Cheyenne 1869 extension

[mindenjohn]

Intriguing that at this moment the route has 0 downloads but 1 vote (5*) must be good.
It is and the download counter appears to be not working.

[DanSSG]

Published!

Intriguing that at this moment the route has 0 downloads but 1 vote (5*) must be good.
It is and the download counter appears to be not working.

Hmmm... maybe this counter doesn't work in real time. I also wonder why this route is on the last page together with stuff from 2011 and all other new 2018/2019 stuff is on page one, including the first stage of this route. At least we finaly got it published

[BoostedFridge]

The download counter is definitely not working. I downloaded the route earlier and its still showing 0.

[Chacal]

Yeah there's something wrong with the zip file, the web site has difficulty handling it. I had to bend over backwards to publish it.

[DanSSG]

Could that be because of the rwp is into a 7z archive which is (unnecessarily?) again packed in a zip file
At least there are now some files doubled like manuals and pictures

[Chacal]

No, that shouldn't be a problem.
I think the zip file is an artefact of Dropbox. When we go to download your files from Dropbox, if we hit the download button, it packs your files into a zip.
THAT can be a cause of problems: maybe the zip made by Dropbox is broken.
I could fix this problem easily if it wasn't for the size limit which prevents me from uploading the file again.

[artimrj]

No worries guys, I will check things out later on today. WOrk is over at noon today and 3 days off Memorial Day is our official holiday, off with pay.

[NYWhiskey]

No worries guys, I will check things out later on today. WOrk is over at noon today and 3 days off Memorial Day is our official holiday, off with pay.

Sweet, Lefty!!

[LuisaA]

I have a problem with me driving the locomotive, maybe You can help me. I tried the ruote introduction scenario, from Cheyenne to Laramie, but on the grades I can't speed up more than 8 mph. So after 3 hours I'm not even at Sherman.
What am I doing wrong?

[mindenjohn]

Try altering the reverser position after you have started off. With steam engines you cannot leave them in full forward or full reverse. Use the Academy steam locos as training but All steam locos behave slightly (understatement) differently.

[DanSSG]

OK, first you should read the manual of the loco so that you know where all the handles, knobs and levers are.

When you start the scenario you have lots of time to bring the fire up. A strong fire is important to keep the boiler pressure as near to 119 psi as you can.
To do so, open the firebox door and rise the firemass. The firemann now should add a showel of coal every few seconds and the firemass should rise slowly. Open the blower steam throttle and the blower a bit to incease the draft in the firebox when the loco is standing or on low speed. Open the rear damper to let more air through the bottom of the firebox.
Open the water and injector valves as needed.

When you're on the grade you'll have to put the reverser a bit more forward but not to much. Then watch the pressure gauge. If it drops close the throttle, pull the reverser a notch back, open the throttle and watch the pressure gauge again. You have to find the spot, where you don't consume more steam than the boiler can deliver. If you switch to the F5 HUD you can see how much steam the boiler generates (maximum 10000 lb/h) and how much steam is consumed. If the savety valves are closed (as long as the boiler pressure is below 118.5 psi) you shouldn't consume more steam then the boiler produces. If you do, pull the reverser a notch back. It's better to be a bit slower than to outperform the boiler. If you're slower the loco uses less steam and the pressure should rise again.

but on the grades I can't speed up more than 8 mph.

If you follow these instructions you should be able to do up to 25 mph on the 1.0% grade (reverser at 32% in the F3/F4 HUD or 42% in the F5) and about 20 mph on the 1.5% grade (reverser at 37% in the F3/F4 HUD or 48% in the F5).

[DanSSG]

Time flies and this thread has already its first anniversary

Let's use this day for some new updates on stage three

The base of the route is now Promontory Summit.
Only a few assets from the original Cheyenne route that comes with UP119 is still in use because they are missing in the promontory pack.

Why the effort? Trackwork is now much easier for me. It already comes with an embarkment underneath the track and you don't have to place the 3d ties on the printed ones on the track loft. Some assets have been updated and some new assets come with the route, so it's a win-win situation

We are a few miles west from Medicine Bow when we first cross a mostly dry creek. It's the Carbon Creek that we will cross multiple times on our way to Carbon, the next stop on the route.

Screenshot_1 Cheyenne 1869 Extension Carbon County_41.88818--106.27101_15-55-07.jpg

After Union Pacific opened some new mines at Hanna, they build a branch line called the Carbon Cut-off from this location that was known as Allen Junction in 1889. The cut-off became the mainline when UP pushed the railroad past Hanna in 1890. It follows the bluffs on the left hand-site and was in use until UP digged straight through the ridge somewhere between 1947 and 1970.

Screenshot_1 Cheyenne 1869 Extension Carbon County_41.88611--106.28591_15-56-49.jpg

In 1902 the rails to Carbon have been picked up after the last mine has closed.

Screenshot_1 Cheyenne 1869 Extension Carbon County_41.88412--106.28726_15-57-25.jpg

While the ground was relatively flat since we left Como we are now squirming ourself between the ridges while the grade gets steeper.

Screenshot_1 Cheyenne 1869 Extension Carbon County_41.88054--106.29128_15-57-58.jpg

In this area trains usually run double headed. Especially when they are loaded. But our train is empty at least for now so Omaha can pull it up the grade alone. I think I'll make a version of the empty gondolas that can be loaded with coal instead of barrels.

Screenshot_1 Cheyenne 1869 Extension Carbon County_41.87942--106.29173_15-58-29.jpg

[mrennie]

Happy Anniversary!

I'm glad to see the route extension continuing its progress westward. It all looks beautiful!

By the way, the 1800s Pack 01 already has a version of the gondola loaded with coal (I also threw a lot of soot all over it to make it look the part).

[DanSSG]

Happy Anniversary!

I'm glad to see the route extension continuing its progress westward. It all looks beautiful!

Thanks . The interesting part at the moment is the research for photos, maps and other historical stuff.

By the way, the 1800s Pack 01 already has a version of the gondola loaded with coal (I also threw a lot of soot all over it to make it look the part).

Yes, I know. But this version is already loaded and can't be unloaded. My idea was to bring empty gondolas to the coal mines and load them there, but the empty ones will get loaded with barrels, not with coal. I've found a wooden coal loading tower in the Cheyenne assets that will be perfect for this job

[mrennie]

The interesting part at the moment is the research for photos, maps and other historical stuff.

I really enjoyed that part too!

I've found a wooden coal loading tower in the Cheyenne assets that will be perfect for this job

Ah yes, the Chama coaling tower! I spent a week making that, only to find out soon afterwards that it dates from the 1920s, which is why I had to replace it with the coaling stage/platform. I decided to leave it in the pack anyway as a kind of Easter egg. It's nice to see it being put to use at last