AI Train Reverses After Correct Operation for Several Minutes

wklang

New member
First, I'm a newbie with regard to AI operation of trains.

Background:
I have a very small layout with one main oval loop. On one end is a depot on a siding; on the other end is a siding which services a lumber mill. The sidings at both ends of the oval are controlled by switches. Both of these sidings leave and return to the main line.

The track marks are: (1) station bypass, (2) station siding, (3) mill bypass, and (4) mill siding.

I have two trains: (1) a short passenger train and (2) a short freight train.

The passenger train commands are: (1) navigate to mill bypass, (2) wait 5 secs, (3) navigate to station siding, (4)wait 1 minute, (5) repeat.

The freight train commands are: (1) navigate to mill siding, (2) wait 30 secs, (3) navigate to station bypass, (4) wait 1 minute, (5) repeat.

The session starts normally and both trains repeat these scripts three or four times......

THEN.....the passenger after waiting for 5 seconds at the mill bypass begins to reverse and travels backwards towards the depot.

My first thought was that the passenger train when at the mill bypass track mark ran into a red signal for the next block (i.e. the freight train had not cleared the next block). If this were so, wouldn't the passenger train remain stopped at the signal until it turned green?

Can anyone suggest from their experience what I might be doing wrong?

Thanks,

Wes
 
The AI has the annoying behaviour of trying to find an alternative route, no matter how absurd, if it can't get to where it wants to go. This can happen even if the cause is just a signal at red. Try using direction markers and things to stop your train from reversing. Then it will have to wait for the signal to change. Others may give you better advice, but I hope this helps in the meantime.
Mick Berg.
 
Thanks for the tip, Mick. Never occurred to me to use direction markers to force the correct operation.

Wes
 
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