NOOB Tries Operating a Proper Steam Locomotive for the First Time.... it Goes Poorly... 

Driving a steam locomotive is hard.

kAN: *bleeding out steam through 100% reverser at speed* Also kAN: Oh, the smoke is clear! So efficient!

As a note, when there is a speed limit sign with a red arrow pointing down it means that the next limit will be 20 less than the current limit and the opposite with a green arrow pointing up. Hope this helps. This can be found in a manual.

Seeing kAN struggle with the non self lapping brake is quite amusing

I suspect next time we see kAN running the steam engine he's either gonna be in a call with Hyce or the game is gonna have added coop and he'll be running the steam engine with Hyce.

Came here to see Hyce's comment giving KAN a list of what he did wrong I will continue to wait

Some tips. I would keep your water level at 50% minimum at all times, preferably closer to 80%. Also don't put too much coal in the box. You want lots of coal when you are about to start a big climb, otherwise it is far more efficient to run at 1/2 to 1/4 full. Also sometimes it is a good idea to choke the fire and let it die back when you do not need it (Eg a long downhill section).

Kan pulled a Hyce, twice 😂 Great video I couldn't contain the laughter when you went into the oil field.

17:55 have not laughed so hard at silence before. Just the pain hanging in the air

The biggest thing I've noticed in Derail valley is that you have to be thinking 3 steps ahead of what the train is doing. Everything takes time, and if you're just reacting to the here and now, you'll always be trying to catch up, overcompensating with the controls, missing speed signs and junctions and tempting fate every corner. The map in this game is very much designed to catch you off guard with frequent gradient and speed changes. For a lot of your adjustments, you were slamming it between 0% and 100% when you should be slowly increasing or decreasing in smaller increments, giving each change you make time to settle. Having 5-10 seconds between each notch of power or brake makes it WAY easier to see and feel what's going on as opposed to always being on the back foot. Once you get a feel for what each input does, you can be a bit more aggressive with the controls, and know what you need for whatever speed or gradient you're coming up to.

If you derail and jostle the engine a lot, the boiler will explode because the water level goes a bit crazy. Pro tip: Press X to "sit". This brings you down about halfway between crouching and standing, putting you at the perfect level for most train operations. Steam engine tips: 1. If you see dark smoke, turn down the cutoff (reverser). You may need to go all the way down to one notch from neutral at high speeds. 2. Don't brake with reverse, all you get is wheelslip, turn the independent and train brakes on full and turn off the regulator and pray. 3. Higher cutoff means more torque and more chance to wheelslip, turn up the regulator and down the cutoff to reduce wheelslip. 4. Use to damper (stick to the right of the firebox) to reduce airflow to the fire and cool it off to save coal and water. Empty coal from the firebox with the stick on the left once you are finished using the train or if you have no water left. 5. The steam engine brakes have 3 positions. Restore pressure (brakes off), hold pressure (hold current brake level), and release brake pressure (brake harder). The extra play is release pressure even HARDER (AHH WE'RE GONNA DIE brakes) Edit: 5. Use the chuffing sound as a reference for the cutoff. Turn the cutoff down if the chuffs are loud. Once they are relatively quiet, you should see you are running fairly clear smoke.

You can get an intuition for what the (not reg) cutoff does by changing its value at low speeds with open cocks - you'll notice that the chuffing gets shorter, that's because steam is admitted only for a small part of the cycle, with the rest of pushing done by the expansion of just the steam already input into the cyllinder, rather than the active flow of steam straight from the boiler. With 100% cutoff straight boiler steam gets sent to the cyllinder throughout the whole pushing stroke, meaning full pressure gets put on all throughout it, but it removes a volume of steam equal to the entire cyllinder from the boiler, and the full pressure steam gets sent out of the piston still more or less at boiler pressure, basically dumping away energy. With lower cutoffs you are admitting the steam only for some time, so the push part of the cycle only gets a bit of the steam, but that steam can continue working after the valve is closed, which means that while the cycle does less work, the work/(volume spent) rises since the steam keeps expanding.

kan you only blow out the cylinders if theres water in them, which typically builds up when stopped

I need a Hyce Reacts to this.....or Hyce on voice giving kAN driving lessons.....

Bought the game 3 days ago after watching your video and since then I've racked up 30 hours in it. The smile on my face when driving the S282 for the first time was immeasurable. Looking forward to more Derail Valley videos!

Would love a co-op mode on DRV, watching Hyce & kAN try to drive a steam lcoo together would be a dream come true

I think Derail Valley needs a feature that Microsoft Train Simulator had over 20 years ago, and thats an automated fireman. So basically younger to run the engine and your invisible fireman will stoke the boiler for you. Some people might think that's cheating but can make it so much easier and enjoyable to run the steam engine. After all you need two people to run a steam engine not one.

