Complex junction (signalling)

A

Athox

New member
Hi, sorry if this has been posted before, but I couldn't find anything when searching for it.

I have this here fancy junction:

junctionug9.gif


But I have a problem with signals. If a train in track 2 wants to go to track E, and a train in track 4 wants to go to track B, they'll both get a green light, since the tracks are not joined.

Problem is, the tracks are halfway crossing each other, resulting in a not so fancy crash.

How can I fix this? Is it possible? I assume some sort of scripting is needed?


Edit: I saw another post about putting signals everywhere, but that wouldn't work here, and for the record: The A, B, C and D are mainlines, which should not be obstructed by a train waiting in the diagonal track by a red light :P

A-1 and C-3 are southgoing one-way-tracks, and 2-B and 4-D are northgoing. If that helps, but I doubt it.
 
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Put a signal before every junction (so four signals per slip switch); This will stop trains from running into one another but the train will still enter the diagonal track because of how blocks work in Trainz. I wonder if there is a programmable signal somewhere that you can set via if/then/else statments so that:

if (signal1 or signal2 or signa3) than signal 6 = red, where signal one through 3 are signals that would turn red to the train coming from the mainline when the diagonal track is already occupied, and signal 6 is the mainline-to-diagonal-line signal..

It would be MUCH easier if we could define our own track blocks ... then you'd just define the whole diagonal line a track block and make only two end signals for it to prevent trains from entering the diagonal line while another train is in it ... hold on I have an idea I need to test..
 
Oh, he has an idea... interesting.. :P :D

Btw, the intersections are very small, and basically one of them big canadian freight locomotives will be at two 'junction points' at once, so it's a tiny junction, geographically. the two mainlines are also very close, there's probably room for one track between them.

So far I have ignored the problem just by making one intersection at a time, but that takes up a lot of space, and it's not very cool looking when your coal train is zig-zagging every single cart :P

then you'd just define the whole diagonal line a track block and make only two end signals for it to prevent trains from entering the diagonal line while another train is in it
Click to expand...

This still wouldn't work. Imagine a traing coming from A and continuing on track 1. Then a train from track 2 wants to go to track E. Train A is not entering the diagonal, so what you're suggesting will also cause a crash. ;)

Also, say a train goes from A to 1 and another one changes mainline from 4 to 2(B). These should be allowed to go without intereference from each other, so blocking off the diagonal will in this case be as bad as a train entering the diagonal to wait for a red light. ;)


One possibility is to make the intersections bigger, so that two diagonals won't interefere with each other, even at the same intersection. (ie. 2->E and 4->B) But this will look uugly.
 
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Im still working on the idea ...

I think slips are not very prototypical outside yards (whats the speed limit through those things like 5kph when going through junctions and 15 if going straight .. and I mean in real life; I've seen Alastair doing 60 mph through two looked funny)
 
The turns aren't really that sharp, even though they're small. The diagonal track is at about 20 degrees (the drawing is exaggerated).

I did some junctions with an ICE train, and it worked nicely at about 15-20 kph.

This is happening not far from a central station (north), and track 5 is coming from an inner city line (other inner city lines are hooked onto the two mainlines further south), and track E is going to a depot for inner city train. (Not gonna use the ICE, that's not suitable for slow inner city trains :P)
 
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trs_signaling_problem.jpg


Yeah .. no easy solution to this trickery .. I dont think there is a fix for that matter.. the only thing I can think of is if we could define portions of the track so that trains approaching crossing tracks would not drive through one another .. it doesnt cause a crash but it sure dont look prototypical to me :)
 
In that test, did the trains actually 'crash' (derail, end the session) or did they just go through each other?


I just thought of one way to fix the problem (hypothetically). If there is a way to script this at all, or possibly make some content similar to the fixed track stuff.
Make two and two junctions dependent on each other. So if, at line A-1, the lower diagonal junction (on the 5 track, switching between E and A) was directly affecting the lower 1 track junction (on the 1 track, switching between E and A). So, if one of the junctions were at position 'A', then the other one would go there too, effectively red-lighting all other routes through that crossing.

;)

It would be heaven.
 
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You'll have to use triggers and rules. There's a rule on the DLS for manually setting signals - I think it's called "Set Signal".
 
Deary me - where's the old forum when we really need it.....

There are at least three issues here

1) Athox - Mizi's 'Junction Link' on the DLS here links two junctions to throw together.

2) The two trains running through each other on the diamond don't crash - Trainz AI sees two non-conflicting routes. There is a fix involving invisible junctions which I am certain is in the new forum, although a quick search yielded no result.

3) The original question has much the same solution. Again the two curved routes through a slip are seen by the AI as non-conflicting. The trick to this one is to again use invisible junctions and Junction Link so that when one curved route is set, the other route is not available but detours into an invisible dead end.

Finding the thread which yields the answer to Question 2 will, with a little thought, also solve Question 3.

I shall search further for that elusive thread....

EDIT - Found that thread here....

Andy :)
 
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Trigger multiple signals. Its on the DLS.
Put triggers on the main lines either side of the crossing track and name them, place the signal on the crossover track before the main lines and name them. Add the rule to the edit session open and select all the triggers and signals you used. Now when a train enters the trigger the signal on the crossing track will go red and remain red until all triggers are clear.
 
Actually I made it work pretty good using Junction Link and one invisible junction on each mainline before the slips. Practically forcing the red light by cutting the track. That's also independent of sessions.
 
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Athox said:
Actually I made it work pretty good using Junction Link and one invisible junction on each mainline before the slips. Practically forcing the red light by cutting the track. That's also independent of sessions.
Click to expand...

Attaboy :)

Simple, straightforward and it works!!

Andy...
 
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