Stuck in scenario "Fully Fueled"

[Vlad Tepes]

This scenario, the first long trip for me, you are told to attach two engines to the back of a very large train, then head up to sand patch.

First of all, is it normal for me to average about 11 mph for the entire trip? The grade was about 1.5% for the entire trip so I figured they purposely overloaded this train to the limit.
Anyway, I made it to the top, however.. then I started to have issues.

Once I was about 1 mile from my destination (it took me almost two hours to reach the top at 10 mph lol), once I crested the hill.. it was weird, my train began to accelerate and nothing I could do would stop it. I started the scenario over and saved just at the top.
The ONLY way I could get to the destination was to get to the crest reduce throttle to idle, and hit the brakes about 80%, then creep at about 5 mph or less the remaining mile.. if I let the train get past 5 mph, it would begin to accelerate past 10 mph and I could not stop it..
I ended up having to slowly (another 30 minutes) stop/coast/stop/coast my way to the destination spot.
So is this how trains work lol? Going down a hill you basically drag your brakes with engine on idle the entire time? Or do I really suck? I'm guessing it's the latter.

Anyway, fine, that was my first problem and I solved it. Then the second problem I could not solve.
After I was actually able to stop, they have you disconnect the two rear engines, and they want you to back up to a position about a mile east.
Well, I can't get past the first set of red lights.. did it once, got ejected for violation.. tried again.. stopped at the red lights.. had a few beers. . waited.. nothing.. I'm stuck lol!

Is there any way out of this scenario? Is it normal at full speed to only make 10 mph the entire way on a 1.5% grade? I'm sure I had the front two engines set correctly (well.. I had done this many times before according to the tutorials)..

Also, how does a long train drive downhill without accelerating out of control in the real world?

I know it's me, but I've tried to read everything I can, and I've been scouring the internetwebssssssesess for answers.. I don't find anything on this.

Anyway.. still having fun.. have to take a brake or I'll go crazy lol.

[Rudolf Jan]

Yes it should work. I recommend you to read the TSW2 Starters Guide and then the Sandpatch route guide I created. You can download both of them here:

https://www.hollandhiking.nl/trainsimulator

Navigate to the TSW2 page and you will find a fair number documents and tools.

In short: With four engines you need to set up multiple units properly to have enough power to get them up the mountain. This is explained in the Sandpatch Route Guide.

Braking: downhill it is very hard to drive such a train. What you should do is set up the dynamic brake. The AC44000 has a combined power/handle and dynamic brake. This brake responds slow, setup time is 10 seconds. Combine this with a little braking using the train brake or automatic brake, minimal setings may be enough. Then make sure to to let the train run away.

The Sandpatch scenarios are quite hard to play. It may e better to start with the other routes,. The BR442 at SKA may help ou to learn braking. Afterwards try Bakerloo line, which gives a totally different driving experience. Then do the shunting tasks at Sandpatch and some distance driving in the timetable be fore trying this real hard stuff.

Last point the you got stuck at a red signal. This probably has to do with your other porblems. It does not happen if you drive more or less timely.

I almost forgot: don't save and resume later, but drive the whole scenario in one shot. The save function does not always work properly.

[schutt]

There is some problems with this scenario. So it definetly is not your fault. But it is doable.
First of: if you configure multiple units correctly you have no trouble reaching the speed limit. In the later scenarios the game explains what is to do, but only like one point per secenario. Once you have played them all you know all the points, but thats a little late. So you need to watch youtube videos on how to setup the locos and read the mentioned guide.

The problem at the end is a bug in the game. Saving is ok as you can try again if you accidantly run a signal, but the loading is bugged and sometimes leads to problems. After loading make sure your generator is on and switch the remote control off and on, as otherwise it doesnt work. Basically if you stay right behind the train in front of you and are at the target location in time the signal works, if you are slow or if you reloaded it sometimes does not switch to white. Keep checking the position of the train in front of you and make sure to have enough distance that you dont get stopped on a red signal.

The whole quad setup is quite complicated, mostly the unoccupied lead locomotive is the problem: Radio on, generator/engine control/fuel pump on, bank (remote control) off.
Then on your lead loco you sit in all the same but remote control/ bank (button on the radio) on.
You can verify the remote link with the 3 view: look through the window of the trailing locomotive in the rear, you see the power and reverser moving. Also you see the break pressures. So if the power/reverser levers are not working or if the breaks are not release when the breaks are released in your loco you need to check till you find the problems.

[Vlad Tepes]

Thanks! I will do a little more research and try again! It seems my save is bugged, as I reloaded it a few times and the signal is stuck on red. I waited 30 minutes and it was still red so I will start the scenario over.

