Ok this whole thing might sound a little silly but it was fun to do so I am sharing.
So, I have this stalled C-55 pulling 3500 tons at 1% grade on Cowee with the direction towards Sylva. Tough spot, I was expecting a stall so I stationed the C-40 at Dillsboro as a banker.
C-55 stalls, C-40 goes to the rescue, double heads, pulls. Result is 1mph up the grade without any fluctuation. That was extremely slow. A little later I decoupled the P-43 from the passenger service repairs at Dillsboro to send it to the aid of the other two.
At this point it starts feeling like Interstellar.
P-43 approach to couple while the slow uphill mammoth of a train approaches was easy at 1mph as I practically stop it, and it just rolled on to couple. Speed picked up to 11mph and the train had enough momentum. However, I wanted to return the P-43 to the service.
So I get this idea to close the air pressure, and make decoupling easier, but I have to switch to manual camera because the follow camera can't get close enough. I do it. I follow the train coupling on manual camera ... now it's full Hans Zimmer vibes at the back of my head and try to close the pressure valve, so that I won't have a leak. Note, both trains are running on manual with no intention of stopping. Dillsboro is close, this could mean an accident with the cars parked there if I'm not fast enough.
*Click*
Damn, I decoupled by accident, ♥♥♥♥! The P-43 starts to move ahead, pulling the gladhand out. Pssssssss. ♥♥♥♥! Now it's more important than ever to close those valves! I focus on the mega train first, concentrate and match camera speed, mouse hovering carefully, I see the "open" and snap it, with one single move it moves back to "closed" - YES! did it. Quickly onto the P-43, still leaking but moving away, still manually controlling the camera. First attempt, no. Second attempt, YES!
Both trains are on their way the P-43 smoothly cruising ahead, I switch the tracks to avoid the crashes, send the P-43 to service and the C-40/C-55 continue their 3600ton trip to Sylva.
"Did I pull a slingshot with that P-43?" I am wondering.
