Union Pacific FEF-3 4-8-4 Northern type steam locomotive, by Smokebox

[OldProf]

Rennie, how about just leaving a permanent message for all: "Please try studying the manual before asking questions that have already been answered there. Those who can't, won't, or don't want to read are welcome to drive the engine in simple mode." A few good tutorial videos or, better yet, tutorial scenarios might also help, but the same folks who ignore manuals would probably ignore videos and scenarios as well.

It took me a while to get acquainted with your last loco and I won't claim to have really mastered it. However, the challenge of dealing with its many realistic controls is welcome. Come to think of it, I haven't driven it for a while and will almost certainly have to give myself a refresher course before doing so . . . reading the manual again, looking at a tutorial video, putting aside my impatience, and being willing to put up with my typically slow learning curve.

When I think of the amount of time and effort you put in to making these amazing engines for us, learning to drive them is the least I can do in return.

[mrennie]

Hey at least training in the virtual world you don't have to fix the engine that night when the trainee gets a really bad wheelspin and burns out a big end bearing... not that I know what thats like

That sounds like a good idea for a future patch ....

[mrennie]

Rennie, how about just leaving a permanent message for all: "Please try studying the manual before asking questions that have already been answered there. Those who can't, won't, or don't want to read are welcome to drive the engine in simple mode." A few good tutorial videos or, better yet, tutorial scenarios might also help, but the same folks who ignore manuals would probably ignore videos and scenarios as well.

It took me a while to get acquainted with your last loco and I won't claim to have really mastered it. However, the challenge of dealing with its many realistic controls is welcome. Come to think of it, I haven't driven it for a while and will almost certainly have to give myself a refresher course before doing so . . . reading the manual again, looking at a tutorial video, putting aside my impatience, and being willing to put up with my typically slow learning curve.

When I think of the amount of time and effort you put in to making these amazing engines for us, learning to drive them is the least I can do in return.

I'm often tempted to say that, but then I remind myself that I should be glad that they're asking questions in the first place - it means they're another customer

I also wonder how many people found the tutorial scenarios that I left on YouTube.

Anyway, I'm really looking forward to when it gets released, and I'm also ready to take and and all questions (and if I don't know the answer, I'll ask Justin ).

P.S. I haven't done a tutorial scenario this time. The reason is that there's too much to explain in one scenario. Do you remember the one I did for the Connie, with all those pop-up messages? Well, there would have been twice as many this time, so I gave up

[evafan002]

Hey at least training in the virtual world you don't have to fix the engine that night when the trainee gets a really bad wheelspin and burns out a big end bearing... not that I know what thats like

That sounds like a good idea for a future patch ....

DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT IT!!!! I do enough work on locomotives for my day job I don't need to start doing it virtually as well!

[mrennie]

Hey at least training in the virtual world you don't have to fix the engine that night when the trainee gets a really bad wheelspin and burns out a big end bearing... not that I know what thats like

That sounds like a good idea for a future patch ....

DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT IT!!!! I do enough work on locomotives for my day job I don't need to start doing it virtually as well!

[bpetit]

Bravo Mike, had a good laugh.

[ozinoz]

Excellent teaser article on the Engine-driver website - part 1 of a step by step run to Laramie. I had am aneurism by the time Mike sat in the firemans seat

I can see a lot of us going not too far and not too fast in the very near future...

[mrennie]

Excellent teaser article on the Engine-driver website - part 1 of a step by step run to Laramie. I had am aneurism by the time Mike sat in the firemans seat

I can see a lot of us going not too far and not too fast in the very near future...

Don't worry though, what I'm showing in the article is what it's like to run the loco while firing manually. It's not easy! One of my aims with the whole project was to give some idea of just how much there is to do in the real thing, so that players will gain a better appreciation of how skilled and experienced you have to be to run these steam locomotives. However, if you use the expert auto fireman, it's a lot easier (and you won't have to worry about clogged sight glasses, obstructions in the burner, sanding the flues and so on). There's also Simple mode if you prefer just watching the scenery go by.

[thecanadianrail]

Read that article and I'm just sitting here like

[bpetit]

Soon.

[ColoradoRailfan]

Soon.

?

[Antwerp]

Soon.

<Insert "Soon" Meme Here/>

[plicpriest1]

Soon? What a great word, conveys a message, but isnt very accurate. To be perfectly honest, I have opened this part of railworks every day for the past 4 months in eager anticipation. Soon is relative, but I have been patient this long. I can almost feel the throttle in my mouse. Soon...

[bpetit]

In reality, just be patient.

[plicpriest1]

I find patience is like a muscle. It must get exercised regularly. All I can say is that I patiently await this one. Oh boy will it be fun though!