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I took John Fowlis's Berkshire out for a test drive today. Maybe you've heard I built the cab for it.Still a few things to be worked out. Maybe next time it won't be so dark in here! Oh, and sorry, you'll have to drive it yourself.And there'll be another one out soon. Hint: it's for where the leaves are always turning red, and I don't mean Texas.Rick
PDX

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Berkshire Teasers [View All], ricksan, 11:08 PM, Oct-03-02, (0) RE: Berkshire Teasers, jalsina, Oct-03-02, 11:52 PM, (1) RE: Berkshire Teasers, ricksan, Oct-04-02, 01:53 PM, (2) RE: Berkshire Teasers, jalsina, Oct-04-02, 06:07 PM, (3) RE: Berkshire Teasers, heavymetal91, Oct-04-02, 07:55 PM, (4) RE: Berkshire Teasers, heavymetal91, Oct-04-02, 07:59 PM, (5) RE: Berkshire Teasers, nw_fan, Oct-05-02, 04:40 PM, (6) RE: Berkshire Teasers, Derby415, Oct-08-02, 12:44 PM, (7) RE: Berkshire Teasers, ricksan, Oct-08-02, 01:54 PM, (8) RE: Berkshire Teasers, Derby415, Oct-08-02, 02:38 PM, (9) RE: Berkshire Teasers, ricksan, Oct-08-02, 06:41 PM, (10) RE: Berkshire Teasers, Derby415, Oct-09-02, 11:17 AM, (11) RE: Berkshire Teasers, Adam3291, Oct-09-02, 10:17 PM, (12) RE: Berkshire Teasers, ricksan, Oct-10-02, 01:00 PM, (13) RE: Berkshire Teasers, HAC, Oct-10-02, 04:52 PM, (14) RE: Berkshire Teasers, NW 1218, Oct-12-02, 00:59 AM, (15) RE: Berkshire Teasers, ricksan, Oct-12-02, 03:05 PM, (16) RE: Berkshire Teasers, Derby415, Oct-22-02, 11:01 AM, (17) RE: Berkshire Teasers, HAC, Oct-23-02, 10:27 AM, (18) RE: Berkshire Teasers, Derby415, Oct-23-02, 12:40 PM, (19) RE: Berkshire Teasers - long, HAC, Oct-23-02, 04:04 PM, (20) RE: Berkshire Teasers, johnf, Oct-24-02, 01:20 AM, (21) RE: Berkshire Teasers, petetrainfan, Oct-24-02, 01:47 AM, (22) RE: Berkshire Teasers, Derby415, Oct-24-02, 07:56 AM, (23) RE: Berkshire Teasers, tctallant, Oct-24-02, 05:55 PM, (24) RE: Berkshire Teasers, nw_fan, Oct-24-02, 11:58 PM, (25)

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This is absolutely amazing. I had to look it with my magnifying glass to be sure it wasn't a picture! I like it as it looks, with the conductor, maybe too young to drive a Berk?I would like to see the front and much more considering I have to make a steam cab and I don't know yet how to get started.Jorge

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Sorry, Jorge, that's me as the engineer (not the conductor). Don't worry, I won't be in the final version. Thanks for saying I look too young - I need more of that these days! More shots later on.Some time ago I verbally sketched out how to make a cab in a post here. See http://www.train-sim.com/dcforum/DCForumID10/41.htmlRick

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LOL, Rick!I read your message. The cab design procedure is not my problem. It looks like the Ace conversion has something I haven't nailed yet.As of making a cab, I have a long experience on FS and CFS 2Dpanels and I can say there is much to add to a simple procedure list. It is mostly creativity, a sense of perspective and excellent usage of the paint program as you have demonstrated in that right view.
Jorge

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Actually Jorge it is a picture heh although not one taken from an external camera except for ricks face and part of his body i'm sure.
Just pulling your chain a little.
Nice job rickJoel

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he does look a bit young to be driving it though lol, maybe outa of one railroading books i have read, where the father has taken his 16 your old son on a road trip and lets him drive heh, sure wish i could remember the name of the book i woulkd like to buy itJoel

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The title of this post is "Berkshire Teasers" (notice the "s"?)
Where are the other pics! Inquiring minds want to know! Seriously, fantastic job. I am really looking forward to climbing aboard.

NORFOLK & WESTERN
Precision TransportationMike Rector
mrector@columbus.rr.com

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WOW!! That is one awesome cab shot. However, i do have an idea. Why dont you leave the person in the cab so then it wont be so "lonely" in there. I think it would be cool that when driving and you look over and see "yourself" driving the train. Just my two cents. but seriously it is one hell of a cab. Cant wait for more shots.Keep up the great work,
Jim

Thanks,
Jim

President Of BLLW
email us at: BLLW@aemail4u.com

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Great idea, Jim. Oh, but since the "person in the cab" is me, how can it be you ("yourself") that you'll see? Wait...Now I'm confused...Actually I prefer the one with Julia Roberts in the engineer's seat that somebody posted a few months ago.More shots to follow as soon as John is ready to release the Berk.

