Railworks 4: End of the Line

Got a long task list of shunting....


THAT WAS CLOSE


Now the line is set.


Not there yet...


Now I'm there.


Now we're off to Newton Steward goods Siding 8 to get a van.


To Goods Siding 1!


Coaches?

Well now to the Goods Loop.


I goofed, I was supposed to drop them all off. Now I supposed to go to go to Goods Siding 9


Now I have to couple to those vans behind the ones I've already got and then go back to Siding 1, add more vans,


And then drop them all off there. And go to Siding 4.


And now we go to Siding 2.


Notice how I'm glitching into the sign.


After coupling all the cars together, I have to take them to Kirkcowan Goods Siding 1, 6.7 miles away.


Climbing this hill pretty decently.


Coasting downhill.


Coasting through Kirkcowan until I reach the points for the yard.


Dropping off the brake van here so I can drop off some cars on the next siding.


and now we need to get our brake van again.


Now we head 9.41 miles over to Glenluce.


Seems the road is flooded.


With a tank engine and its limited water supply, stopping for water is always a good idea. Especially if you only have 900 gallons left.


And now we go onto Siding 2 after dropping everything off.


Finally finished.

*sees the scenario is incomplete....*

I've been keeping this DLC a bit of secret now (though hinting at it's existance with my project), originally intending to reveal it after I finish messing around in Scottland. But since my birthday is today, I've decided to reveal them now and attempt to make history by smashing the world speed record for steam traction.


This is the A4 Pacific Pack, featuring the 6 surviving members of the LNER A4 Class. 3 are painted in LNER Garter Blue, with their side valencing and the other 3 are in British Railways condition.


This is LNER #4464 Bittern, currently in Mainline Operation Condition. On the 75th anniversity of Mallard's Bittern was allowed to break the 75 speed limit for steam locomotives and run 90 mph on the East Coast Main Line (something I hope to get very soon) after passing several tests. During these runs, on June 29, Bittern set a new record for British Preserved locomotives when she achived 92.8 mph near Arlesey, Bedforshire.


Next we have LNER #4489 Dominion of Canada. Unlike most British locomotives, she has a bell and unlike the other A4s, a Canadian whistle. She is modeled on her current state, and features a single chimney although most A4s now have a double. The real locomotive is not in operative condition and wasn't even in good cosmetic condition until recently. I've already taken her out light for a spin on the Port Road, but wasn't able to get her up the speed I wanted. Also although she has a Canadian whistle, the A4 whistle (which is often said to be far too quiet compared to real life, where the whistle is supposedly 4x louder than the locomotive itself) sound is heard. I also cannot use her bell because the bell key turns legacy driving on and off. This is my main complaint with this pack, inaccurate sounds.


LNER #4468 Mallard is the real star of this show. I've also taken her out for a spin, on the Great Western Main Line (this is Paddington) with the same load all the A4s are currently hooked up to, 4 First Class coaches, a Dinning Car, and the Guard's coach. This run reached briefly reached 120 mph before low boiler water levels forced me to back off the throttle. I'll talk more about her later.


Then we have BR #60007 Sir Nigel Gresley, named after the designer of these legendary locomotives. Her LNER number is 4498. She's also Main Line Certifified, however she's have two major mechanical failures in the past few years. Note that she lacks the side skirting the LNER A4s have.


Sir Nigel Gresley is also a record holder, holding the post-war steam record of 112 mph, gained on May 23, 1959. As with Mallard's record, this was descending southward from Stoke Summit, but unlike Mallard's run which was a special attempt, this was with a full train of passengers returning from an excursion to Doncaster works. The excursion exceeded 100 miles per hour on two other occasions on the same day. Because I have EFX turned off, the locomotives look dull and some things are unreadable, like the plaque. I've also taken this locomotive out for a spin, light. I reached line speed, but stopped there because I wanted to break the record on my birthday and I now knew how to do it.