"I don't think you can operate 2 steam engines at the same time." Not with that attitude, you can't.

I've blown up many engines since the update, it's part of the learning curve BTW the engine can explode if you derail hard enough

kAN, it seems like the fluid simulation in the boiler is pretty realistic, so what could have happened is when you derailed, the sudden deceleration threw water into the front of the boiler which uncovered the back of the crown sheet and popped the emergency break.

Kan….. it smells like something….. it smells like Kenosha…. KKKKKAAAAAAAAANNNNN!!!!!🎉

Least you actually had an "accident", and Hyce just creates chaos on purpose lol. Practice makes perfect buddy, and before you know it, you'll be conquering the whole map with the S282!

Any steam not being used for motion is less water in the tanks. On a tank engine you've got limited water compared to a tender engine. As far as the throttle and reverser - if youre near center, the steam is going to expand more, so you use less from the boiler. Conversely using steam with full reverser gives full boiler pressure for the entire piston stroke with minimal expansion, using more steam (and water). So, full reverser is good for getting max starting effort and other high power moments, and near center is going to conserve steam. Finding that sweet spot of reverser and throttle for any given load, grade, and speed on different locomotives is an art and science.

I actually spotted the boiler problem before it happened, but then again, I’m training to operate real steam locomotives. 24:27 derailed… 24:31 boiler rupture. Once you have no visible water in the sight glass, you have less than one inch of water on top of the crown sheet. That water is what is keeping the crown sheet cool. Once it is uncovered, even partially, it will overheat and fail, leading to an explosion.

Loved it! Thanks for talking through your thoughts while you ran the locomotive. Also, your boiler did explode from running out of water. I was watching.

Historical steam train operator here. Actually you did pretty well. :D About the smoke color - it is absolutelly not bad if the smoke is dark black, it is just an indikator that your cole is in its first state of burining, when the coal is basically "using the generated heat" to ignite itself, so the steam production is not as fast as in later phases. But...when the smoke is light brownish to clear, that means that your coal is "burned" - it is producing a lot of heat that can be used for steam production. And when there is absolutelly no smoke comming out of chimney even during the oppened regulator, it is time to add some coal, as soon your cole will be turned into ash-like hot mass with very little heat production. I really liked your video, keep on! :)

For the efficiency if you stop supplying steam half way through the stroke, the PSI in the piston will still be about half of what you supplied it with when it reaches the end. So for half the stroke you have the same amount of work done, and for the other half you have ~75% of the work done when compared to steaming the whole time. Thus you get about ~87% of the total work done for half the steam.

I find it hilarious everytime Kan is running a train He always uses the independent brake rather then only relying on the automatic brake

From what I saw, you derailed, and as you were derailing, the boiler clipped the side of the cut, then exploded. Possibly it was right on the edge of blowing up before the derail, but it certainly hit something then exploded.

Now you will go for an new diesel license. I recommend DH4. Also Hyce will be very disappointed.

Johnson bar: further forward (or rearward) is more power, closer to center is more efficiency in steam usage (and water usage). Remember as Hyce said: adding water to boiler will lower *boiler* temp, therefore pressure. *Fire* temp is strictly how well it's drafting, i.e. blower or engine chuffs. As you reduce throttle (regulator) or Johnson bar position, less air is moving through fire. If you keep air moving through when you don't need to, you use more coal.

Blew up the oil well and exploded the locomotive. Hyce would be so proud!!

I like how the train screamed right before it exploded.

You see what happened is, when you derailed the water sloshed to the front of the boiler exposing the crown sheet, then it sloshed back and the engine then exploded.

The S0-6-0 design wise makes me think of the southern region USA shunters and some italian mini tankengine

The main problem I have with this game, is that the sizes are not reflective of the real world. Unless these trains are absolutely tiny. I have only used the DE2, so I can't speak for any other train, but when I set the height in the settings to 6'1 like I am in real life (Because the game defaulted to like 5'6 or something short) and my head was damn near touching the ceiling of the DE2. I had to lean way down to get through the door, and lean down a little to use the controls, tilt my head to properly see through the windshield. But I look forward to buying the game eventually in the future and trying this steam engine in VR, 'cause I'd imagine it's much easier to manage when you have two independent hands and head. Rather than having a single hand that's strapped to your face. And that to me is the funniest part about this train and your interactions with it. You wish for more than one person, to be able to operate the train better, but you have to remember that you're not even a full person. (Though, unsurprisingly Hyce does it just fine. But I assume that comes with experience in managing all of that) You're a single hand strapped to a camera that forces you to only be able to interact with a single thing you're looking at. Had you those two independent hands and head of a full person, I'd imagine things get a lot more manageable when you're a full person

just like hyce he blows up the oil well

Don't take this the wrong way, but both of your deaths were absolutely hilarious.

Should do a follow up with Hyce pointing out the finer details.