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Well i wouldnot mind the julia roberts either i second that idea. but wit the person in the drivers seat as being "ourselfs" i ment just keep it as is. obviously we all dont look like that but since the face is dark, it really does not respemble anyone and we can use are imagination to create the face...understand now?? if that doesnot work out there is always julia roberts! or a playboy model That would work really well. Seriously, i think that would be neat. just my idea. but one last thing, you mentioned that more shots will come when the berk is released. When will it be released because i am DYING to see more of those cab shots. especially the forward view.Thanks for this great addition!Jim

Thanks,
Jim

President Of BLLW
email us at: BLLW@aemail4u.com

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Jim,John will announce the Berk loco when he's ready. I don't know when that will be -- maybe later this month. Keep your eye on the Locomotive Design forum.I think anyone with access to photo-editing software and Martin Wright's Tgatool can superimpose a photo image onto a bitmap image, the same as I did. Tgatool allows you to convert an MSTS ACE file to TGA format (a 2-step process, one step for the base bitmap and the other step for the alpha channel). A little blending here and there until you're satisfied with the results, then use Tgatool to convert back to ACE format. Save a copy of the original just in case, and don't try this on either of the forward view bitmaps unless you really understand how the cab control images work. In fact, you didn't even hear any of this from me!Rick

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Lol, thanks rick. i wont tell any one about that conversation. But i would put a girl in the cab, but #1 i dont have a copy of the cab, and #2 it is far more complicated for me. i am like an idiot when it comes to building trains and cabs and what not. all i do is drive them. But if i could i would put maybe brittany spears or someone in the cab. prolly a porno star..lol but as you origionally siad, Julia Roberts wouild be a nice additon to the cab.
Thanks,
Jimp.s. looking forward to your cabview.p.s.s. does your cabview have the mechanical stokers in it on the sides of the firebox door??? i think those are so cool

Thanks,
Jim

President Of BLLW
email us at: BLLW@aemail4u.com

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Rick, do you have MSN Messenger or AOL Instant Messenger? If you do I would like to talk with you about doing a cab for a project I'm helping out with. My MSN Messenger is adamparsons3291@hotmail.com and my AOL Instant Messenger is Adam32911.Adam
Norfolk Southern Piedmont Division, Linwood Yard, Linwood, NC

NCTM Volunteer

http://www.outwar.com/page.php?x=967694
Check out my profile.

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Adam,Best to contact me via e-mail: rvg1hwnd@aol.comRick

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Rick..
Met with Bill Stetler today.. got the data you need, I'll email some pics later on today, after I get them scanned/annotated..Cheers
Harold

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One question. Does it come with any sort of custom sounds? P.S. I love it. I can't wait! NW 1218

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John has shared in-progress versions of his Berkshire with me, and so far it only uses Scotsman sounds plus some enhancements. I don't know if he plans to go beyond this. We'll all just have to wait I guess. Glad you like the cab. As I said, more pix later on...Rick

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Hey Rick,Just wondering how much longer we have to wait to see more pix of your awesome cab.
Thanks,
Jim

Thanks,
Jim

President Of BLLW
email us at: BLLW@aemail4u.com

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I'm working on custom sounds...so far completed compressor, mech stoker, injector and safety/popoff, and whistle (from a recording of NKP 768)Cheers
HAC

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Hac,
That sounds really cool <no pun intended>. I have seen mechanical stokers before, but just dont understand how they work. There is a Pensy Decapod steamer about 45 minutes from my house and i have gone and taken pic's of it, inside and outside and it has mechanical stokers, but i just dont understand how they work. Do you think train simulator could simulate actual mechanical stokers working?? Hey rick, will the cab have actual mechanical stokers modeled in it??Thanks,
Jim