Next is BR #60008 (LNER #4496) Dwight D. Eisenhower. Wikipedia's information on her is choppy, but I do know that she was donated to America and like Dominion of Canada, is not in operative condition.

The last of the pack is BR #60009 (LNER #4488) Union of South Africa. Also in Operational condition and mainline certified.


For my attempt, I'll be using Mallard running light since I do not yet have the section of track the records took place on. The A4 corridor tender holds 7.5 tons of coal and 6,200 gallons of water. The starting fire mass is 70%, too low for a record attempt, I need to get it to 90%. I'll work on getting that fire while navigating out of Paddington.


Oh yeah, I still have shadows on.... I thought I disabled them last night.

*goes to disable that for maximum framerate*


These ventilators and the rear windows on both the driver's and fireman side all open and are modelled outside too. I like to keep them all closed.


speed limit is now 100 mph


Forgot to mention the doors also open and close.


Also we now have our ideal fire mass.


We're know on the 125 mph speedway that I love about this route. If I break the speed limit here, then I have matched Mallard's official speed record.


109, I'm going to reduce throttle for now while I top off my boiler.


BROKEN THE SPEED LIMIT

*split second later*


BROKEN THE RECORD


132 MPH


It should be noted that at these speeds, the A4s are hungry beasts that consume more coal than can be shoved in.



Also, 140 MPH


Can't keep this up for much longer, that's 44%


Things could get ugly here at Twyford and it's curve....

Also I'm being forced to back off due to low boiler level.


DAMN YOU READING AND YOUR LOW SPEED LIMITS THAT CAUSE ME TO MISS THE ALERTER


I've decided to turn around here at Reading.


GODDAMN ALERTER

Oh cool, I didn't know that flipped up when you opened the window.


Into the yard!


And now we back up.


I've accidently routed myself through the goods area. Oh well.


Finally got back onto the main line.


So I'm back at 140 mph with 100% throttle and 16% reverser. I can't go lower on the reverser without losing speed. This is also probably because Miku can't shovel enough coal.

*considers stuffing her into the firebox*


And now we're back under the wires...


Interestingly enough, I get higher framerate with Mallard than Sir Nigel Gresley. This probably because more of Mallard's motion is hidden.


And that concludes my wonderful little trip, which lasted around 2 real time hours. The game session lasted 1 hours, 15 minutes, and 7 seconds over 74.32 miles. I forgot to record my coal and water useage, but I could've gone back and forth several times.

Wow, what a render fail....


I'll leave once everything finishes loading.


Things look nice and loaded. I've got 7 coaches to drag up the hill.


but first-


EXCUSE ME, GET THE HELL OUT OF MY TRAIN YOU ASSHOLE. GOD FUCKING DAMMIT, CAN'T I LOAD MY TRAIN IN PEACE YOU BASTARDS!

Post Play Comment: If not sure what I'm talking about, look near the cab next to the firebox.


Now we're going to Langwathby, which is 19.66 miles away and the time is 14:06


I'm not sure what that thing is on the running gear.


I just noticed my water level in my tender, 2,280 gallons. Also that's Bittern over there.


Union of South Africa 3.86 miles from Langwathby.


I've noticed that my air brakes are self-lapped like modern brakes. Assuming the locomotive wasn't delievered with air brakes, the self-lapping may be due to newer model of air brake installed.

14:32, Appleby on 11 miles.

*while releasing brakes*


Ooo, freight train.


This is the bit with the mine if I remember correctly.


Somebody's waiting.


Dominon of Canada


First we take on passengers

14:49


And then attempt to take on water....


And fail.

Dammit, I need to uncouple from these.


YES.


That took a long time.


Not paying attention...


Arrived in Garsdale at 15:27.


What, I only saw 3.... I must have passed it while sitting in the cab.

Anyway we're going to Ribblehead.


Is slowing down for this curve really nesscary?


