AI train won't proceed

[llewelyn]

I'm doing a scenario in the Mojave subdivision where a Westbound freight is supposed stop at the west end of Bealville and wait for an oncoming train to pass. The AI train is further down the track, it gets triggered by the player train using a session layer trigger about 0.5mi from the end of the loop (crude, no doubt, but effective, all the other trains work fine). But, I have issues.

The first issue is that when the player train approaches the East side of Bealville the signal is red. This should not be, since both tracks beyond that point have nothing on them and the next signal is at the crossover. The junction is set for the left track (unusual in US operation) by default. The crossover half way thru Bealville section is set to non-crossing mode. Looking from the west end of Bealville, the left track has priority 2 markers pointing East, one before the crossover and one after, which looks like the AI train should navigate on the left track.

If I ignore the red signal and continue on the left track with the player train, the AI train starts moving as it should when I get to my trigger, and then it stops at the east end of Bealville and says waiting for clearance. The left track (the one with the priority arrows, which point eastward [uphill] is clear all the way past my train (which is on the other track), and the AI train is set to navigate to the trackmark at the east end of Bealville, but it refuses to go there. the AI train is priority 2, same as the track priority markers.

Should I fix it so the 2 trains actually use the right track (which is more common on US railroads, I believe)? It looks like that may work - but what then is the point of those track priority arrows?

I did have a similar issue on another section further up, but in that case it solved itself, somehow. The trigger timings are different though - the trigger is on the single track section in that instance.

 

[llewelyn]

Well re-arranging it to right-track working has solved it. Still not sure why the AI train won't proceed on a clear track, mind. There are no yellow direction markers against it, and the purple priority markers point in the direction that the AI train should go.

I guess I'll check the other problematic bit now and make that right-track as well, seeing as the AI trains appear to be obstinate in the matter of whether they will run or not.

 

[ctclark1]

For the record, directionality of priority markers has no effect, only the yellow track direction markers are "directional"

Also I'm not sure I understood your use of the priority markers. The priorities are not entirely what they seem, they do not prioritize trains (ie, which will have right of way over another) but rather are another aspect the AI will "try" to use when routing consists - it will attempt to match a train priority to a track priority if possible, but will take other routes if needed. Also note that tracks and trains default to priority 2 anyway, so setting a track as priority 2 will have the least effect overall.

Not that I'm sure this is affecting anything either, but also keep in mind that AI operates in a "Me me me me" mentality. Each driver does whatever it has to do on its own to finish tasks and will do the stupidest things at times in order to accomplish them. Don't expect them to take the same path each time a session is run, either, unless you've laid it out switch to switch, and even then I've seen the back up 30 miles just to avoid having to wait an extra 5 minutes at a crossover...

 

[norfolksouthern37]

The first issue is that when the player train approaches the East side of Bealville the signal is red. This should not be, since both tracks beyond that point have nothing on them and the next signal is at the crossover. The junction is set for the left track (unusual in US operation) by default.

Bealville is a siding and the turnout is set for the main line.

The crossover half way thru Bealville section is set to non-crossing mode. Looking from the west end of Bealville, the left track has priority 2 markers pointing East, one before the crossover and one after, which looks like the AI train should navigate on the left track.

These priority markers are there to set the siding track to priority 3 and therefore mark it as a siding. they may not have saved into the route that way, but the sessions should have them set as such. This keeps the AI trains running through from taking the sidings for no good reason except that they are a shorter route to the destination. This is only to counter that silly time consuming and unrealistic act by the AI.

First thing I would check is the signal reason. When you approach the signal and it is displaying RED, place your mouse cursor on the signal and a text should pop up. It will say something like "C.P. Bealville East - [reason for display]". this will give you a clue as to what the signal is doing.

what then is the point of those track priority arrows?

As mentioned above, the point is to be able to mark that track as a siding, and as mentioned by ctclark1 priority markers do not indicate any specific direction, merely mark the track segment they are on as a certain priority.