens locos need an espec up date to work in 10 and especially 12. Like you I only use cab drive so have been there. Try downloading an updated version from the internet using bill69's name. He has updated a lot of Bens locos with Ben's permission and uploaded them to the DLS. Otherwise PM him and ask him for help.
He has done them all and they are good.
Phil Skene has also done them but he is hard to get hold of and although there is a post somewhere on this forum about a site with all his updated of Bens locos, I don't know the address.
Alternatively download the e-spec spread sheet from the SLS and try to sort it yourself but you will need a mentor to help you do it
Cheers

 

[philskene]

Go here

" ... he is hard to get hold of ... ."

Here I be.

See here:

http://forums.auran.com/trainz/show...n-Neal’s-steam-locomotives-error-free-in-TS12

The download link is:

https://www.rapidshare.com/files/2890034993/BenNealSteamLocomotivePackageTS12.zip

Make sure you take the free download option.

Tell me if you have problems downloading and I'll see if I can find an alternative site that I can upload them to.

Phil

 

[RPearson]

To OP: Are you aware that Ben has several locos updated on his site. This includes not only new espcs and sound but also new features in the mesh. He also has a brand new usra 0-8-0 for dl there released in ts12 running condition.

In answer to your questions I can say yes, no there is no need to believe you are a terrible engineer and yes.

Starting wateer is easy since you just need simple arithmetic and a couple of tag values fron the espec. The other stuff is difficult at best but can be done. I'm satisfied with most of the espec I've made for Ben's stuff. I don't recall making one for the baldwin 2-8-2 light but if I run it thru my spreadsheets and it looks ok I might post something here.

Bob Pearson

 

[gb1290]

Thank you all for your help! I have not yet had a chance to try these out (real world problems have been delaying me), but they look promising.

RPearson: I love Ben's site! I've downloaded several of the new locomotives and have had a ton of fun with the 0-8-0. Unfortunately, he has not released an updated version of his Baldwin light 2-8-2 yet, though I see there are many parts of his website set up for new material that aren't opened up yet. I can't wait to see what he delivers.

-George