Nearly there.


15:46 one more stop, Settle in 10.71 miles


Pulling into Settle 16:00

Browsing the Steam Forums, I've discovered, or rather confirmed, that Railworks is far more buggy than I would've ever imagined. I'm not the only one with issues regarding Big Boy. Not only that, RailSimulator.com knows there's a problem and has so for at least 3 months. My opinion of this company continues to drop. However, this applies mainly for the locomotives, I have yet to find much critisim for the routes.

Speaking of buggy locomotives? Remember that one Settle and Carsisle locomotive? The pinkish and reddish one? It turns out that the pack is just as bugged as that member of the class with the last driver not spinning at the right speed. Guess what I'm not ever getting?

On a happier note, the same guy (Smokebox) who modeled the Lima Consolated is modeling the FEF-3, the same class of locomotive UP #844 belongs to. And right now, although production has stalled due to computer issues, it's looking absolutely beautiful even incomplete. I look forward to purchasing what certainly will be wonderful locomotive. Especially when he could get away with reskinning one of the Challenger tenders (BTW, the locomotive currently makes the tender look like shit), but instead is going to model a completely new one, that right there is attention to detail!. In the future, once he's finished with project, he may also do a rolling stock pack that includes the canteens that are in nearly all of UP's excursions.

I ran part of this downloaded scenario last night to see if it was possible to make it up the hill. Pleased with the results of the locomotive, I now will do the scenario for real. This scenario is based on the real Red Arrow's 1956 timetable and is an end to end run. Also I apologize for you guys not being able to see very much because this is a night run.


It's 22:53.


Time to go.


Nice strong start.

22:56


Why was I struggling so much last time I did a K4s passenger run?


I love how the fog hides the unspawning mountains.


Just had a little wheelslip.


Post Play Note: Wow, you guys not only can see what my frame rate is when I have up there, but also get brighter images than what I get.


She's climbing so well, with her injectors on to boot! This is 6 coaches


Rounding the curve and overtaking a freight train too!


Bye!

23:08


23:15

*enters the tunnel with the firebox doors open like a noob*


Take 2, here we go.


I just remembered I get penatlized for using my whistle at night.

SCREW THE RULES, I HAVE 468,000 POUNDS OF FIRE BREATHING AWESOME


Hmmm, not doing as well as before... I was already passing that train where I am now.


Wheelslip.

23:08


23:19




Overfilled the boiler, also speed limit is about to increase to 60

23:22


I would love to see a feature where you can race your friends.


16.78 miles from Johnstown and I've got 29 minutes to get there. Time to open the throttle.


And now I have to 45 mph

23:37


And now it's 35

23:38


30 mph for this curve

23:40


Back to 35 also overfilled the boiler again to 110%


Now I can go 40 mph

23:48


Station is 1.68 miles away and I have 7 minutes. Note that this scenario is not actually timetabled.


Arriving early.


I quite enjoyed this run, I only wish I could've watched my running gear.

Dammit, I missed the blurb...

Basically I need to get urgetly needed supplies.


How will this turn out....


Aw.....


And of course the light changes now.


Stopping in what used to be a huge yard.

2:06


Set.


Pipe! :D

It better not shift, that stuff has been known to crush the cabs of trucks.


"Go via London Road Siding 5"

2:10


2:12


Backing up.


Where is that?


Must be the one.



2:16


4.08 miles away.


We have arrived

2:24




Kirkby Thore South Up Reverse is 21.73 miles.

2:56


Um.... okay...

2:57


Why weren't these used on the original scenarios for the Settle and Carlisle?


And we're here.


Why wasn't a scenario like this included with the Settle and Carlisle?


Getting a good decent weight here.

2:59


I'll cut power as I near the station.


That's not red...

3:08


I don't see another train anywhere near here so I'm going to go for it.


gotta make this quick just in case

3:11


That's 43.23 miles away.


