Donner Pass scenario 5] Grade crossing (bad weather)

[NDORFN]

Is this scenario even possible? I can get as far as 9.3 miles from Boca Track E1 which is the third points marker (playing the career version) and that's it. Stalled train and no way is it gonna move again. Surely a 100 car coal train like this would have more than a single helper on the tail? Has anyone made it any further?

[robbit]

I have made it just past the hairpin turn just after Truckee and can not get further, of course to get that far I had to ignore all speed limits and just get all the speed I could at the beginning. Otherwise I get stopped at the same spot as you
Sorry

[GaryG]

Hi

I tried that activity and I feel there is something wrong with the physics of the track and/or the Dashes. I found that when the locos started around most curves, the traction disappeared and even with sand I would see slipping in Run 2 at 15MPH. True, there is additional friction on curves but these are like you're running on greased rail in some places. Eventually I did adjust the Dash slipperyness to 0.32, 0.28, 0.19 and managed to get over the hill with lots of sand applied. Maybe someone slipped Teflon powder into the sandboxes.

Once over the hill, I then discovered how bad the braking physics are! A minimum application and the first dynamic braking setting will hold the speed on the 1.9% grades and the second DB setting with a minimum brake setting is good for the 2%+ sections. Oh well, it's more or less the same with most of their North American equipment.

I do like the route - physics settings might be adjusted later.

GaryG

[NDORFN]

Hi

I tried that activity and I feel there is something wrong with the physics of the track and/or the Dashes. I found that when the locos started around most curves, the traction disappeared and even with sand I would see slipping in Run 2 at 15MPH. True, there is additional friction on curves but these are like you're running on greased rail in some places. Eventually I did adjust the Dash slipperyness to 0.32, 0.28, 0.19 and managed to get over the hill with lots of sand applied. Maybe someone slipped Teflon powder into the sandboxes.

Once over the hill, I then discovered how bad the braking physics are! A minimum application and the first dynamic braking setting will hold the speed on the 1.9% grades and the second DB setting with a minimum brake setting is good for the 2%+ sections. Oh well, it's more or less the same with most of their North American equipment.

I do like the route - physics settings might be adjusted later.

GaryG

That's pretty much exactly my thoughts. I actually really enjoy dealing with train slack and the fact that the helper is itself difficult to manage as it's what the speed reports on. I don't know how realistic it is but it's fun nevertheless. It's just those corners! I'm still convinced that it's just a matter of not enough power.

[GaryG]

Hi

I did some looking and as near as I can tell, the cars are Kuju CoalHoppers, V1, V2, V3, V4 and V5.

Now it gets strange. I think that in RailWorks, loading a car does not add weight and if this is so then, "Houston, we have a problem!".

The defined Mass for these five types of cars is 27.4 which is, I think, Metric Tons and that would probably be correct for the EMPTY weight but this is a loaded train and each car probably should weigh 100 Metric Tons or so!

When I got this train over the hill the other day I did observe it required minimal braking and dynamics to control the train and if the train is the empty weight then that would explain minimal braking required!

If it is an empty train, why can't it be pulled up the hill? We appear to have have lots of powered axles to provide power even on slippery rails, enough that maximum throttle shouldn't even be needed.

Can someone confirm that this scenario uses the cars I mentioned above and that loading a car does not actually change the defined weight (Mass).

Thanks
GaryG

[GaryG]

Ok, more info. I am looking at the correct cars.

I now do think there is a puzzle to solve within this scenario and I bet some people are getting a good laugh seeing this thread.

GaryG

[arizonachris]

LOL, this is nothing compared to the coal drag with the Big Boy on Toripony's C&O Allegheny route. This one I finally did after 4 or 5 times. On Tori's route, I could never get it no matter how much sand I used.

[NDORFN]

Ok, more info. I am looking at the correct cars.

I now do think there is a puzzle to solve within this scenario and I bet some people are getting a good laugh seeing this thread.

GaryG

I'm not laughing. What's the freakin solution?

[GaryG]

I said I "think" there is a puzzle to solve...

GaryG

[NDORFN]

Do you think it's possible to get over the hill without modifying physics?

[arizonachris]

Yes, I did it. Didn't have a lot of sand left but I did it. I'm not good at editing game files so my RW is pretty much all default. Didn't modify anything.

[NDORFN]

Yes, I did it. Didn't have a lot of sand left but I did it. I'm not good at editing game files so my RW is pretty much all default. Didn't modify anything.

What was you score? How do you know how much sand you're using? It doesn't show up on the F5 menu like it did in MSTS.

[arizonachris]

Score? Oh, no, I don't do career scenarios, this was all of the standard scenarios. Sorry, career and the scoring holds no interest to me. I just want to railroad, not play like it's a game I'm competing against someone else. Just MHO.

As far as sand, the physics in RW are so bad, you have an unlimited amount of sand. Use as much as you want. But all the sand in the world won't help on this one, it's throttle technique. Run it 4 or 5 times, you'll get it.

[NDORFN]

I don't use career scenarios to compete with anyone, I use them to see if I can complete a scenario with a positive score. So far I've managed about negative 1500! I'll keep trying. I think I could hit the hill with a little more speed and pick more up on the few flats before the main climb.

[Chacal]

More realistically, edit the scenario and add a couple more engines at the head end.