[Vlad Tepes]

So I restarted, and finished this scenario successfully thanks to all of you. I've been reading the manuals and suggested links and taking good notes. It took me over 3 hours to finish but was rewarding in the end.
One strange thing happened and I'm not sure why. At one point, about 1/3 of the way into the trip, I had to slow down because of a red signal warning ahead.. so I used my autobrake and very slowly came to a stop (by the time I stopped the flag turned yellow, but I was going to use this as a practice).
So after I was ready to start going again, I put the reverser in FWD, applied a little power, and moved my autobrake to released.. At this point it seemed like I could not get enough power (like in the original scenarios when I didn't have my two car sets correct)..
So I used the #3 view and looked at the rear set. For some reason they were no longer following my throttle position. I zoomed in and saw the BANKING COM OFF.. ok so I clicked it (in the lead car of the rear set).. I went back to my main view(#1) and saw that my BANKING COM was OFF.. so I turned it on.. tried again, still not enough power.. At this point I sort of played around with the brake handles..jumped back and forth, turned the BANKING COM on (it seemed to keep switching off when I changed views)... and suddenly it was working and I could see the rear cars doing the correct throttle position..
I also noticed during this jumping back and forth in views, that the lead car in the rear pack was set to Cutoff so I set it to freight..
I'm wondering why this seemed to "disconnect" suddenly? If I accidentally pushed the autobrake to emergency, would this disconnect everything? The reason I ask is I use the shortcut keys and don't pay attention well when I want to stop quickly. I'm basically slamming the lever full lol.. or at least I think that was one possibility.
The other thing I did is I applied the secondary brake when I was stopped, for no real reason but just to keep my train from rolling back I guess.

In any event, I got it going again and finished the scenario.

Thanks again! Love this game!

[schutt]

You must have banking com on on the lead loco you sit in. If you turn it on in the rear locomotive, the one in your locomotive jumps to off. Since the other locomtovie is in control (without an engineer at the helm).
To start from stop on a steep incline: set independent brake to 100% and release autobrake. Wait till the autobrake is released in the whole train, which takes a while if the train is long. Then put throttle to 4 or 5, wait till the enigine is delivering the ampere and only then release the indep brake and add sand. Wait a while with power set to 4 to get the whole train moving before adding more power. Apply sand if needed.

So basically two things:
Must be on independent brake. If the independent brake cant hold the train you can not accerlerate it either.
You apply power and wait till the power is enough to "take over" from the brake. If you release the brake to early you start rolling backwards and the engine must overcome unnecessary reverse speed before it can accelerate you.

[Vlad Tepes]

Thank you! It makes sense now!

[Alumno Superstes]

This seems solved already but I want to pitch in without too much text.

I have noticed that best way to run loco is use independent break as speed fine tune. If go too fast increase bit by bit , till hit at point speed gets slower. No sudden changes on settings cos it can balance itself out soon..and I do love constant speed than have to break on/off too much.

At downhill, I like use dynamic breaks as speed fine tune. throttle 0, hit dynamic break on..to max is fine. then if speed still gets up, use independent break to slow..if you hit max applied and still no good, try auto break..last break you have..with that you should hit to point you get slowed..then ease dynamic break if want more speed.

I'm at same scenario as you atm..so will be seen if my solution is good.

Seems driving these is just playing with forces and opposed forces. Loco breaks are solid iron/steel, so they aren't so fragile as on trucks..if not get them to red hot..dunno if this game simulates that.

I do hate when have to use extra gas on dynamic breaks, but what can you do, its so handy.

[Vlad Tepes]

Yes I found that using the dynamic brake works great for downhill speed control. I haven't (yet) had to use either the auto brake or independent brake.

[AimlessArrow]

"I do hate when have to use extra gas on dynamic breaks, but what can you do, its so handy."
Use lower notch of auto-brake+independent brake. You get the same result. I use this to stop the train too.

[Alumno Superstes]

Yep, I revised my braking "rotation" on declination, dyn. brake then auto, and idenpendent until slower speed...easier to control, since auto brake is so aggressive.

Shoot I only now read whole thread, I got pointers on this scenario I'm doing now, and was stuck on it..can't really say how it solved itself but from load save..go figure.

BTW I tested that camera trick that show 2nd loco handle moving, managed to do it once and no matter banking etc, can not get it moving again

PS. it moves again..might just be cosmetic bug

[Vlad Tepes]

Yes I think sometimes the rear loco doesn't reflect the throttle movement but it still works.. go figure.
Also, I am thinking how a real world train would be (forgive me I don't know trains but I understand some of the technology that is used as I was a mechanic in my youth lol).
I would guess that using auto brake or independent brake continuously down a grade would really heat up the linings and cause issues in the long run.
The dynamic brake uses electrical energy to "reverse" the current through the motors so it is working without applying a physical brake. Of course it is heating up the motors now so well... lol
Not sure if the game models brake wear. or worse yet. brake fade, which is a frightening thing... but that was why I used up all dynamic braking first and always try not to use the mechanical brakes until necessary..

[GAD]

Originally posted by Vlad Tepes:

First of all, is it normal for me to average about 11 mph for the entire trip? The grade was about 1.5% for the entire trip so I figured they purposely overloaded this train to the limit.
Anyway, I made it to the top, however.. then I started to have issues.

To the TOP? Wow. I'm on my THIRD attempt (I have endless patience) and even on this attempt I am stuck 4 miles out - in almost exactly same spot as other 2 tries - so I'm certainly doing something wrong. I also have made around 10MPH the entire trip.
I love this Sim, so I'm gonna carry on after I have read the sand Patch guide.
Nice to know others have suffered too though. Thanks Rudolph and Schutt for the tips too.
I'm off to mess up this third try, then I'll start over = with renewed enthusiasm.