[darwins]

Would it be very difficult to add a steam reverser control to the existing cab view controls?

For a manual reverser (screw or lever) then in the cvf we have:

    	Lever (
    		Type ( CUTOFF LEVER )
    		Position ( 25 209 165 354 )
    		Graphic ( "..\\..\\common.cab\\LYR_Aspinall\\reverser.ace" )
    		Style ( NOT_SPRUNG )
    		MouseControl ( 1 )
    		NumFrames ( 16 4 4 )
    		NumPositions ( 0 )
    		NumValues ( 0 )
    		Orientation ( 0 )
    		DirIncrease ( 1 )
    		ScaleRange ( -0.55 0.77 )
    	)

In such a case, the position of the lever or handwheel changes in proportion to the cut off.

With a steam reverser, there is a gauge to show the driver the cut off. This gauge already exists in MSTS and OR:

    	Gauge (
    		Type ( REVERSER_PLATE GAUGE )
    		Position ( 176 250 10 116 )
    		Area ( 0 0 9 12 )
    		Graphic ( "..\\..\\common.cab\\Castle\\Pointer.ace" )
    		Style ( POINTER )
    		ScaleRange ( -0.50 0.70 )
    		ZeroPos ( 0 )
    		PositiveColour ( 1
    			ControlColour ( 0 0 0 )
    		)
    		NegativeColour ( 0 )
    		Orientation ( 1 )
    		DirIncrease ( 1 )
    		Units ( MILES_PER_HOUR )
    	)

I don't understand why the reverser plate gauge has units of miles-per-hour, this is from MSTS, is it still needed in OR?

The lever however behaves differently. The small lever has only 3 positions.
When the lever is pushed forward the cut off increases. (Key press W)
When the lever is pulled back the cut off decreases. (Key press S)
When not released the lever returns to the central position and there is no further change in cut off. (Neither W nor S key pressed)

Could this be added to Open Rails for use in cvf files. It might look something like this

Lever (
Type ( STEAM_REVERSER_LEVER )
Position ( 90 250 185 415)
Graphic ( "..\\..\\common.cab\\Castle\\sreverser.ace" )
Style ( WHILE_PRESSED )
MouseControl ( 1 )
NumFrames ( 3 3 1 )
Orientation ( 1 )
DirIncrease ( 1 )
ScaleRange ( -0.5 0.7 )
)

Since steam reversers were very common on large US locos and on large Garrats, as well as on some smaller European locos, I am surprised this has not been looked into before.