13:15 As you know the johnson bar controls how much of the stroke the valve is open. So for example when you have 10 bar boiler and chest pressure (let's say full reg), and the imaginary cylinder has 10 liter volume, then at full forward johnson bar, you would use 10 liters of 10 bar steam per stroke, as the valve is open right until the end of the stroke. If you only put the johnson bar slightly forward it will use, let's say 2 liters of 10 bar steam, as the valve closes at 20% of the stroke. In that case, the piston will get less and less pressure during the stroke, but still between 10 bar and 2 bar right at the end, so it's still always pushing against the atmosphere. At higher speed when not accelerating anymore, you don't need the full force of having the full 10 bar at the piston the whole stroke, but because of the speed you have more strokes per second, so you still get a pretty high total power, enough to keep the train moving at higher speed, but only using ~20% of the actual steam (in this example). (All of the remaining steam in the cylinder is wasted when the exit valve opens, so the lower the pressure get's at the end of the stroke, the more efficient it is). Hope it clarifies a bit :D

You should get the shunting license, you can make pretty good money on some of those jobs, and if it's one to set up a train you can immediately take the freight haul of the consist you just assembled.

13:40 kAN realizes why fireman and engineer are two separate jobs on a real locomotive

I'm not 100% sure but I think it also simulates water sloshing about because of acceleration/braking. Going downhill on an empty boiler is already spicy but then the train derailed on the corner and as a result decelerated hard so what little water there was went into the forward half of the boiler, exposed the firebox and caused the explosion. Either that or the game is just wired to explode the engine on hard crashes. Though it didn't blow when it ran into the oil train, which then also exploded right next to it...

we had noob vs pro and now we finally have noob vs game.

The things you hit, exploding, was a nice touch.

17:29 😂 Hyce would be so proud.

After reloading, always check the lubricator, it kinda has a habit of turning off, and you don't notice until you see the fees. The train brake is a non-automatic type, it has 4 positions, release, hold, apply, and emergency-apply. The emergency-apply is spring-loaded and jumps back to regular apply, you have to look at the red needle on the brake gauge to judge how much brake you're applying, and then put it in hold. The way you were using it was basically full on/full off, and that was kinda turning your locomotive wheels into squares. :D

So, running steam alone meanis panicing constantly. Both KAN and Hyce do it. Just differently but still. Love it.

Explosions. Yes, good. The only thing left for your full qualification is to drop some hazmat into the sea at the harbour. I'm confident you can pass this final test.

Can't wait for kAN to work on another steam locomotive in scrap mechanic with actual lubricant and stuff using the knowledge he gained from this.

Locomotive variety in this game is just as good as the sim itself.

Ah yes, the first thing to do with your new license: yeet it in the bin lmao

kAN: Looks at blowdown valve “…I wonder if there’s a way to drain the boiler.”

Now I want Hyce reaction on this video :) The steam engines in the game are fun to drive. As long as you do not go too fast and do not run out of water. Oh, and you have to look where you are going. Yes, in real life two people operate a steam engine. Also, in real life, shoveling coal is more difficult and starting the injector is a bit tricky as well, Train brake on the steam locomotives in the game is different from the brake in the DE2. It is called a non self-lapping brake valve. The difference is this: On the DE2, you set the handle, say, two notches, the valve reduces the brake pipe pressure by a certain amount and keeps it there. Here, the valve has these positions: release (fill the brake pipe with air) lap (close the brake pipe keeping whatever pressure is there) apply (let out air from the brake pipe) emergency (let out from the brake pipe faster) The brake valve stays in whatever position you put it in, except "emergency," which springs back to "apply". The proper way to operate is to set the valve to "apply" until you reduce the brake pipe pressure to what you want, then put it in "lap" to keep the brakes at that level. When you no longer need brakes, set the valve to "release".

Those poor cows & chickens. They thought it was a leisurely train ride to the slaughterhouse, but instead their last trip was nightmare rollercoaster where they died two separate times in alternate universes.

I feel like hyce would be proud right into explody boys.

If the pistons aren't receiving hot steam, they will cool down. So you will need to open the cylinder cocks after longer periods of coasting.

"Did I not have water?" Oh kAN, I was screaming at the computer screen when you started saying "Why can't I get my steam chest pressure up?" You can't have steam pressure if you have no water, and your sight gauge was spending more time below the gauge than above it at that point. Well... at least I know I was invested enough watching to actually start yelling "water!" "You need water!" at the screen!

cant wait for more videos on this game, if you have vr you should try it in vr

17:20 Bro thaught he was Casey Jones 💀

Runs out of water blows up while derailing lol

19:45 that is actully correct because on historical train rides steam locomotives are operated by more peopole.

Two vids same day. Nice.

