I have been reading a few articles lately about laying track in one direction only ,so as to get the AI trains to work better. I want to build a branch line with a single bi-directional main line. Is this going to be a problem with the AI trains and is it worth spending the time to build a single line or is it better to build a dual line line even though its a branch line. I'm running Trainz12. Thanks
AI Trains and Laying Track
- Thread starter Spirky
- Start date
JackDownUnder
Well-known member
Have not progressed too far with TRZ yet still playing arround. Is this a case where one would use invisible track, layed the opposite way. Ignoring passing loops of course.
The whole 'Track Direction' thing is an urban myth. You can lay track any which way you like and it has NO effect on AI running. It would be a considerable boon to the community if those on-line tutes that recommend it disappeared for ever! It used to be that the Trainz signalling system posed all sorts of challenges with single-line running and passing loops, but that is nothing to do with 'track direction'.
If you are in TS12 however the new smart signals make bi-directional single line running much more practical than it used to be.
In older versions it is worth thinking about departing from prototype and double-tracking all main line track, but it is by no means necessary....
Andy
If you are in TS12 however the new smart signals make bi-directional single line running much more practical than it used to be.
In older versions it is worth thinking about departing from prototype and double-tracking all main line track, but it is by no means necessary....
Andy
I'm in total agreement with Andy's "urban myth".
The only things that the direction that track is laid influences is the direction that rolling stock faces when added to the track when creating a session and the orientation of signals and the like when they are added in Surveyor.
The only things that the direction that track is laid influences is the direction that rolling stock faces when added to the track when creating a session and the orientation of signals and the like when they are added in Surveyor.
I cannot say if track laying has any influence on AI behavior, but I think using this method is a great help to me in putting add ons later without having to use the "flip it" button every 5 seconds to make things start off facing correctly. ie: signs, lights, consists, etc...
Kennilworth
Active member
Hi
While I've always thought that the track direction thing is a myth I have recently found one situation where it did make a difference. I have four storage loops at one end of a layout each of which can hold four trains.
When a train stopped at the last signal in the loop, all signals behind it changed to red and prevented another train from entering the same track. Hovering the mouse over one of the signals brought up a message that a train was approaching in the other direction even though the first train was stopped. Changing all the track so that it was all laid in the direction of travel cured the problem and allowed everything to work as it should.
Regards
Brian
While I've always thought that the track direction thing is a myth I have recently found one situation where it did make a difference. I have four storage loops at one end of a layout each of which can hold four trains.
When a train stopped at the last signal in the loop, all signals behind it changed to red and prevented another train from entering the same track. Hovering the mouse over one of the signals brought up a message that a train was approaching in the other direction even though the first train was stopped. Changing all the track so that it was all laid in the direction of travel cured the problem and allowed everything to work as it should.
Regards
Brian