Excessive steam cloud

[billbloggs]

Crew Eng File (Part 1)

SIMISA@@@@@@@@@@JINX0D0t______

Wagon ( c36ft
Type ( Engine )
WagonShape ( C36ft.s )

Size ( 2.37211m 3.18019m 0.2m )
CentreOfGravity ( 0m 0m 0m )
Centre ( 0.00731518m 2.11394m 0.015168m )
Mass ( 1.25t )
InertiaTensor ( Box (2.37211m 3.18019m 0.2m) )

Coupling (
Type ( Automatic )
Spring (
Stiffness ( 9e6N/m 5e6N/m )
Damping ( 1.77e6N/m/s 1.77e6N/m/s )
Break ( 2.1e7N 2.1e7N )
r0 ( 20cm 30cm )
)
CouplingHasRigidConnection ( 1 )
Velocity ( 0.1m/s )
)
Coupling (
Type ( Automatic )
Spring (
Stiffness ( 9e6N/m 5e6N/m )
Damping ( 1.77e6N/m/s 1.77e6N/m/s )
Break ( 2.1e7N 2.1e7N )
r0 ( 20cm 30cm )

)
CouplingHasRigidConnection ( 1 )
Velocity ( -0.1m/s )
)
Buffers (
Spring (
Stiffness ( 9e6N/m 5e6N/m )
Damping ( 1e6N/m/s 1e6N/m/s )
r0 ( 0m 10cm )
)
Centre ( 0.5 )
Radius ( 1 )
Angle ( 0.5deg )
)

Antislip (1)
Adheasion ( 0.15 0.2 2 0.5 )
DerailRailHeight ( 13cm )
DerailRailForce ( 200kN )
DerailBufferForce ( 1000kN )
WheelRadius ( 0.7m )
NumWheels ( 2 )
Friction (
54N/m/s 0 1mph 5.62N/m/s 1.8
5.1N/rad/s 1 -1rad/s 0 1
)


BrakeEquipmentType ( "Triple_valve, Auxilary_reservoir" )
BrakeSystemType ( "Air_single_pipe" )
MaxBrakeForce( 30.56kN )

TripleValveRatio( 2.5 )
MaxReleaseRate( 10 )
MaxApplicationRate( 1.5 )
MaxAuxilaryChargingRate( 1 )

BrakeCylinderPressureForMaxBrakeBrakeForce( 50 )

Sound ( "C36Eng01.sms" )

)

Engine ( c36ft
Effects
(
SteamSpecialEffects
(
comment
(
the format of these little blocks is as follow:

offset.x offset.y offset.z
normal.x normal.y normal.z
width in metres

defining the offset from the shape pivot point
where steam / smoke should appear, the direction
it should go and the width of the nozzle
)



StackFX
(
0 -0.3 9.99
0 -1 -1
0.99
)


)
)


Wagon ( c36ft )
IsTenderRequired( 1 )
Type ( Steam )
MaxPower ( 1hp )
MaxForce ( 1kn )
MaxVelocity ( 70mph )
WheelRadius ( 0.975m )
Sanding ( 1e9mph )
NumWheels ( 2 )
Comment ( boiler )
BoilerLength ( 4m )
BoilerVolume ( "21*(ft^3)" )
BoilerEffectivity ( 1.26 )
DraftingEffect ( 0.8 )
BoilerResponsiveness ( 1.22 )
CoalBurnage ( 4lb/hp/h )
MaxBoilerOutput ( 50lb/h )
SafetyValvesSteamUsage ( 40lb/h )
SuperHeater ( 1.23 )


Comment ( Cylinders )
NumCylinders ( 2 )
CylinderStroke ( 26in )
CylinderDiameter ( 21in )
CylinderVolume ( "4.777*(ft^3)" )
Comment ( Cylinder Volume figure doubled kuju forgot about 2 cylinders )
CylinderEffectivity ( 5.6 )
ExhaustLimit ( 60lb/h )
PrimingFactor ( 1 )
MaxBoilerPressure ( 100psi )
MaxFireMass ( 200lb )
IdealFireMass ( 100lb )
MaxWaterMass ( 100lb )
ShovelCoalMass ( 1lb )
SmokeCombustion ( 1 )
MaxTenderCoalMass ( 5000lb )
MaxTenderWaterMass ( 33500lb )
comment(0 for live steam, 1 for exhaust steam)

Comment ( Injectors )
InjectorSizes ( 11mm 12mm )
InjectorTypes( 0 1 )
InjectorLimits1 ( 50psi 0.6 1 )
InjectorLimits2 ( 60psi 0 1 )


