Steam locomotives?

[buzz456]

My hat is off to you Mike for the attention to detail in your models but I for one are more than happy with the locos put out by G-Trax such as the 2-10-2 that came with the BLE route. They aren't in the same ball park however for a lot of my casual train simming that kind of thing is more than adequate to me and I'm sure takes a huge less amount of time to create. I would think most of the English stuff is more like that in detail and time invested.

[BNSFdude]

I've got access to drawings of the 261 that are original and as it currently is. It's just a matter of driving 2 hours to get them and probably 12 more hours of hard labour at the hands of Sandberg. I've got a lot of time to make up for not being there this year.

Again the problem stems from a suitable route for the girl. Trotting around at 30MPH isn't it's schtick.

[stlsf4003]

I've got access to drawings of the 261 that are original and as it currently is. It's just a matter of driving 2 hours to get them and probably 12 more hours of hard labour at the hands of Sandberg. I've got a lot of time to make up for not being there this year.

Again the problem stems from a suitable route for the girl. Trotting around at 30MPH isn't it's schtick.

Would the Chicago Race track route work?

[BNSFdude]

If you enjoy running fast for 30 minutes with no stops..

[stlsf4003]

My bad ^^;

I don't own the route my self but i'ed heard it was good.

[jpetersjr]

There's a freeware Berk in the library, look up Pere Marquette.

http://railworksamerica.com/index.php/home/the-archives/news-archive/item/228-pere-marquette-berkshire-bonus-download

It would seem that i'm having some issue with the PM Berk.
The Tender will show up in game just fine but the engine wont. I need the G-trax Berk pack to use this engine don't i?

There simply seems to be a much larger fan base for steam in the UK. I can't be certain, but there might be more people who can get to a nearby preserved line (there are a lot in the UK) to see steam "in the flesh". There are also more UK steam-era routes in TS that are suitable for running the UK steam locos. That's a problem for US steam. There's a plethora of candidates for modelling, with so many "fallen flags", but every time I get asked if I'd model such-and-such a steam loco from this or that railroad, nearly always I have to respond by asking "and what steam-era route in TS is suitable for that loco?" (that's usually the second question - the first one is "where can I get the hundreds of original builder's detailed engineering drawings needed for making an accurate model of that loco?"). The answer to both questions is virtually always negative.

Well at least we've got you providing us with top of the line locomotives.

Here's a file that should help make it run on any route, if not you can always ask Rick Grout. I can run it on just about any route, including the HSC.

http://railworksamerica.com/index.php/download-library/rw-a-addons?view=document&id=1384:pere-marquette-berkshire-rev-1&catid=30:rwa-lakeside-addons

[wopflyer]

There simply seems to be a much larger fan base for steam in the UK. I can't be certain, but there might be more people who can get to a nearby preserved line (there are a lot in the UK) to see steam "in the flesh". There are also more UK steam-era routes in TS that are suitable for running the UK steam locos. That's a problem for US steam. There's a plethora of candidates for modelling, with so many "fallen flags", but every time I get asked if I'd model such-and-such a steam loco from this or that railroad, nearly always I have to respond by asking "and what steam-era route in TS is suitable for that loco?" (that's usually the second question - the first one is "where can I get the hundreds of original builder's detailed engineering drawings needed for making an accurate model of that loco?"). The answer to both questions is virtually always negative.

I love all of your model's Smokebox and have, and will, buy them all. But I have to agree with RAILSOHIO in saying that the "excursion" locomotives would probably sell better since they are more well known. Also, like RAILSOHIO said, you can justify running them on modern routes and/or off home rails. And, until such time as someone backdates an existing modern route ( Such as the "Sherman Hill 1950s". Thanks Alpenfreight! viewtopic.php?t=19345 ), one could always run their vintage trains on a route such as the G-TraX Bessemer and Lake Erie (BLE) as a more period correct "stand-in". There are also a couple of good freeware routes on this site that can be used as a stand-in for home rail's as well. People just have to use their imagination a bit.


Just my 2 cents worth,

wopflyer

[DanSSG]

I have to agree wopflyer. You can run the modern and well known locos like the FEF on almost every route. But for the historic ones there aren't much routes, that fits in their time period. And your imagination doesn't help if the loco runs out of water after a few miles and there is no water tower at the modern route. So I hope that we'll get some more vintage / steam routes for TS. But I can't do that alone...

[JOHNtheREDNECK]

Mr. Rennie. I am curious, now with the Raton Pass route out... Have you looked into either the ATSF 3751 or 2926? 3751 in particular has also spent a lot of time in California on sections of the Surfliner.

[mrennie]

Mr. Rennie. I am curious, now with the Raton Pass route out... Have you looked into either the ATSF 3751 or 2926? 3751 in particular has also spent a lot of time in California on sections of the Surfliner.

I haven't looked into them much, but they'd be great to model. I'd have to see if the original engineering drawings are available (that's always unlikely, but sometimes you get lucky) and if they are, that it's at a reasonable cost.

[wopflyer]

I have to agree wopflyer. You can run the modern and well known locos like the FEF on almost every route. But for the historic ones there aren't much routes, that fits in their time period. And your imagination doesn't help if the loco runs out of water after a few miles and there is no water tower at the modern route. So I hope that we'll get some more vintage / steam routes for TS. But I can't do that alone...

DanSSG,

First off, Thank You for the "Cheyenne 1869 extension". I am enjoying it!

Second, I have an idea/suggestion for our model creators to at least help address the lack of fueling stops for steam locomtives on modern routes. How about we have some refueling trucks made? A truck with coal in the back and has a boom & clamshell bucket attached to it and it works just like any coaling tower. I've seen such a truck used before on excursions. A tanker truck could also be a "coaling tower" but for use when a oil-burning locomotive is used. And lastly, another tanker truck could be used as a "water tower". These should have generic paint jobs so that they can be used on any route.

These would still require the user to place them along the route (I'd clone the route in question and add them to the clone.), BUT it would make it possible to run the steam locomotives on a modern route without having to add older, out of place, refueling equipment.

wopflyer