This is certainly a good scenario, I'm running at full throttle and barely acceraleting and I like that.

3:22


I'm meeting this by coasting and have been for a while now.


Time to cross the viaduct

3:51 14.85 untils Settle Jn Up Reverse


Actually we might have to wait in a siding first.


Yup.

*waits for a few minutes*


I'm a fucking idiot, that signal is the other track, I have a green.


Some crossing...

4:07 6.9 miles


The alerter just went off and I don't know why.


We're here.

4:16


*ctrl tabs*


Is this enough supplies?

This was a very good scenario.

This is yet another Downloaded Scenario, like most American scenarios, I would need tweak it by removing some cars, only I can't. So I have to put up with the lag.


And how awful that looks.


And somehow these are perfect. HOW DOES THAT HAPPEN.


And we're off with some wheelslip

9:01


Oh look, a Southern Pacific switcher.


And now begins the climb.

*rams it into Notch 8*


Notch 8 is too much right now...

9:08


How is that for an idea of how steep this place is?

9:06


I love it when she screams.

9:21


What happens when you go to cut yourself a piece of cake? Your train does double the speed limit while climbing one of the steepest grades in the world.

2:25


This locomotive would be so much better if the horn didn't have this hissing sound attached to it.

9:30 Just past Gold Run. Emigrant Gap Track 2 in 16.2 miles


Welcome to America, land of the Freight Train.

9:52 Emigrant Gap in 7.8 miles


GODDAMMIT I SHUT THE ENGINE OFF BY MISTAKE WHILE TRYING TO THROTTLE UP

9:56 .2 miles from Blue Canon Track 2


Now they turn over.

19:57


Just 2.44 more miles

10:05


Going to use gravity to assist us in slowing down by slowly reducing power.


The fact they actually have guys inspecting the track makes this so much more realistic.

10:12


10:14

*rams it into Notch 8 until she

reaches 45 mph*


Onto Main 1 we go!

Hermosa Main 1 West is in

16.54 miles.

10:01


So far an uneventful scenario

requiring Notch 3 to

acceralate.

10:08 12 miles


*is listening to various remixes

of Bad Apple*

10:17 4.57 miles till Mermosa

Main 1 West


There's track 3 meeting up for

the tunnels.

10:22


thus explaining why we're not

using #3985 and why the train

has a diesel on each end.


10:25, 2.14 miles to Dale


Dynamic Braking engaged


WTF, Just when I thought I

understood Amercia signaling...


Here should be good enough

10:30

Question is if it will work?


Looks like it.

10:32


18:66 miles to Laramie

10:33


Could be a problem......


Or not.

10:36


Let the high speed running

begin.

10:38


Using Dynamic Braking to

manage speed.


This must be the other train

and why is the train split in

two?

Also the grade is now too low

for me to use Dynamic

Braking.


10:45


Welcome to the Cement Plant.

10:51 1.3 miles left until

Laramie Main 3 East



Fun fact, excessive tabbing is

one of the biggest causes of

scenarios breaking. The other

is saving and resuming.


Finished.

10:58

Ready for another holiday

excursion.


Norden Track 2 A in 14.06

miles

12:00 PM


I thought such loads were too

tall for Donner Pass's tunnels.


So that far right is my

independant brakes

12:04 12.27 miles


Need to turn to the view

distance up if it's affecting the cars....


And yet the entire Moutain

has decided to render.

*moves closer*

Oh that's part of the track,

which shows you just how steep

the climb is.


You guys have no idea just how

loud these units are.

12:11


This is the track to the tunnel

if I remember correctly.


How fucking long is this fucking

tunnel!

12:26


Finally out of the tunnel

12:30


Norden

12:33


Emigrant Gap Loop is my final

stop in 19.71 miles.

12:36


Why is there a little switcher

in there?


Wow, the rolling resistance of

Amtrak's stock is so high that

I have to use my throttle to

maintain line speed.