Comment ( smoke and steam )
SteamSmokeUnitsPerPoundOfFuel( 1 )
SteamMaxSmokeUnitsReleaseRate( 1 )
SteamSmokeUnitsPerPoundOfFuel( 1 )
MaxSteamHeatingPressure( 80 )
SafetyValvePressureDifference( 5 )

BasicSteamUsage ( 5lb/h )
BasicCoalUsage ( 2lb/h )
comment( min steam pressure, min water proportion, max water proportion )
CylinderCocksPowerEfficiency ( 0.9 )
SteamCylinderCocksOperation( Auto )

Comment ( Draft and blast )
SteamBlowerEffectExponent( 0.9 )
SteamBlowerEfficiencyExponent( 1.1 )
SteamBlowerMaxSteamUsageRate( 500 ) comment( lbs/h )
SteamBlowerMaxProportionOfBlastEffect( 0.15 )
BlastExponent ( 0.9 )


Comment ( Throttle and reverser )

RegulatorValveType ( single_port )

RegulatorPilotValveExponent( 1.7 )

RegulatorPilotValveFullOpenning( 1.0 )
RegulatorMainValveInitialOpenning( 0.4 )
SteamSmallestCutoff( 0.4 )


Comment ( Braking systems )
AirBrakesAirCompressorPowerRating( 2 )
AirBrakesMainMinResAirPressure( 0 )
AirBrakesMainMaxAirPressure( 110 )
AirBrakesMainResVolume( 4 )
AirBrakesAirCompressorWattage( 19000 )
AirBrakesCompressorRestartPressure( 107 )
AirBrakesAirUsedPerPoundsOfBrakePipePressure( 3 )
AirBrakesHasLowPressureTest( 0 )
AirBrakesIsCompressorElectricOrMechanical( 1 )

EngineBrakesControllerMinPressureReduction( 6 )
TrainBrakesControllerMinPressureReduction( 6 )
EngineBrakesControllerHasProportionalBrake( 1 )
EngineBrakesProportionalBrakeLag( 0.9 )
EngineBrakesControllerMaxApplicationRate( 1.5 )
TrainBrakesControllerMaxApplicationRate( 1.5 )
EngineBrakesControllerMaxReleaseRate( 10 )
TrainBrakesControllerMaxReleaseRate( 20 )
EngineBrakesControllerEmergencyApplicationRate( 5 )
TrainBrakesControllerEmergencyApplicationRate( 5 )
EngineBrakesControllerMinSystemPressure( 0 )
TrainBrakesControllerMinSystemPressure( 0 )
EngineBrakesControllerMaxSystemPressure( 70 )
TrainBrakesControllerMaxSystemPressure( 70 )
EngineBrakesControllerEmergencyBrakeTimePenalty( 60 )
TrainBrakesControllerEmergencyBrakeTimePenalty( 60 )
EngineBrakesControllerFullServicePressureDrop( 26 )
TrainBrakesControllerFullServicePressureDrop( 26 )

BrakesEngineBrakeType ( "Air_single_pipe" )
BrakesTrainBrakeType ( "Air_single_pipe" )
BrakesEngineControllers( "Train, Independent" )

Comment ( miscellaneous )
SteamGaugeGlassHeight( 10 )
NumberOfDamperSteps( 4 )



EngineControllers (
comment( Engine controls )

Regulator ( 0 1 0.025 0
NumNotches( 0 )
)
Cutoff ( -0.65 0.75 0.025 .50
NumNotches( 0 )
)

Brake_Engine ( 0 1 0.0125 0
NumNotches( 2
Notch(0 0 EngineBrakesControllerReleaseStart )
Notch(0.5 1 EngineBrakesControllerApplyStart )
)
)

Brake_Train ( 0 1 0.01 0.5
NumNotches ( 5
Notch( 0.0 0 TrainBrakesControllerFullQuickReleaseStart )
Notch( 0.01 0 TrainBrakesControllerReleaseStart )
Notch( 0.38 0 TrainBrakesControllerHoldStart )
Notch( 0.40 0 TrainBrakesControllerFullServiceStart )
Notch( 1.0 0 TrainBrakesControllerEmergencyStart )
)
)

