Steam Train speed Control

[cj95]

Hello from the newbie again.
Been playing around a bit more and after taking my first succesful trip across the mojave map, I decided to try my luck in steam engines for the first time.
Loaded up the Applachian scenario and after working out a nasty wheel slippage problem I have discoverd a new issue that I cant seem to lick.

RUNAWAY TRAIN!!
For some reason once I hit 18-20 mph the train suddenly goes wild and wont stop accelerating.
I have applied full brakes, cut off the regulator and put the cutoff on full reverse and Im still zoominbg ahead faster and faster.
The only way to reign it in is to apply the train brakes which is a bit overkill.
I was under the impression from the manual that the cutoff is supposed to controll speed, but obviously Im missing something.
How do I maintain a nice ~20mph speed? REgulator full oopen...andcutoff ~1% or so?

Help appreciated. A tutorial video would be awesome, but nothing on youtube that I could find.
1001 videos on how to build track, but not too many on how to actually drive on them.

 

[captainkman]

Which steam engine are you trying to use, and is the problem present on other engines or just this particular one?

Kieran.

 

[cj95]

Im running the Appalachian coal default scenario that comes with the TS 2012.

Im using the Eastbound Coal Train session which starts me in a N&W Y6B locomotive.

These are all default trains that came with the software.


A present I have not tried to use an other steam Engines.

The only thing I can think of upon second review is that the session starts off on a -2% grade. Maybe that's the issue.

If so, how do I control her on the downslope? Main train brakes?

 

[captainkman]

Yep, you need to use the train brakes, especially on a 2% descent!

Kieran.

 

[Ghost42]

A good driving tutorial here:
http://forums.auran.com/trainz/show...sion-for-Austral-Bay&highlight=passedasdriver

 

[cascaderailroad]

My main problem is running out of water, on a short route ... I must be blowing the water by, or wasting it ... After a couple miles the water is dry ... perhaps I'm not adding enough water to the tender ?

Cutoff is very unexplained to me, as are several levers and valves that reduce steam water ... etc ...

No wonder RR's went to diesel ... Steam loco's are very complex to drive ... and inexperienced driver can blow up a steam loco Boom !

 

[Ghost42]

Had to use many clues on google to bring up this classic driving tutorial:
http://www.trainzclassics.co.uk/guides_tips/files/Driving_the_9F.pdf

 

[Ghost42]

Use as many tenders as required Don't think this would work but would look impressive.
Rog
Addicted to steam. Diesel makes your hands stink for days.

 

[Bill69]

Hello from the newbie again.
Been playing around a bit more and after taking my first succesful trip across the mojave map, I decided to try my luck in steam engines for the first time.
Loaded up the Applachian scenario and after working out a nasty wheel slippage problem I have discoverd a new issue that I cant seem to lick.

RUNAWAY TRAIN!!
For some reason once I hit 18-20 mph the train suddenly goes wild and wont stop accelerating.
I have applied full brakes, cut off the regulator and put the cutoff on full reverse and Im still zoominbg ahead faster and faster.
The only way to reign it in is to apply the train brakes which is a bit overkill.
I was under the impression from the manual that the cutoff is supposed to controll speed, but obviously Im missing something.
How do I maintain a nice ~20mph speed? REgulator full oopen...andcutoff ~1% or so?

Help appreciated. A tutorial video would be awesome, but nothing on youtube that I could find.
1001 videos on how to build track, but not too many on how to actually drive on them.

Hi cj95,

On the Appalachian coal route the track goes to a 2% decline soon after the start. Use the custom head up display to see the inclines, the next signal state and the speed limit. As captainkman says you will have to use the brakes on this section of track and be carefull to keep under the speed limit. To find the head up display, in surveyor click on "main menu" click on "add" then scroll down the small window till you see "display custom HUD" Click on this then click the tick at the bottom of the window. When you go into driver you will have the track information under the loco control panel.

Cheers,
Bill69

 

[pcas1986]

There are some notes on operating steam locos on page 46-47 of the manual which is in ..\extras\documentation. Trains, and especially loaded goods trains, have a large amount of inertia and that takes a lot of stopping, even with brakes. Even very large trucks (road trucks) will go down a hill as slow as they went up because the inertia that builds up with speed. If you don't have your train under control at the start of a descent, chances are it will be much less under control half way down.

I should add that all that inertia also makes starting a heavily loaded train difficult as well. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inertia.

The possibility that all answers to life's questions can be found on Youtube is rather scary.

 

[Bill69]

Hi Paul,

Interesting that you should mention the inertia on large trucks. I drove large trucks for many years when younger and always tried to impress on new drivers that you should go down a steep hill in the same gear you would need to climb it.

Cheers,
Bill69