Amber. Getting close, close

being 2 miles.

13:17


Going to be changing tracks.

Also just beyond this tunnel

Emigrant Gap.


While the idea is sound, there aren't as many blurbs as I would like.

You're on coal duties to Didcot today, taking over at Oxford for a couple of round trips. The line's busy and there might be some surprises before the end of the shift. Have a nice day!

Duration: 90 minutes Difficulty: Medium

Should be interesting.


I heard there was speed limit.

7:35


Two units?

*the DMU next me to departs*


We can go now.


That's in .64 miles


*waits*

7:40


There it is

7:40

And after it passes we have 1.46 miles until we get to (S) Hincksey Direct.


We can go now

7:41


Just closed it.


Didcot reception 2 in 7.3 miles

7:45


Engine died. Might have hit z again...


Oh shit! The cops are here!


Never been this way

7:54


A power plant

7:56


This is one area where trains are highly prefered over trucks, simply because they can move more coal.


Finished, back to Oxford we go

8:17


Hinksey DGL in 7.55 miles

8:22


Opinion of this scenario rising.








Roaring at 850 RPM and yet not moving

8:42


There we go.



Didcot Up Avoid 8.77 miles

8:48


Gotta wait, I think.

*tries tabbing*

No...

*tries to go ahead*


E_Brakes tripped....

8:55


THERE WAS A TRAIN THERE A SECOND AGO

9:00


So Tilehurst is in 12.94 miles

9:07


There go the e-brakes because I didn't spot the signal in time.


9:25


I'm not going all the way to buffers :I


This was a good one.

9:36

also

Spoiler:

The Year is 1993, 4 years before the Amtraks Pioneer had been discontinued. At this time, SD4-s are still in mainline service and Amtraks Pioneer is still regulaly running services from Seattle to Chicago. The Pioneer had stops at Laramie and Borie. You will take this eastbound Pioneer to Borie on a schedule Can you reach Borie on time?

Duration: 80 minutes
Difficulty: Hard

Note: This is based on the Pioneer #26's actual timetable and consist on 5/3/93

So they rehired me... Will I get fired again?


Timetabled.

13:47

]
Let's go!

13:47:30


On time.


Running just a little early. And why just hug when I can run flat out?


44.88 miles until my next stop at Borie at 14:50

13:52


I just noticed I I have 3/4ths of a tank of fuel.

Around 14:00


I'm not paying enough attention to my speed. There's no way I'll be getting there on time. Unless I speed.


Enjoy your history lesson while I speed towards Dale Jct Main 1 East.


14:20


Downhill from here.


Must speed up even more!


14:26

Someone clearly did their research.


I enjoy going this fast, especially when the grade is forcing me to accerlate.


At this moment in time, 14:33, it looks like I'll be getting there much earlier than previously expected.


Nearly 4 minutes early


Aw....

And I'm so early I could quickly make it over there in time.


I am sliding forward despite full braking



See!?


About time, 14:51


Close to 14:53


15:00


15:06

Wait here for an eastbound train to make its way here. You did a good job today bringing all of your passengers to their stops on time. In 2008 Amtrak studied the possibility of a return of the Pioneer as off 2013 they are still debating its return.

This was enjoyable.

I've already done a freeroam of this, but I'm interested in seeing how this guy made his scenario.


Well bummer. Only 60 mph... the Big Boys were designed for stability at 80 mph

Also gotta wait a minute.



Flashing Amber... Probably going to be changing tracks.


Finally out on the mainline, 2.18 miles from Wycon.


I don't remember that.


That guy better be stopping or things are going to get very ugly.


He's still not stopping! But I'm going to clear anyway.


GOD DAMN INJECTORS

14:23, almost at Granite


I'm a little disappointed with this weather. 14:27


Not much longer now, to be honest I find the run boring.

14:38


And of course it would end like that

*stops too quickly and wrecks the train*

That's better :3