Help driving the Flying Scotsman

[Kuro]

Hey. I've released the brakes to 8%, put the reverser into 100% and gradually worked the regulator up to 100%. The most i get was 0.1 mph before the train came to a complete halt. This happens both with auto fireman enabled and disabled on a level gradient. Is there something more i need to do to get her going? I'm quite new to driving steam, i've driven Modified Halls quite a bit but they didn't require any more steps than i just mentioned to get them going.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

UPDATE: Nevermind, got it going now. Had to put the reverser into 75% and regulator into 80% to get her rolling and then slowly increase the reverser to 100%.

[vlads]

>Any help would be greatly appreciated!
I'm thinking about it. Probably I'll write my suggestions "on paper" somewhere another time.
As I figured out, the best way to understand the steam locomotives - is literally to feel them.

[vlads]

I have bought it but not yet tested, but considering the experience based on Thompson, you should run on grade starting from ~68% reverser/cutoff and slowly decreasing the cutoff value (or/and the regulator), when you feel the resistance for further acceleration. The main reason when you do use the big cutoff - very heavy consists, and even then I asually do not use big cutoff values.

[[TFA]Wolf]

Did you turn on the F5 Hud? If so what did the Brake gauge in the cab and on the f5 hud read?

Also just ad power slowly and smoothly.

The Big cut-off is like the first gear on a car...so it's for a lot of torque and low rpm (of the wheels).

Rule of thumb, set ont he Black 5 or locos like it for the F5 hud (but should be equal on the Flying Scotsman, though not on other locos):

0-4.5/5 mph 100% Cut-off 20-30% regulator.

5-15 mph 85% cutoff regulator as needed
15-25 mph 75% Cutoff
25-35 mph 65%
35-45 mph 55%
45-55 mph 45%
55-65 mph 35%
65+ mph 28%

Speeds and settings might change according to the type of loco and top speeds....on an 8F it's more like 5 mph steps.
On the Flying Scotsman it could be slightly longer.......it has been a while since I drove it. ;)
(Might be worth it, as I'm now heartily sick of the DTG 6MT Clan....had to drive it a lot for scenario testing..... ;) )

Some locos like the JT ones have suggested settings for speed.

Remember the higher the speed the shorter the cut-off.

And when it comes to climbing it's more about the pressure in the cylinders than the cut-off, although the cut-off helps.

And too much regulator with too high cut-off might actually be counterproductive, as in it actually slowing you down.
If the cab does a rocking, see-saw motion, you have too much regulator.

Two guides:

The Quick and dirty:
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=117906786&searchtext=steam+locomotive

And the one that really teaches you how to drive a kettle:
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=247333283

[Kuro]

Originally posted by Wolf:

Did you turn on the F5 Hud? If so what did the Brake gauge in the cab and on the f5 hud read?

Also just ad power slowly and smoothly.

The Big cut-off is like the first gear on a car...so it's for a lot of torque and low rpm (of the wheels).

Rule of thumb, set ont he Black 5 or locos like it for the F5 hud (but should be equal on the Flying Scotsman, though not on other locos):

0-4.5/5 mph 100% Cut-off 20-30% regulator.

5-15 mph 85% cutoff regulator as needed
15-25 mph 75% Cutoff
25-35 mph 65%
35-45 mph 55%
45-55 mph 45%
55-65 mph 35%
65+ mph 28%

Speeds and settings might change according to the type of loco and top speeds....on an 8F it's more like 5 mph steps.
On the Flying Scotsman it could be slightly longer.......it has been a while since I drove it. ;)
(Might be worth it, as I'm now heartily sick of the DTG 6MT Clan....had to drive it a lot for scenario testing..... ;) )

Some locos like the JT ones have suggested settings for speed.

Remember the higher the speed the shorter the cut-off.

And when it comes to climbing it's more about the pressure in the cylinders than the cut-off, although the cut-off helps.

And too much regulator with too high cut-off might actually be counterproductive, as in it actually slowing you down.
If the cab does a rocking, see-saw motion, you have too much regulator.

Two guides:

The Quick and dirty:
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=117906786&searchtext=steam+locomotive

And the one that really teaches you how to drive a kettle:
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=247333283

Check the update, i got her running.

