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Spirit of Steam & Steam Locomotive Gameplay Guide

This guide has been designed to help players get the most out of the Spirit of Steam: Liverpool Lime Street - Crewe Route Add-On and operation of steam locomotives in general. Below you will find information about the content available for this route, including links to community videos. Each of our video links demonstrate what a successful run may look like and can be used to help players having difficulty with a particular scenario.

Locomotives

  • LMS Jubilee
  • LMS Stainer 8F

Training

Rail Journeys

  • A Day in the Life
  • Day Tripper
  • Steaming Ahead
  • Ferrying Across the Mersey
  • Too Many People
  • Rush Hour
  • Into the Fire
  • Surprise Surprise

Scenarios

Achievements

  • LPC: Hold Your Hand (Complete all training modules on Spirit of Steam: Liverpool - Crewe)
  • LPC: Sound Steam Driver (Complete all scenarios on Spirit of Steam: Liverpool - Crewe)
  • LPC: Fixing a Hole (Complete all route tasks on Spirit of Steam: Liverpool - Crewe)

Quick Start Guide

Get Moving

  1. Move the Reverser to 75%. Move back to 50% once you are moving.
  2. Release the Combination Brake.
  3. Leave the Small Ejector Open while running. The Large Ejector can quickly increase the vacuum brakes to a maximum of 21, after coupling or heavy braking, then closed.
  4. Open the Cylinder Cocks.
  5. Fully Open the Front & Rear Dampers.
  6. Open the Regulator to 25% to get moving. (less if it's raining, or you are starting on a gradient)


Keep Moving

  1. Close the Cylinder Cocks.
  2. Open the Regulator more to increase speed.
  3. Move the Reverser back to 50% to save energy.


Driving at Speed and Saving Energy

  1. Fully Open the Regulator.
  2. Reduce the Reverser to 50% or less to save energy.
  3. When you have reached your desired speed, Close the Regulator to let the boiler pressure recover.
  4. When the Regulator is Closed, Fully Open the Blower to increase the rate at which boiler pressure is recovered.


Stopping

  1. Move the Regulator to Closed to prepare for braking.
  2. Use the Combination Brake to bring the train to a stop.
  3. Open the Cylinder Cocks once you have come to a complete stop.

Cab Layout

LMS Stanier 8F

1 - Blower7 - Large Ejector
2 - Firebox Door8 - Small Ejector
3 - Reverser9 - Rear Damper
4 - Regulator10 - Front Damper
5 - Sander11 - Cylinder Cocks
6 - Combination Brake



LMS Jubilee

1 - Blower7 - Large Ejector
2- Firebox Door8 - Small Ejector
3 - Reverser9 - Rear Damper
4 - Regulator10 - Front Damper
5 - Sander11 - Cylinder Cocks
6 - Combination Brake

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I get moving on a hill start?

  1. Move the Reverser to Forwards, 75%.
  2. Set the Small Ejector to Fully Open.
  3. Set the Sander to Front.
  4. Set the Regulator to 20% (Reduce if wheels begin to slip).
  5. Se the Large Ejector to Full Open.
  6. Release the Combination Brake to get moving.
  7. Once you are moving, close the Large Ejector and Cylinder Cocks.
  8. Gently increase the Regulator as required.


Why am I slowing down?

  • If you don't Close the Regulator to coast, the boiler pressure will continually drop. This will eventually lead to loss in power.
  • Make sure the Front/Rear Dampers are Fully Open to allow boiler pressure to recover when the Regulator is Closed.
  • Fully Open the Blower when the Regulator is Closed to increase the rate at which boiler pressure is recovered.
  • Close the Cylinder Cocks when moving and Open them when stopped.


What do I do when the wheels start to slip?

  1. Close the Regulator.
  2. Then, gently reapply the Regulator.
  3. Apply the Sander to the Front/Rear if you are unable to retain grip.


How do I move slowly in a controlled manner?

  1. Open the Cylinder Cocks to reduce boiler pressure.
  2. Use short bursts of steam by Quickly Opening and Closing the Regulator.


When do I need to brake, I keep running red signals?

  • Start thinking about your approach to a stop 1-2miles away if you are travelling over 50mph.
  • Cut down your speed by 10-20mph chunks at a time by applying the Combination Brake briefly, then releasing it. This will allow you to more accurately judge your stopping distance than trying to reduce your speed all at once.
  • Think about how the environment will affect your braking distance. Braking distance will be increased in the rain and when on a downhill gradient. 
  • Use the Overview tab on the Pause menu to see upcoming changes in the gradient.

Why do I get a Service Failure/Scenario Failure error?

  • A Service Failure/Scenario Failure happens when the loco runs out of fuel/water/steam. This can only happen when using manual/assisted firing modes. 
  • Automatic firing mode is recommended for most players. Only players that understand the requirements of the loco should attempt manual/assisted firing modes. 
  • To change firing modes, go to Settings > HUD & Gameplay > Steam Firing Mode.

Quick Reference Guide

If you would like to have a quick reference guide with you at all times, save the image below to your mobile phone or print it off as a useful reminder. For mobile phones, simply Long press on the image and choose Save Image.


Spirit of Steam Mega-Thread

This forum thread will cover information such as 8th vs 9th gen console differences, How-to Videos, Known Issues and other helpful resources.

Click here to visit the Spirit of Steam Mega-Thread


Spirt of Steam Driver Guide

The following Dovetail Live article will cover the basics of driving on the Liverpool - Crewe line, featuring the video guide we have also included below.

Click here to visit the Spirit of Steam Driver Guide

Video Guides

Community Video Guides

The following videos have been put together passionate members of the community to showcase their experience with Spirit of Steam and help onboard new players.

Compatible Add-ons

Compatible add-ons can expand the amount of content available on a route in various ways, such as liveries, scenarios, training modules and timetable layers. 


Timetable Layers will allow you to drive locomotives from other routes/add-ons in timetable mode. They may require you to own the complete set of compatible add-ons before layers are activated. The exception being where an add-on states it has timetable support for this route in the product description. Timetable layers are applicable to 9th Gen Consoles & PC Only.


There are no compatible add-ons or service layers for this route, at this time.

 





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