AI won't obey speed limit

[brucem56]

Hi - hope I'm posting this in the correct forum, question is for TS12. I have 2 stations, point A to B and return. Running a consist of 3 RDC's with a speed limit of 70 MPH on the main line. I set the driver to "Drive to A", "Load", "Drive to B", "Load", "Repeat". The first run works fine, train goes to stations, loads/unloads passengers. However once the first loop is completed (Train has gone from A-B-A), it then proceeds but will not go over 35 MPH. The window in the top right shows speed limit is 70, and speed boards are posted also for 70, but the AI will not travel at speed.

This is a single line, no sidings or other trains enter/leave this line. It simply runs from A to B.

Thanks for any/all assistance, much appreciated.

Cheers Bruce
build 61388

 

[shaneturner12]

Sounds like it thinks it's running under yellow/amber signals to me.

Shane

 

[JCitron]

Yup. Signals and maybe some switches. Place some signals along the line. For measurement, I use a built-in US Coal consist as a distance guide.

This same issue can also occur if you have an switch not aligned for the mainline. The AI will see the switch setting, even if it's many miles away, and run at half speed or at a caution.

 

[llebrez]

I concur with both above answers. It is the result of the idiotics features of over sense of security: slowing to half speed for something that is miles away. Perhaps N3V will tell you that the answer is to use interlocking towers? This way the consist will set a path at the start of the run and it should run freely? Or you could try a more mundane solution inserting an invisible signal in front of a main signal, so if that one is red, the invisible would be yellow, but even then, consists also run slow when a yellow is in front, even if many miles away, but you can try. If the problem is the position of turnouts (it would also affect signals), try to set them as default aligned with travel direction. If you don't, after a train passes, the turnout switches to the original direction and when a train approaches, it will arrive and stops until the AI figures the proper setting for the commanded path, slowing everything. All this could be simpler if turnouts would not change to default, and or if trains would slow down to reasonable distances to the signal/turnouts settings. Is this too much to ask of AI ? I was just waiting for someone to post about all this to express my feelings on the matter.

 

[brucem56]

Thanks for the replies all. I added signals but no luck. Still get same result, runs fine for the first trip, then only goes half speed. This is one single length of track with no sidings, no junctions, just a station at each end. There is a short extension past each station just to allow for an overrun (never happens but being safe). Just can't figure what would cause it to slow down. I would think it shouldn't need signals if it's a single track with no junctions and only this 1 consist running on it.

Thanks again for the feedback, much appreciated.

Cheers
Bruce

 

[JCitron]

Thanks for the replies all. I added signals but no luck. Still get same result, runs fine for the first trip, then only goes half speed. This is one single length of track with no sidings, no junctions, just a station at each end. There is a short extension past each station just to allow for an overrun (never happens but being safe). Just can't figure what would cause it to slow down. I would think it shouldn't need signals if it's a single track with no junctions and only this 1 consist running on it.

Thanks again for the feedback, much appreciated.

Cheers
Bruce

It could be the kind of signal too. Some signals, depending upon their creator, are scripted which will force AI to slow down. A triple-headed interlocking signal, for example, by Jointed Rail will force AI to slow down as they pass through the interlocking. Some of the two-headed signals are approach signals, and they will display the signal ahead rather than the one immediate. These too can also cause your AI to slow down.

Can you post a picture of your setup?

Upload the screen capture - press print screen to take a screenshot. The picture will be sent up to your My Trainz Gallery where you can link to here, or you can upload the screen shot, from your screenshots folder to a place such as Host Then Post www.hostthenpost.org then paste the forum link here.

 

[llebrez]

Do a draconian test: Have two consists set in parallel tracks at station A. Do the loop with one. As you experienced, the second time it will go a half speed, so let it sit there (A) and run the second consist to exact same loop. Does it travels at half speed? then is something with the track. if it goes a rated speed, it is something with the fist consist. More draconian things is to have trackmarks at station ends, and direct the train there instead of station/industry. Check bumpers, not realistic cause, but again this are extreme things you have to try. Get rid of all the signals even speed signs, or better, make a test simulated track and start adding assets , and running a single train see where the anomaly shows up. As you see, fun is part of trainz...

 

[brucem56]

Well - a picture of my setup - just imagine 1 piece of track, 20 boards long (approx) with a station at each end and nothing else. No other track joins this anywhere - there are no junctions, no sidings, nothing but this 1 long piece of track.

