Prompted by getting service failures from shutting down the fire when I no longer needed it, I'm wondering what the real life rules/guidelines for minimum operational fire level & pressure were for traincrew ? [Update] I've been exploring how it's implemented in game. To prevent the fire becoming unviable, and hence service failures, the minimum firing and airflow requirements when the regulator is closed are that the firebox needs to be fully opened, periodically, and the blower set to no less than ⅔. The ejectors failing to create sufficient vacuum to hold the brakes off, is the sign of imminent failure, and requires action - either switching to auto fireman, or firing, and fully opening blower & dampers. As a side note, firing only appears to occur when the firebox is fully open. The heat from a low fire level is easily capable of maintaining maximum pressure, however, it's not capable of providing sufficient steam to accelerate a loco by any useful amount, resulting in the boiler pressure plunging. So in the round, considering it's a work in progress, the simulation is reasonable, apart from the speed with which the fire mass becomes unviable after ~10 minutes. This can be solved somewhat by simulating airflow leakage around the dampers and firebox door, but it may be more of a fundamental fire simulation issue. The messaging about service failures is incorrect - it isn't a lack of steam (often the safeties are blowing), it's a lack of heat from the fire, resulting in a, not unreasonable, technical fail error. --- I accept that manual firing doesn't work properly yet, but in TSW2 I successfully used it to reduce the pressure and hence, the noise from the safeties. In TSW3 it seems to behave differently. On this ~22mile ~1% downhill run from Peak Forest to Ambergate, I left the firing, dampers & blower in their default inactive state, accelerated to ~40mph, then let it roll, braking as required. I got a Service Failure about ten minutes after starting, with the safeties blowing, so I'm guessing that it's the fire level Simugraph objects to. IIRC Ed or Matt mentioned that it keeps track of both coal that is heating up and coal that is on fire. I was hoping that the draft from the gaps in between the closed dampers would be sufficient to keep the fire at a reasonable level.
I don't think the firing is very well simulated just yet as I faintly remember OldVern having a 4Fs fire go out just running down the quarry for the brake van ride in the chinley gala scenario and a fire would never burn out that quickly. Especially when you can't monitor the state of the fire/water etc That being said the steam physics have changed twice since tsw2 where they got more broken and then up to the standard now. So who knows what actually works lol
All I can see is google or contact heritage steam places where drivers can help with info. I'm not a steam expert. I could ask some though. If the fire goes out it is logical things won't work. Just keep it stoked a little. I guess.....
The problem is TSW has the fire go out too quickly if you forget to activate the manual fireman. I forgot on that scenario where you take the 4F with a brakevan trip from Chinley down to Gowhole Sidings. Literally 7 mins into that part of the scenario I got the service failed message. There is no way a 2 tonne incandescent fire mass would fail to generate enough heat to maintain pressure for that short length of time.
What is certain is that crews were told to keep safety valves blowing off to a minimum, particularly at stations. A crew blowing of steam in the middle of a busy station or at night near residents houses would be reprimanded. It is extremely unrealistic to have the safety valves blowing off like they do currently as unlike us, crews had control over the water levels and fire mass.
Thanks OldVern, I've been testing it and the speed of fire mass decline is indeed the issue, although I had it too shut down anyway, I guess, hence my question. I've updated my original post with my findings.
This really reminds me of the early days of steam in Trainz, where if you didn’t put any coal on the fire the loco stopped. Open the firebox door put a couple of shovels on and presto, full pressure again. The other issue with steam locos which I can’t see modelled in TSW is that if the pressure falls too low the ejectors can’t maintain the vacuum and the brakes will apply.
There is no manual firing mode or am I missing something??? I have been trying to seek documentation or even tutorial for changing from AI auto firing mode to manual or semi auto? Can you help? I made some scenarios in Peak Forest route and I have no fireman. But in timetables chosen in game menu I always have a fireman. Did I fire my fireman? Or he just didn't turn up? LOL (This line is concocted humour)
Right now I saw in the forums that water level in the tender is 'unlimited' and a few other variables are not in the mix too. Maybe coal levels.
Settings - Gameplay - Firing mode Manual/Assisted/Auto - E to save BUT manual & assisted modes are work in progress, so we can't expect any kind of functionality, but I like to try because I find just driving them, too easy. Yeah the invisible fireman is a thing. It doesn't seem to affect the functionality. Open the firebox (fully!) and coal is added. Sometimes (TSW2?) you can't seem to stop it.
Manual firing currently means you have to press F to activate the AI fireman or the scenario will fail after about 15 minutes. You can also open and close the dampers and blower but otherwise you cannot influence firing rate, fire mass or water level in the boiler.
