Railhead001
New member
Sometimes easy answers can be hidden in a complex problem. Take for example the use of track markers and the maddening random results one can get from just trying to make basic moves. Currently I am finishing the details on my Brazemore Yard modifications (1 freight friendly and 1 passenger friendly). I am at the stage now where I am testing multi AI train movements. If your familiar with this layout or not, it is basically an elongated figure "8" that offers tons of operating possibilities.
One would think it would be rather not difficult to run at least 2 AI trains in the same direction around the figure "8" without doing anything else. But as anyone who has tried such attempts on medium sized or larger layouts, the train AI literally thinks on its own and will reverse for no apparent reason or go on a completely different route than what you had instructed it to do.
So now we have "directional" markers to help dummy down the AI so it knows to go in a specific direction, or should I say "should go" in a specific direction because even with using the directional markers the AI will still mess things up for your plans.
I have been following a youtube blogger that goes by Rudysmodelrailway. He has several tutorials on Trainz covering the basics and some advanced topics. I stumbled on one regarding track markers and was impressed by the simplicity of his observations. Basically ignore the directional track markers and use the standard track marker in its place but as a "via" marker. Connect them like dots to your regular markers you use for industries or other areas.
Especially useful for making diverging routes. I wanted a passenger train to go to 3 or 4 stations and stop for a few seconds before moving on to the next while having a freight train avoid having to wait for the station stops by branching off. Using the regular markers and setting up "via" points I set the commands (in " ") for the passenger train that was in the yard with the freight on separate tracks.
"Drive to trackmark" station A, "Wait" 20 seconds, "Drive to trackmark" station B, "Wait" 15 seconds, "Drive via trackmark" via 2 (via 2 being a standard track marker), "Drive to trackmark" station C , "Wait" 20 seconds, "Drive via trackmark" via 2b (via 2b again being a standard track marker), "Drive to trackmark" station D, "Wait" 20 seconds, "Repeat"
Next I had the freight train "Drive via trackmark" via 1, "Drive via trackmark" via 2, "Drive via trackmark" via 2b and then "Drive via trackamark" via 3, Repeat (Making it go in a continuous loop)
Both trains stayed exactly on course. When the passenger train first left the yard it was directed to go to the inner right track for a station siding while the freight was directed to take the left outer track and when approaching the yard the passenger train was diverted to the inside far right track while the freight took the center track down the middle of the yard.
The block signal system that is on the Brazemore Yard layout worked perfectly and had an added bonus, since the freight train went on a diverging path instead of following the passenger train which would have had it stop at all the signals because it was directly behind it, the signals became yellow or green allowing the freight to continue. Especially when entering the yard, normally the freight would have to wait until the passenger train had moved onto the next signal before it was allowed to enter the yard (Hence block signaling system). Now the passenger train clears the initial signal showing a yellow or green on the diverging track which the freight can take without having to stop for a red signal normally waiting for the passenger train to move onto the next block section.
Very enjoyable having the trains operate the way you want....major improvement on having to lay lots of directional markers and hoping the trains follow them.........
You can name the track markers anything but I used "via" so I knew it was just for driving on till the next point (plus makes sense with the "via trackmark" command) and wouldn't confuse me later with the other markers I use.
Hope this tip saves someone some hair pulling
Although this was done with TMR17 the tip can be used with Tane as well which is why I have posted this in the "General" forum.
One would think it would be rather not difficult to run at least 2 AI trains in the same direction around the figure "8" without doing anything else. But as anyone who has tried such attempts on medium sized or larger layouts, the train AI literally thinks on its own and will reverse for no apparent reason or go on a completely different route than what you had instructed it to do.
So now we have "directional" markers to help dummy down the AI so it knows to go in a specific direction, or should I say "should go" in a specific direction because even with using the directional markers the AI will still mess things up for your plans.
I have been following a youtube blogger that goes by Rudysmodelrailway. He has several tutorials on Trainz covering the basics and some advanced topics. I stumbled on one regarding track markers and was impressed by the simplicity of his observations. Basically ignore the directional track markers and use the standard track marker in its place but as a "via" marker. Connect them like dots to your regular markers you use for industries or other areas.
Especially useful for making diverging routes. I wanted a passenger train to go to 3 or 4 stations and stop for a few seconds before moving on to the next while having a freight train avoid having to wait for the station stops by branching off. Using the regular markers and setting up "via" points I set the commands (in " ") for the passenger train that was in the yard with the freight on separate tracks.
"Drive to trackmark" station A, "Wait" 20 seconds, "Drive to trackmark" station B, "Wait" 15 seconds, "Drive via trackmark" via 2 (via 2 being a standard track marker), "Drive to trackmark" station C , "Wait" 20 seconds, "Drive via trackmark" via 2b (via 2b again being a standard track marker), "Drive to trackmark" station D, "Wait" 20 seconds, "Repeat"
Next I had the freight train "Drive via trackmark" via 1, "Drive via trackmark" via 2, "Drive via trackmark" via 2b and then "Drive via trackamark" via 3, Repeat (Making it go in a continuous loop)
Both trains stayed exactly on course. When the passenger train first left the yard it was directed to go to the inner right track for a station siding while the freight was directed to take the left outer track and when approaching the yard the passenger train was diverted to the inside far right track while the freight took the center track down the middle of the yard.
The block signal system that is on the Brazemore Yard layout worked perfectly and had an added bonus, since the freight train went on a diverging path instead of following the passenger train which would have had it stop at all the signals because it was directly behind it, the signals became yellow or green allowing the freight to continue. Especially when entering the yard, normally the freight would have to wait until the passenger train had moved onto the next signal before it was allowed to enter the yard (Hence block signaling system). Now the passenger train clears the initial signal showing a yellow or green on the diverging track which the freight can take without having to stop for a red signal normally waiting for the passenger train to move onto the next block section.
Very enjoyable having the trains operate the way you want....major improvement on having to lay lots of directional markers and hoping the trains follow them.........
You can name the track markers anything but I used "via" so I knew it was just for driving on till the next point (plus makes sense with the "via trackmark" command) and wouldn't confuse me later with the other markers I use.
Hope this tip saves someone some hair pulling
Although this was done with TMR17 the tip can be used with Tane as well which is why I have posted this in the "General" forum.
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