I was using Signal USA 04 - please keep in mind I know nothing about signalling, so perhaps I'm not using the correct signal? (I've read tutorials and watched what I could find on videos, but signalling baffles me). I placed a signal just after/before each station (both sides of track) and a couple in the middle evenly spaced (both sides of track again).

 

[JCitron]

Okay.... That makes sense.

Here's something that might help with your signal placement:

Signal USA 01 = 3-head Interlocking Signal
Use this for junctions and crossovers.

Signal USA 02 = Diverging Signal. An L in the name will mean diverge left.
This is used when the tracks go from single to double, and can also work for crossovers too.

Signal US 03 = Distant, Approach, Permissive, or Home signal depending upon what you want to call it.
Use this one ahead of a diverge to prepare the engineer (AI) for the upcoming signal change for the diverging track.

Signal US 04 = Absolute signal
This one is used to stop the trains like a stop sign, more or less. It's used for entering from a siding, or when going from double-track to single track.

Signal US 05 = Distant, Approach, Permissive, or Home signal. Use these to prepare your driver for what signal will follow.
You can place these along the line between an absolute signal and a diverging signal. This will also allow you to run additional trains on the same track as long as they fit within the block.

If you venture beyond the built-in signals and use the Jointed Rail signals, their equivalents are using the order outlined above:

Type 08
Type 06
Approach Distant
Type 04
Type 05

With Jointed Rail's signals, as well as those by RRSignal and others, there are other variants of the same signals here. With Jointed Rail, which I am most familiar with there are different Type 06s with some place-able on the left side, as well as gantry type signals.

 

[Christopher824]

Well - a picture of my setup - just imagine 1 piece of track, 20 boards long (approx) with a station at each end and nothing else. No other track joins this anywhere - there are no junctions, no sidings, nothing but this 1 long piece of track.

I was using Signal USA 04 - please keep in mind I know nothing about signalling, so perhaps I'm not using the correct signal? (I've read tutorials and watched what I could find on videos, but signalling baffles me). I placed a signal just after/before each station (both sides of track) and a couple in the middle evenly spaced (both sides of track again).

I have had this happen with the AI. To get past it I added track beyond the end of the line with additional 04 signals. The AI then moves fine to the desired point, then slows down near the end. Try adding more track past the end of your line, and more Signal USA 04's.

IMO Signal USA 04 are the best for something simple like what you are doing.

 

[brucem56]

Thanks to everyone who replied to my request. I've tried all the suggestions but no luck. I don't think this has anything to do with the signals though, because even with signals added on the single length of track, with "green" indication the train will still only go 35mph after the first run is completed (A-B-A). Confusing for sure, but becoming too much of a PITA to spend any more time messing with so likely to just remove passenger service from my layout and focus on industry.

Thanks again, truly appreciate the help that's so readily available here on the forums.

Cheers
Bruce

 

[cascaderailroad]

Like they said, it has to either do with Trainz not seeing a signal, and therefor going 1/2 speed at caution, or a blocking turnout dirrection, or a dead end terminus ... which will also cause this 1/2 speed problem

There are: "Signal Thingies" ... But adding 3 signals in front of a train oftentimes helps

I find that Trainz is a blur to the eye so all my speedboards are 10 mph, and never over 25 mph (you can use 20 and 50 to fool AI, then it will go at 1/2 speed at 10 and 25)

 

[Trainz_12_fan_100]

...I use a built-in US Coal consist as a distance guide...

Which coal consist? I think I might use the same method as you.

 

[JCitron]

Which coal consist? I think I might use the same method as you.

This one here:

<kuid2:414773:1014:1> Coal US 3000t

At the start of your track, put this consist down.

At the end of the consist, put in a Type 05.

Move the consist ahead, put in another Type 05.

Repeat this until you reach your single track, if on double and where you put in Type 04s and a reversed Type 06.

If you want your signals spaced further apart, double or triple the consist.

 

[brucem56]

Ok, happy to report finally got this working correctly. Ended up adding even more track to the ends of the line. Had tried adding a board of track with a signal about halfway but the problem persisted. I then added another board and another signal further down and one at the end of the board. For the other end, since this is the beginning/end of the line and the station is downtown, I ran a bunch of invisible track under buildings and hid the signals inside buildings. Train runs fine at speed continuously now.

As a bonus, I actually managed to learn a little about signaling out of all this - I'm not that smart with the AI yet, but I'm very stubborn with problems

Thanks again to everyone who replied, your advice/suggestions are greatly appreciated.

Cheers
Bruce