Thanks,
Jim

President Of BLLW
email us at: BLLW@aemail4u.com

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I've attached an extract from "Locomotive Boilers and Engines" by L.V Ludy. Good explanation on stokers. As far as mechanical stokers in MSTS, currently the game has no way to simulate them. I've used the sound of the mechanical in place of the shovellling noises, and that seems to work ok with some tweaks in the /.eng file..Stokers:"Locomotive Stokers. The amount of water a locomotive boiler is capable of evaporating is limited by a number of conditions. It is possible to construct a locomotive of such dimensions that it would be capable of burning an amount of coal which would be physically impossible for a fireman to handle. Furthermore, the different methods of firing a locomotive by hand, as practiced by many firemen, are frequently very uneconomical and result in a great loss of fuel. Again, there are certain heavy freight runs on some railroads which require two firemen in order to get the train through on schedule time.
The above reasons and many others which might be mentioned have resulted in a demand for some form of automatic or mechanical stoker for locomotive work. In the last ten or fifteen years, much experimental work has been done along this line and a number of different types of stokers have been developed which have met with some success. A locomotive stoker to be successful should meet the following requirements:
It should be able to handle any desired quantity of coal and at the same time call for less physical effort on the part of the fireman than is required in hand firing. It should be able to successfully handle any grade of coal. It should be able to maintain full steam pressure under all conditions. It should not become inoperative under ordinary conditions of service. Its construction should permit of hand firing to meet emergency conditions.
Of the many types of locomotive stokers which have been developed and tried out, the following makes are characteristic and will serve for illustration. Chain Grate Stoker. The chain grate stoker, invented as early as 1850, was thought at first to have solved the smoke problem. It was used to a limited extent in and about New York City, but for various reasons was soon abandoned. Its construction was quite similar to our present-day chain grate commonly used in power-plant work. It was mounted on wheels and could be drawn out of the fire-box on a track. Coal was shoveled into a hopper by the fireman and the chain grate was operated by a small auxiliary steam engine. Hanna Locomotiw Stoker. The Hanna locomotive stoker, developed by W. T. Hanna, is so constructed that the entire apparatus is readily applicable to any locomotive and is placed in the cab. It makes use of the ordinary fire door as a place through which the coal is jetted into the fire-box. It is operated by a small double-acting twin-engine placed in the floor of the cab, which serves to drive a screw propeller, which in turn causes the coal to be pushed upward and forward through a large pipe leading to the fire door. The engine can be reversed by means of a reversing valve, which changes the main valve from outside admission to inside admission. Coal is shoveled into a hopper and from the hopper it is carried by the stoker mechanism to a distributing plate immediately inside of the fire door. From the distributing plate, the coal is thrown into the fire-box by the action of a number of steam jets which radiate from a central point on the plate. The speed of the small operating engine controls the rate of firing. Deflector and guide plates, located just inside of the fire door, are so arranged and under control of the fireman that the coal can be placed on any portion of the grate desired. This stoker requires much physical work on the part of the fireman, since the coal must be broken into small lumps and the hopper kept filled. The larger lumps of coal will be deposited near the rear part of the grate, the finer particles being blown to the front portion. Much of the finer particles of coal will burn as dust and a part will be drawn through the flues without being burned at all. Street Mechanical Stoker. The Street mechanical stoker consists of a small steam engine bolted to the top and left side of the back head of the boiler, which drives a worm gear and operates a chain conveyor. The conveyor bucket elevates the crushed coal from a hopper below and drops it on a distribution plate, located just inside of the fire door. From the distributing plate the coal is thrown into the fire-box by an intermittent steam jet, which is under the control of the fireman. There is a coal crusher on the tender, which is driven by another small steam engine. The coal, after being crushed, falls down a 45-degree inclined spout to the hopper below the deck. Some of the later designs use a screw propeller to carry the crushed coal from the tender to the hopper. The Street stoker does not require a great amount of physical work by the fireman. The large lumps of coal will fall near the rear portion of the grate as in the case of the Hanna stoker. Crawford Mechanical Underfeed Stoker. The Crawford mechanical underfeed stoker, invented by D. F. Crawford, S.M.P. of the Pennsylvania Lines west of Pittsburgh, has been tried out on the Pennsylvania Lines and has given very satisfactory service. This stoker takes coal from beneath the tender and by means of a conveyor carries it forward to a hopper. From the hopper, two plungers, placed side by side, push the coal still farther ahead where two other plungers, one on each side, cause the coal to be pushed up through narrow openings to the ordinary shaking grate. Both the conveyor and the plungers are operated by a steam cylinder, containing a piston operated by the ordinary nine and one-half-inch Westinghouse air-pump steam valve. The conveyor consists of a series of lunged partitions, or doors, which carry the coal in one direction and slide over it when the motion is reversed. If the conveyor for any reason should become inoperative, a door in the deck can be opened and coal shoveled into the hopper below. If the stoking device should become inoperative, then coal can be fired by hand in the usual way. This stoker requires a minimum amount of physical labor from the fireman. It can be applied to any locomotive, but only at considerable cost. Its application reduces the grate area to a certain extent and thus reduces the steaming capacity of the boiler. "Hope that helpsCheers
Harold

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Yeah Rick,Show these people some more Pics!Rick's cab is wonderfull! it makes the loco 100% better.john

john fowlis

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That is nice! When will the Berk be released?

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Awesome Explination. I now understand how they work. I mean i have seen them before, just never understood how they worked. Thanks,
Jim

Thanks,
Jim

President Of BLLW
email us at: BLLW@aemail4u.com

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Nice shots, any chance of a Berk with boxpox drivers? The Wheeling & Lake Erie Berks, later the NKP class S-4 engines, 32 in all. TCTallant

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That's an easy change for the repainters, assuming the wheels were produced with masking, and not fully modelled.

NORFOLK & WESTERN
Precision TransportationMike Rector
mrector@columbus.rr.com

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