[darwins]

So many wonderful things are possible in OpenRails today. We have high detail models, multiple ORTS freight anims, new special effects, lights and sound triggers.

One thing remains to show up a brilliant model steam locomotive. We still have MSTS FreightAnim( coalF2T.s 1.73 0 ) where the tender coal slowly sinks through the floor and appears behind the wheels!

I recently came across an article by the late Bob Essery (who used to be a fireman) describing how coal might look in a real loco tender. (Railway Modeller, September 1963, p203)

He describes LMS practice, but other railways around the world probably had similar methods.


On arrival at the shed the coal and water were filled up, the fire cleaned and the ashpan emptied.

https://i.imgur.com/UEiQ7up.jpeg

The loco might then spend up to 12 hours "on shed" before going out on a turn of duty. Some coal would be used in that time resulting in small dip at the front of the tender, so that when leaving the shed it might look like this:

https://i.imgur.com/WNLSBqq.jpeg

As coal is used up, the level at the front of the tender drops further:

https://i.imgur.com/vAROAFo.jpeg

A hole begins to form at the front of the tender:

https://i.imgur.com/rS7Tim4.jpeg

When the hole becomes so big that the fire shovel can no longer reach any coal:
https://i.imgur.com/e3WVdZI.jpeg

Then the fireman must climb into the tender and bring down some coal from the back:
https://i.imgur.com/7ONIxtP.jpeg

On a long turn of duty this would likely be repeated:

https://i.imgur.com/EkiXtuJ.jpeg

Until even the coal at the back was used up:

https://i.imgur.com/czh8jfw.jpeg

But hopefully not "all gone!"

https://i.imgur.com/GP1mro6.jpeg


Hopefully, at some point we can look at having an ORTS tender coal animation to model this, using maybe 8 or 16 frames to go from a full tender or bunker to an empty one.

See also

https://www.elvastow...post__p__275455

https://trello.com/c...ight-animation#

https://trello.com/c...mation-3d-cabs#

[Traindude]

I think the solution might be what in Blender are called "Shape Keys."

IOW, we could have a "Basis" shape key for the "Full" state, and gradually "animate" the coal load mesh to represent the "Empty" state. At least that's the way I'm thinking about it.

[Weter]

Very interesting and realistic idea.
Thanks for bringing that up.

[Traindude]

I've taken the liberty of making a video demonstrating my suggestion to use Blender's Shape keys to "animate" the tender coal load.

However, I do realize that this is not an optimal solution for all locomotives. In the case of this tender, which is from my experimental Challenger, the locomotive is fitted with both a mechanical stoker and sloping bunker walls, so while this method sells the illusion in this case, it doesn't work for other locomotives...

[Weter]

Hello.
I would ask Darwin, what are the arc and two mushroom-like stands in the tender?

[darwins]

The arc with two posts and the two posts at the front make a rack for storing fire irons:
https://i.imgur.com/EfMF5pA.jpeg
The two mushrooms are air vents. They are to let air out of the tender when it is filling with water from a water trough.

https://imgur.com/wawZJsc.jpg

See https://www.therailw...other-rm-scoop/

[Weter]

How interesting!
Great webpage after link, You provided - recommend to all.
Thanks. I got it about the big dome too now.
I'd wish these "utensils" would be modeled and added.
Arc is also prevents tender walls from extension, while coal drops into bunker - I believe.
Seeing "Inflated" gondolas are sad, but quote usual case.