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

[mrennie]

That looks really good. I've been getting used to manually firing steam engines so I'll probably be spending a lot of time in this cab.

"We want Rivets.
We need rivets!
How we gonna count
if we don't have RIVETS! "

Just to go off on a tangent slightly, this is a real thing that exists:

an "Analog Rivet Counting Tool" for model trains. I saw this in the most recent Model Railroader and I was surprised the fact that there was even a demand for such a tool.

Are you sure it's not April 1st already?

[AdmiralLeviathan]

That looks really good. I've been getting used to manually firing steam engines so I'll probably be spending a lot of time in this cab.

"We want Rivets.
We need rivets!
How we gonna count
if we don't have RIVETS! "

Just to go off on a tangent slightly, this is a real thing that exists:

an "Analog Rivet Counting Tool" for model trains. I saw this in the most recent Model Railroader and I was surprised the fact that there was even a demand for such a tool.

Are you sure it's not April 1st already?

Ugh, too good to be true. I still want one though

[mrennie]

That looks really good. I've been getting used to manually firing steam engines so I'll probably be spending a lot of time in this cab.

"We want Rivets.
We need rivets!
How we gonna count
if we don't have RIVETS! "

Just to go off on a tangent slightly, this is a real thing that exists:

an "Analog Rivet Counting Tool" for model trains. I saw this in the most recent Model Railroader and I was surprised the fact that there was even a demand for such a tool.

Actually, I try to manually fire this one, but you almost need four hands. I usually give up and switch on my expert automatic fireman and watch him twiddle with all the controls while I just sit in the engineer's seat.

[Ericmopar]

Lets face it. Real Steamers had firemen for a reason...
I'm kind of miffed, when a steam engine will barely move when using automatic fireman. Real engineers were not expected to do both.
That being said, I don't disapprove of manual firing as an option.

[mrennie]

Lets face it. Real Steamers had firemen for a reason...
I'm kind of miffed, when a steam engine will barely move when using automatic fireman. Real engineers were not expected to do both.
That being said, I don't disapprove of manual firing as an option.

I've scripted the expert auto fireman (it has nothing to do with the sim's automatic fireman, which has to be disabled) to use everything at his disposal to maintain the boiler pressure, the water level and to keep the smoke the right colour - he does it better than I can manually, except when I want to get those extra few mph to beat my speed record, when I take over for a few seconds

[buzz456]

That's excellent since the game's auto fireman is pretty useless with most of the steam engines out now. I suspect that's why many have given up on driving steamers because they have never figured out the methods to manual fire the beast and the auto fireman is just plain inadequate for the job.

[mrennie]

That's excellent since the game's auto fireman is pretty useless with most of the steam engines out now. I suspect that's why many have given up on driving steamers because they have never figured out the methods to manual fire the beast and the auto fireman is just plain inadequate for the job.

I agree with you completely. That's why I ditched the game's auto-fireman straight away.

Mine uses a combination of firing valve (oil regulator), blower (at < 4mph), atomizer (yes, even the atomizer works) and damper to manage the boiler. He also keeps the water level from dropping below 0.8 or thereabouts, using the feedwater pump.

[thecanadianrail]

So basically with your "experienced" fireman we really wont have to deal with any controls but the ones for the engineer if we don't want to?

[mrennie]

So basically with your "experienced" fireman we really wont have to deal with any controls but the ones for the engineer if we don't want to?

Exactly so.

[BNSFdude]

Your advanced firing details make me wish this game had multiplayer so I could have an engineer running it while I fire, or the inverse.

[mrennie]

Your advanced firing details make me wish this game had multiplayer so I could have an engineer running it while I fire, or the inverse.

I agree - that's one type of multiplayer that could work.

[ozinoz]

Today is a special day - it is the 365th, 12 or 1 year anniversary since Mike announced this project, which ever you prefer.

HappyAnniversarysi3577d.jpg

That just gives some indication of the amount of work involved in getting a project like this to the masses.

for all the long hard work.

Home stretch in sight...

[mrennie]

You remembered!





Yep,it's very hard work, as anyone who makes complex models for RW can tell you (right Dan, Rick ...?) That's why, for me at least, it's great to get feedback and, especially, encouragement, frequently - keeps me going when the end is far from being anywhere in sight (because there are times, like when Crafter has crashed for the umpteenth time that day, when I feel like taking a break from it).

The end is in sight now though

[FourEightFour]

Congratulations on the anniversary and Official licensing of the FEF by the Union Pacific. That must mean you are doing a good job if the UPRR endorses it, right?

[mrennie]

Congratulations on the anniversary and Official licensing of the FEF by the Union Pacific. That must mean you are doing a good job if the UPRR endorses it, right?

Thanks Justin

They were "delighted" and granted approval straight away