BR Route Questions

T

tension69

Freight Haulage Director
Hello all,

I'm currently building a fantasy BR route and have a few quick questions.

What would be considered a 'steep' gradient on a UK line?

How far apart approx to place signals on the longer sections of track without points?

Lastly, does anyone know where I can get an APT (Advanced Passenger Train), Class 370? I'm not too worried if it doesn't tilt, but would like to add it to add realism to the look of the route.

Cheers :wave:
 
A gradient of 1:30 would be the steepest considered acceptable; 1:40 would be steep; most gradients would be much more gentle eg. 1:100 or so.

The placing of signals depends on the maximum speed of trains using the line, and the stopping distance must be adequate for a train to halt at a 'stop' (home) signal after being warned of it's state by a 'distant' signal.

Ray
 
If you are using 4 aspect signals they are placed at half the braking distance. 3 aspect are placed at the full braking distance
 
While we're on the subject of BR trains, can anyone tell me where I can download a class 66. Or a GNER HST. and how exactly do you download anything?

Max:confused:
 
@Mix - as has been mentioned to you already, you need to register your serial number on Planet Auran (see the links above 'serial number'). You won't be able to download anything until you do.
 
To download content, you must register your serial number if you are intending to use the Download Station.

Be aware that versions up to TRS2006 are unsupported, and Trainz Classics 1+2 and possibly 3 will also be unsupported next month.

To view the Download Station, you can click Download Station above, then log in using your Planet Auran username and password.

The search page will then open, and should have ticks next to the versions of Trainz up to the highest version you have registered.

You can then search by typing in what you require - you will then get results for it - make sure you only download content that is for your version or earlier.

To do the actual download, click either Download Page or Download (Helper). The Download (Helper) option will launch an external program (usually TrainzHelper for TRS2004, and Content Manager for TRS2006+). If you click Download Page, you will get the option of either using the Helper option mentioned above, or using the FTP (which is basically saving a copy of that asset to whichever folder you choose, which can then be double-clicked to add to Trainz).

If using the Download (Helper) feature, then you will either need to click Start (if it's Content Manager) or similar for TrainzHelper.

If you have TRS2006 or later, you can also use Content Manager to download content - simply search for the content on the left-hand side of the screen, then right-click the desired result and click Download.

Apologies for the long post, but that's the basics of downloading content.

Shane
 
Thanks!

Thanks so so so so much for the help, you guys are great!

Just one thing, where do I find the serial number?
 
If you bought a disc the number is usually on the back of the instruction book. If you downloaded it the number should have been sent as an e-mail. I got some nice looking and realistic sounding and performing class 66's from the DLS 66701, 66705, 66709 66732, one other GB rail which is actually in Malcolmrail livery, 66504,66505, 66522 Freightliner, and a few in EWS livery. You may have to do an easy fix to get them working. Dont buy any payware ones as I bought some and found them to be inferior. There are others but they are red (faulty in some way)
 
Thanks Ray , colourlight + itareus.

My steepest gradient is around 1.5% , but mostly around 1% (1:100) so I got that right.
Nice bit of advice about 3/4 Aspect signals. I've mostly been using the 3 Aspect ones .... can't exactly remember what 2 yellows means. I know 1 yellow means next at danger...I presume 2 yellows means 1 yellow at next signal.

Bit miffed about the APT , or lack of. Maybe I should build one, but I dont think my rendering package (Imagine for Windows) copes with modern object file types :(
 
You were right about colourlight signals. Green= next signal showing a proceed aspect (green, double yellow, single yellow). Double yellow=next signal showing a caution signal (single yellow). Single yellow=Next signal displaying a stop aspect (red) and red= stop. 3 aspect signalling consists of green, single yellow and red. 4 aspect signalling has an additional aspect, double yellow and there are also a few 5 aspect signals in the UK. The 5th aspect is a flashing yellow which indicates to the driver that the route ahead is set for a lower speed line. There is one approaching Peterborough from Kings Cross,
 
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A good point about colour light signals - I was thinking of old-style semaphores when I posted my comments because that is what I mainly use!

Yellows - quite correct with your interpretation of the meaning of two.

Ray
 
Thanks guys, after replacing a few 3 aspect with 4 aspect for more advanced warning, and installing a few extra speed limits my trains are no longer side swiping each other at junctions. Also, adding a 2nd Class 47 to a tanker train that was over 1000tons fully laden :o certainly helped that consist behave better under braking:D

I left it running last night while I went to the local watering hole and only 2 of 15 trains had performed emergency braking, but there had been no crashes...all trains still running their alloted schedules!!

The layout is coming along quite nicely, around 30 baseboards so far.

I just have one more question for the signalling gurus. I notice some of the BR signals have a row of diagonal lights as well...what the fudge are they for, and would they help improve signalling on my layout??

Rich.
 
The diagonal lights, on junction signals, indicate which path is set, ie. left diverge, ahead, or right diverge. There are various patterns which can be combined for junctions which are more than just simple turnouts. If I remember correctly - not having used them since TRS2004 - they need to be used with a matching target on each track (in Trainz that is, not in real life!), eg. a left diverge target for a left diverge signal to work correctly.

Ray

This will help:
http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/gansg/3-sigs/powersig.htm
 
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tension69 said:
I notice some of the BR signals have a row of diagonal lights as well...what the fudge are they for, and would they help improve signalling on my layout??

Rich.
Click to expand...


Hi Rich.

I posted a link for you earlier in this thread which covers all the various types of signalling and signage. Try http://www.railsigns.co.uk/ and you should find almost everything covered.

You can set up quite complicated route divergance using theatre boards (generally for multi platform stations) which are a more complex version of the route indicators you were asking about.

For prototypical running, I would highly recommend using the route indicators (5 white lights) on the approach to all junctions where your consists can enter both lines and generally, the route indicator would only indicate the route off of the main line.
 
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Hi Everybody.
Rich, the signals that the PFX refers to are known as " feather indicators". Which I have used in my North Devon branch lines route.

I could not find any on the CMP for Trainz, but a company known as railwaves has produced them as payware. They do need a bit of patience to get working but are very accurate in indicating up to six offsets from the track the player or A1 train is on once you get the hang of placing and linking them.

I have not been on the railwaves site for some time so I am assuming it is still there.

Bill
 
mix91132 said:
thanks! I ve lost my box though, and the manuels in it.
Click to expand...

You might be able to pull your serial number from the game by going under options. I believe there is a tab there that shows what serial numbers you have assosiated to that instillation. If that does not work, you will need to use a helpdesk ticket.
 
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