Looks awesome

all i run on derail valley are steam engines, in my train i have the 060 as my backup right behind my main engine. i only run it when struggling up a hill, it sucks having to run two engines by myself but a 2%grade needs two engines lol

You need a full tender of coal and the side tanks full of water. The sound is the wipers on the windows need water to wipe and no water makes a squeaky noise

0:34 (manual) “note: you do not have to carry this. You can store is somewhere safely” (kAN) *throws it in trashbin*

You had no water when it exploded 🤣

I smelled kenosha for 33 minutes straight while watching this video. 17:20 I'm suprised the boiler held up

Kan I would love you tech you how to run a steam loco. Using the bigger one once your good at it you can run up to a 2-3km long train with ease. You seem to be picking it well

That escalated quickly

kAN? On Derail Valley? Oh lord...

17:10 @Hyce777 would be si proud 🥺

0:35 Kan: *spends at least $2,000 on license* also Kan: ... welp into the trash

There’s a station with three or four different shovels that allow you to control the firebox better.

There's a training film the L.M.S railway made for how to fire a locomotive and amusingly it actually works if you use those techniques in this game.

Serious disasters: 17:21 stopping at the wrong station too late and destroying the fuel containers. 24:27 derailing and exploding the train.

When leaving a steam loco, you can't just "push the off button". If you open the reg and drain the steam (thereby the water), you pretty much guarantee a boiler explosion. So, first shake the grates, dumping the fire. Then you can close off the rest. No reason to waste the water that is still in the boiler.

kAN.... kAN.... *bro*.

More of this please

24:50 the reason why it might exploded was probably due to the low water. I mean the thing that showed the Water was empty right before your Locomotive derailed/exploded. The cause of the explosion might be because the Locomotive hit something (derail) and this caused the Boiler to blow up, what reminds me of a accident many years ago where in a Train station in Germany a Locomotive had too few water in its boiler, the hard Brake while the Train drove into the station Bitterfeld moved the Rest water in the boiler to rapidly which caused the entire Locomotive to Explode, sending of the boiler from the Locomotive chassis, getting Many People killed on the Platform by the imminent explosion, being crushed by the blown off boiler and being boiled to death by its steam.

Please continue this!!!

I drive steam tractors instead of locos, so not quite as in-depth, but still, I get some good laughs outta this

you only need to open the cylinder drain cocks when your starting off after stopping, this is to blow and condensed steam out of the cylinders, it only needs to be open for about 5 seconds 👍

I can totally imagine Hyce going "kaaaaaaaaaaaaaaan" a bazillion times

oh god kan said hammer it i feel like we all knew where this is gonna end up

Someone probably already said this, BUT,. the train brake was going to "Full" real full is emergency, AKA, dumping the air, which applies the brake shoes at full force

Note to Kan, this is NOT railroads online, brakes do not work well with full reg. you are supposed to turn the reg. off then full brake.

Don't worry about it kan hyce also blew up that engine his first time running it

Just remember: always close the firebox doors before entering a tunnel at speed.

Ah, you threw debris up, as well as you run out of water and the pressure from a boil dry method as well as a bit of debris hitting the pressured boiler caused it to go boom. Also, a thing to do is keep the firebox door open and that way you can check the fire, plus, use the cablight, but crouch to check the water when working at night or coasting through a tunnel. Plus, if you hear a dry hissing noise, it means the injector has no water to draw into the boiler, so shut the regulator and use gravity to coast. That and keep an eye on your train's weight. Anything over about 200 tons will kill your momentum going up hill or cause you to run away. Watch everything. Tank Engines aren't the best for long or heavy freight trains. They're more for branch runs.

seeing kan pass a turn just because he is distracted by explaining stuff

So many flats spots on that loco now. If you have dentures prepare to lose them. If you don't have dentures, prepare to need some.

It is not hard, just need to get used to it. I've took 2200t, 1.5km long train from the harbour with 2 S282's. It was a little bit nervous sometimes but in a good weather, with the flanges screaming at 50km/h just before hill climb you can do it easy :)

Cool video, ejoyed it, steam locomotives are complex and fun

I am a layman with some train knowlege. What i think happened is the crown sheet was too hot, and when he derailed, it exploded out due to the impact

you cut the part where you locked all your brakes 😂

Remember, you can go slow to learn, then go faster as you get the hang of it

Yeah.. Wet rails never help when altering inertia. Hitting cliff side rocks with a pressurised boiler at speed may result in the front of the boiler looking like it ate a 5 course spaghetti lunch before hand and forgot to take its travel sickness pills. Learning routes and getting used to rail speeds & incline locations with easier Locomotives. Running routes between two places always ensures points are set correctly. Multiple DE2s for a decent cockpit view and >2 multiple contracts is challenging with braking etc but rewarding on completion (Bonuses being semi impossible). You could opt for automatic sign zooming so you see larger signs from the cab.

I recently watched hyce run with i believe was the H4 and it seemed beastly