Crossings & Traffic

[tailight98]

I am having a problem with a crossing fairly close to a Station & I find that when I have toggled traffic & then set the consist in the platform using A1 drive mode as soon as I issue the drive instructions the crossing gates open even though departure could be after a wait of 5 minuites. By this time there is a huge queue of traffic with much horn blowing. I guess the answer is placing the correct signals or positioning them in relation to the crossing. It is nice to see the traffic but any suggestion appreciated how to deal with this problem. The same thing can happen when a consist arrives to terminate & the gates do not close. I expect it is a case of positioning of signals & platforms relative to the crossing. John

 

[BLACKWATCH]

The problem you have exists in real life, Lincoln still has a crossing over the high st. that works just like the one you describe.

 

[ColPrice2002]

And Wokingham
(complete with mini-roundabout just on one side!)

On Saturday the queue can be 1/2 mile long!

A few years' ago the electric supply failed (towards Reading) so they shuttled the 3rd rail rolling stock between London and Wokingham, then just out of the station, crossed over tracks and back.
That meant a train would pass the crossing, unload, reverse out (over the crossing), change to the up line, back over the crossing and load on the Up platform.

(service to Reading was by the Gatwick service - diesel engined)
I've never seen so many confused motorists! - we walk into the town on Saturdays!
Colin

 

[GreatEastern]

I agree, this is totally prototypical behaviour, try going to Worthing

Andy

 

[paulzmay]

The behaviour of crossings is, as far as I know, pretty much fixed in TRS. IF there is a train within so many metres of the crossing, the gates will come down and traffic will stop. This is (as everyone else has said) pretty much correct for the UK, and protects against station overruns, and allows for through running of trains. I guess the only thing that isn't quite right is when a train goes over a crossing and then stops the gates will remain closed in TRS, whereas in real life they do open in some places.

There is a workaround, but it's insanely complex, and relies on rules and triggers...

Paul

 

[b9k9kiwi]

It's irritating because there are so many passenger stations in the 'real' world with road crossings very close by - in a route I made with a number of crossings close to platforms, I fixed the problem by placing a set of 'trap points' between the signal and the crossing. The junction closed only when the train was about to leave.

The 'trap points' consisted of a very short length of track only rail beyond a standard junction without an end-of-line marker so the signal showed red and not yellow.

 

[lewisner]

Help is at hand...there IS a way to control level crossings.Its a little technical and unfortunately I lost the ability to post Screenshots awhile ago so I can only describe it.Right.. You have your Station which in my case is Seaton (Co.Durham).At the end of the Platform is a level crossing protected by a Signal.There is a Red Marker before the Signal called "Seaton Up" which instructs AI Drivers to stop there.In order to control the Level Crossing its necessary to -BETWEEN the Signal and the Crossing- connect a piece of Invisible Track about 4 Metres long to the Running Line, and diverging to the left to form a Spur.Install an Invisible Point Lever to control the points , and set the Direction of the Points so that they are "Normally" set for the Spur (Green arrow to the left).At the end of the Spur install a Prellbock Unsichtbar (Railend Invisible) then place a 1 m Spacer on the Spur.The 1 m Spacer will act as a piece of Invisible Rolling Stock and prevent the Signal clearing while the Points are set for the Spur.Close Surveyor and open Driver and you can now send a train to the station; it"ll pull up to the Marker and for (say) 5 minutes then the gates will open and the signal will clear,allowing the train to proceed.The only downside to this is that if you want to drive Manually you"ll have to remember to set the points otherwise you"ll end up derailed- but then you shouldn"t be driving through signals anyway!.Also if you create a new Session the 1 m Spacers (like other Rolling Stock) will disappear. Hope this helps and if I haven"t made anything clear please ask.....PS I didn"t read b9k9kiwis post before writing this

 

[tailight98]

Thanks for suggestions on how to stop crossing gates opening until departure time which I will try out on my layout. I am very aware of the Lincoln crossing & recollect the days when there was also the St.Marks crossing as well on Lincoln High Street. I am also from Lincs & last week was in the queue as the shunters worked the Boston Docks branch where it is still possible to see an 03 Shunter still at work & nice to see. John

 

[b9k9kiwi]

...
I didn"t read b9k9kiwis post before writing this

Just as well - I think your explanation is clearer than mine.

I didn't use invisible objects because the feature provided a nice bit of trackwork detail along with all the other trackside bits and pieces I use.

I am sure, however, you will find that a properly positioned signal will show danger if the trap point/catch point junction is set to open (i.e. to derail). Trackends, end of track markers and/or an invisible spacer on the short spur are not necessary - so the feature will not be session dependent.