How do I join two trains at a station using driver commands

[RobWed]

I'm trying to create an AI version of the 1A73 service from Penzance to London Paddington. It's a 5 car consist of class 802 until Plymouth where it joins with a second 5 car set that's come in from the Laira Yard and waiting at the platform. I can use AI commands to get either train into the platform but I can't get the second set in if there is a train at the platform. The route (Cornish Railways) has EIT pathing which I've set correctly, the points are set right, but that red light just will not budge.

Any pointers?

 

[billm001]

Can you use the couple command?

 

[RobWed]

That's part of the command string but it doesn't matter if I use Call At, Drive To, Navigate To. Any command that would take a single train to the station just won't get me past that last signal.

 

[wilts747]

Don't let the term 'AI' fool you, it is a list of rules and conditions dating back some 20 years or so. Yes a consist can find its way from A to B, waiting at red lights and switching the odd junction, but again it's following rules and conditions and even this frequently goes wrong if such paths are too complicated.

Your route is working correctly in that an occupied track is being protected by a red signal, so what you need to do is remove the signal or bye-pass it. If you remove it, any previous signal between the consist in the yard and the platform will act in a similar manner following the rules and become red. You can bye-pass it manually or fiddle it.

To fiddle it, place an invisible junction on the platform side of the red signal ensuring ample space for the second consist to join the first, and a second invisible junction within the siding. Connect the two junctions together with invisible track, place direction markers on the track making it one way and carefully align it with the existing track. Use wide (red or blue) invisible track it makes alignment easier.

The Couple command will enable two consists to be coupled together but you will need to specify the specific asset you wish to couple to for it to work. Hope this helps. Peter

 

[stagecoach]

Using TM's is the easiest way. Place a TM in the centre of the platform track. The first train will drive to TM, and the second will couple at TM. The coupling train should pause at the signal and then move slowly ahead to couple. Make sure the first train driver has left the consist before the couple.

 

[marky7890]

I'm in Trainz now, and have just coupled two Class 800s up at Plymouth with driver commands, the signal (P15) being green. Make sure the EIT paths start with P15 showing proceed, not automatic.

 

[RobWed]

@wilts747, @stagecoach, @marky7890, thank you gentlemen! Parts of what each of you said resonated and I had success first attempt this morning. In fact it was so smooth it made me laugh at how frustrated I was last night!

Wilts747. I thought about what you said about the AI just being a set of rules and connected that with what Stagecoach said about ensuring there is no driver in the train to be coupled to. Of course the rule set will need to be able to distinguish between a train and a set of rolling stock! Mark, I'd checked the Plymouth west tower for the UM to plat 7 path and it was all good. Had nothing to do with the tower rules just me having to learn about the difference between empty rolling stock and an active train. I did add a trackmark at the London end of platform 7 so the 10 cars fit neatly alongside of the platform. That also meant I could use "Call at" or "Load at" as the command to get the Penzance set to Plymouth neatly.

Thanks all!

 

[PeteC9008]

I had a thought on this earlier today, and I've just proved it works in TRS19. I don't like fiddling situations with invisible track and levers either!

Anyway - on the interlocking tower set up two routes, one from the mainline to the start of the platform, just needed to get through any complicated point work. (Scenario is the train comes to empty platform)

One route that goes mainline to middle of platform, (can just be from the start of the platform to the middle of platform signal or clear the entire station throat again). ( Scenario is Train comes to an occupied platform, and wants to couple).

If you don't want to couple you simply select the access not required when given the EIT option pop up. This will leave all signals on Auto and middle platform signal stays on Danger.

There's a 2 aspect signal at the middle of the platform which is controlled by the second route described above, when you approach the start of the route the EIT pops up and asks what route - if you select the couple route, first signal to access platform is set to auto as the first half of the platform is still empty so red then green/amber on approach to Sig, and the mid platform signal is set to caution - so you can pass it and couple to the train already at the platform.... Heres a link to an album where I have just run this scenario.

Just another way to make it work - I did try the comments above too but when I removed the driver from the first consist, the second one pulling up still wouldn't pass the signal to get access, and I like the realism of the EIT setting the Mid Plat Signal to orange. (It feels real to me, but might not be how railway truly operates!)