[alanrco]

Originally posted by Kurolus Rex:

Hey. I've released the brakes to 8%, put the reverser into 100% and gradually worked the regulator up to 100%. The most i get was 0.1 mph before the train came to a complete halt. This happens both with auto fireman enabled and disabled on a level gradient. Is there something more i need to do to get her going? I'm quite new to driving steam, i've driven Modified Halls quite a bit but they didn't require any more steps than i just mentioned to get them going.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

UPDATE: Nevermind, got it going now. Had to put the reverser into 75% and regulator into 80% to get her rolling and then slowly increase the reverser to 100%.

mmmm What! .... Think of the REVERSER as sort of a gearbox, but in reverse. 100% is first gear and in a real loco you would run out of boiler pressure very quickly. In fact some steam locos reach their top speed when the reverser is at about 15% I find the control for the in game Flying Scotsman to be unrealistic. If you want a real challenge, try BMG's Stannier Black 5 and don't use the interface. i.e. keyboard controls and watch the animations

[Kuro]

Originally posted by alanrco:

Originally posted by Kurolus Rex:

Hey. I've released the brakes to 8%, put the reverser into 100% and gradually worked the regulator up to 100%. The most i get was 0.1 mph before the train came to a complete halt. This happens both with auto fireman enabled and disabled on a level gradient. Is there something more i need to do to get her going? I'm quite new to driving steam, i've driven Modified Halls quite a bit but they didn't require any more steps than i just mentioned to get them going.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

UPDATE: Nevermind, got it going now. Had to put the reverser into 75% and regulator into 80% to get her rolling and then slowly increase the reverser to 100%.

mmmm What! .... Think of the REVERSER as sort of a gearbox, but in reverse. 100% is first gear and in a real loco you would run out of boiler pressure very quickly. In fact some steam locos reach their top speed when the reverser is at about 15% I find the control for the in game Flying Scotsman to be unrealistic. If you want a real challenge, try BMG's Stannier Black 5 and don't use the interface. i.e. keyboard controls and watch the animations

Check the update.

[[TFA]Wolf]

Originally posted by Kurolus Rex:

......snippity snip snip.....

Check the update, i got her running.

Yub and we wanted to give you some additional help on that, to further your progress into steam locos. Especially since the method in your update isn't really the right one, you should shorten the cut-off the faster you get not lenghten it, as otherwise you can't drive her at full speed.

We want to help you, don't bite our head off for that.

[Kuro]

Originally posted by Wolf:

Originally posted by Kurolus Rex:

......snippity snip snip.....

Check the update, i got her running.

Yub and we wanted to give you some additional help on that, to further your progress into steam locos. Especially since the method in your update isn't really the right one, you should shorten the cut-off the faster you get not lenghten it, as otherwise you can't drive her at full speed.

We want to help you, don't bite our head off for that.

Apoligies if i sounded a bit aggresive, i just wanted a quick answer as i started to get a bit frustrated. I discovered that i didn't let the brakes fully release before putting them into running again hence why i couldn't move. Thanks for the help anyways, i'll be sure to come back here if i need any help in the future!

[Kuro]

Originally posted by Wolf:

Originally posted by Kurolus Rex:

......snippity snip snip.....

Check the update, i got her running.

Yub and we wanted to give you some additional help on that, to further your progress into steam locos. Especially since the method in your update isn't really the right one, you should shorten the cut-off the faster you get not lenghten it, as otherwise you can't drive her at full speed.

We want to help you, don't bite our head off for that.

Also, how does one go about avoiding blowing the safety valves when using auto fireman?

[Revarnes]

Originally posted by Kurolus Rex:

Originally posted by Wolf:

Yub and we wanted to give you some additional help on that, to further your progress into steam locos. Especially since the method in your update isn't really the right one, you should shorten the cut-off the faster you get not lenghten it, as otherwise you can't drive her at full speed.

We want to help you, don't bite our head off for that.

Also, how does one go about avoiding blowing the safety valves when using auto fireman?

You really can't. The auto fireman works on percentage. Say you start with 80% coal in the boiler. Once that reaches 50% he will top it up to 80%. Same with water. Best to do is learn how to fire yourself, always have space to fill up the boiler. When you are at a stop, shut the blower and dampers. Inject water if there is space in the boiler to keep down the pressure.

[vlads]

Originally posted by TNGS_Revarnes:

When you are at a stop, shut the blower and dampers. Inject water if there is space in the boiler to keep down the pressure.

Good suggestion. I also apply hand brakes at the locomotive and put the train brake to release position. The vacuum valve starts comsuming the steam, so I can avoid activation of the safety valve. When I start, I can move train brake handle to running position, so the steam is fully consumed by the steam machines.