Brake_Hand ( 0 1 0.0125 0
NumNotches( 0 )
)
FireDoor ( 0 1 0.1 0
NumNotches( 0 )
)
Sanding( 0 1 0 )
Blower ( 0 1 0.025 0.2
NumNotches( 0 )
)
HeatingTap ( 0 1 0.025 0
NumNotches( 0 )
)
Shovel ( 0 1 0.1 0
NumNotches( 0 )
)
DampersFront ( 0 1 0.1 1
NumNotches( 0 )
)
DampersBack ( 0 1 0.1 0
NumNotches( 0 )
)
Injector1Steam ( 0 1 0 )
Injector2Steam ( 0 1 0 )
Injector1Water ( 0 1 0.1 0
NumNotches( 0 )
)
Injector2Water ( 0 1 0.1 0
NumNotches( 0 )
)
CylinderCocks ( 0 1 1 )
Whistle ( 0 1 0 )
SmallEjectorOrCompressor( 0 1 1 )
Headlights( 0 1 0 )
)

comment(fire temp, fire mass, water mass, boiler pressure,
water level, tender_water_mass, tender_coal_mass,
smoke_quantity, fire_condition, coal quality )

EngineVariables( 775 1650 3500 160 0.5 93500 5000 50 1 1 )

Name ( " TA 36 Class Crew" )


Description (
"Australia\n"+
"36 Class Cab crew\n"+
"____________________________\n\n"+
"3d Model:\n"+
" Russell Beer and Matt Austin\n"+
"____________________________\n\n"+
"Textures:\n"+
" Matt Austin and Russell Beer\n"+
"____________________________\n\n"+
"Physics: Ian Bowles\n"+
"____________________________\n\n"+
"Copyright © 2006 Team-ALCO\n"+
"All Rights Reserved.\n"+
"____________________________\n\n"+

"Locomotive type: Steam locomotive crew\n\n"+
"Boiler Pressure: 130psi\n\n"+
"Tractive Effort: 1 lb \n\n"+
"Coupled wheels: 2x 2 feet in 0-2-0 configuration\n\n"+
"Total weight: 1t\n"+
"____________________________\n"
)

[billbloggs]

The crew Eng file uploaded in one go so there is no part 2.
Apologies if the uploads don't fall within guidelines - a novice in the ways of the forum.

Duncan

[scottb613]

Hi Duncan,

Ok - some of this might need to wait until I get home - working on an iPad with this is difficult. That said - in your last file I noticed this block:

defining the offset from the shape pivot point
where steam / smoke should appear, the direction
it should go and the width of the nozzle
)



StackFX
(
0 -0.3 9.99
0 -1 -1
0.99
)


)
)

This is most likely your culprit for the steam cloud. The Y axis position is negative which would put it in the problem area we observed and I’ve never seen a “stack” effect used in that manner before. I was kidding about my limited involvement with steam - all I do is build and model steam locomotives and associated rolling stock. I would try removing that block for the ENG and see how it does - not sure why it’s off by itself and not part of the normal effects section. So much of that ENG files used for MSTS is no longer needed or used in ORTS.

Regards,
Scott

[billbloggs]

G'day Scott,

As suggested I removed the StackFX and 3 lines of code and . . . . . . . . drum roll please, NO MORE STEAM CLOUD!!!!!!!!! How good is that! As a bonus, at least as far as I am concerned, it also removes the crew. After soooooo long foolin' around with this gee I'm pleased.
Regarding why it is set up as it is I can only speculate that back in the dim dark days of MSTS (these locos are 2006 vintage) lets face it the sim was far from an exact science and whatever worked was good enough - those fellas had big hearts

And yes Scott as soon as I watched your video I suspected you had more than a passing interest in the steam side of things. Lucky for us because it is a bit more technically challenging than a diesel eng file just swapping cabviews and sound in or out.

I'll be sure to include you in the acknowledgements for the steam video when I get 'er done.

Very much appreciate your help solving my problem - thanks!
Duncan

[scottb613]

Hi Duncan,

Hah - good to hear - your enthusiasm is contagious. You can actually remove that entire EFFECTS block in that section - as it was only there for that errant effect. As you may have realized you need to be really carefully with parens - as it’s easy to delete one in error which would keep the locomotive from running properly.

If you’re using Notepad to edit files - you might want to consider downloading Notepad++ - as it’s a free open source freeware text file editor (much much better than Notepad) - and it helps you keep track of matching parens pairs.

Notepad++
https://notepad-plus-plus.org/

Regards,
Scott


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[billbloggs]

Thanks for the heads up Scott re the alternative 'notepad'. Yes, early on I had occasion to invest some considerable hours in trying to get 'things' to work only to realise I had made a simple error involving just one character - changing 's' files and not ensuring an underscore 'dash' was a particular heartbreaker. After the first couple of frustrations I soon learned lol!

Cheers
Duncan

[scottb613]

Hi Duncan,

Cool - best of luck.


Regards,
Scott


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[wwhall]

For MSTS/OR file editing, I've used ConTEXT for years. It has an "MSTS files" setting that works wonderfully for finding "()" errors in files.