How to move an AI train that is controlling a needed switch?

[IDRick]

I experienced ai trains blocking my desired switch in both the tutorial and in the Freeport MR DLC. In the tutorial, the AI entered the yard and was pushing two tank cars toward another group of tank cars (same track). AI train was initially moving at yard speed then stopped short of the second group. It did not move or release my desired switch in distant location. How do I get the AI train to complete it's task and move on?

In Freeport, 5 cars were added to track on west side of layout. The switcher starts on the south east side (4 o 5 tracks over from 5 cars). The objective is to move the 5 cars to the yard in the northeast corner. Unfortunately, the switcher can not get across to the west side because the two needed switches are blocked by an AI train. Interestingly, the switcher is the only locomotive on this small switching layout. No AI train on the layout! Lol, but not funny. How do I correct this situation? I purchased Trianz 2019 because I want to operate MR layouts and primarily interested in yard work and peddler trains. No fun at all to be forced to exit the game because the AI train does move (tutorial) or exist at all (Freeport).

Is there any way to totally remove the AI trains from the layout/session? I don't need them to enjoy the routes...

Hopefully there is a fix to my situations... I'm a computer user with limited to non-existent computer tech skills. I would not have a clue on how to modify the program for any layout... Perhaps, I need to move on to another railroad sim?

 

[Driver_Col]

If you open up Content Manager and locate the Session, then you should be able to create a clone of that Session which will then have your kuid numbering, which in turn will allow you to open it up and make whatever changes your desire ..... such as deleting trains..

An alternative approach would be to simply clone the Route which will give you the freedom to create your Session with as many (or as few) trains as you wish. You don't need any "tech skills" to do these ideas. You just need to open Content Manager, and then explore the various options available. Regards. Colin.

 

[JCitron]

You can try taking control of the train the AI is driving. This may allow you to unlock the switch and be able to set it. I've done this on my own routes and it works well.

 

[OddRails]

Sometimes you can left click on the ai train and select "stop train" which in many cases will cause it to release its hold on the junction. You then can drive it to wherever might be out of your way. When you're done with what you want to do with your train, you can left click again on the ai train and select continue schedule. In many cases the ai train will go back to what it was doing.

If the session has multiple trains using the same junction, you may have to use stop train on them as well to get the junction released.

You did not mention what type of device you are running trainz on, nor what version of trainz software you are running. I beleive my suggestion will work on all pc or mac versions. I don't know anything about android or xbox versions.

 

[IDRick]

Sorry guys, I could not do the "simple things" that you suggested. I am not familiar with the many menus in TRS19 and the correct order through the menus to find sessions and then clone, etc. They're simple if you know the road map to get there but hopeless if you do not. I looked through many menus and must throw my hands up in defeat. Oh well, I'll be limited to my existing maps where the AI drivers don't totally block progress. I'm also looking for a more user friendly train sim.

 

[Driver_Col]

Sorry guys, I could not do the "simple things" that you suggested. I am not familiar with the many menus in TRS19 and the correct order through the menus to find sessions and then clone, etc. They're simple if you know the road map to get there but hopeless if you do not. I looked through many menus and must throw my hands up in defeat. Oh well, I'll be limited to my existing maps where the AI drivers don't totally block progress. I'm also looking for a more user friendly train sim.

It's not rocket science to clone. Select "Manage Content" - Add the name of the Route in the upper right search field - Select the Route (left mouse button) - Go to upper left and select Content followed by Clone. TRS19 will tell you that the Route has been cloned but you will not see it listed because the cloned Route is waiting to be committed.
In the upper left field (probably says Installed), click the little down arrow and select Open for Editing. The cloned Route will appear. Highlight it (use left mouse button), the use mouse right button and select Submit Edits. That's it. You will then have a Route to play with.

 

[IDRick]

Following your roadmap:

first menu, start screen > Manage Content > Add name of route in upper right> Select route LMB > select content upper left >select clone

at this point, in a small window, I see the original kuid and a different kuid for the clone
The line above this says the clone kuid is open for editing

When I select the little down arrow as you directed, and then select open, the small window goes away and the page is blank below blue banner on top.

I went back and selected (LMB) the whole line in the small window, selected submit edits, now clone shows up in Content manager. Not rocket science but required a specific set of steps (in order) to accomplish. All new to me.

I don't understand the steps to delete the AI train in the clone, especially in Freeport Mills, where I can't even see the AI train on this small layout.

Is there a tutorial for this section? I need a roadmap and then I can accomplish. Without knowing the steps, it's a lost cause.

I do appreciate your attempts to help me.

 

[Driver_Col]

Following your roadmap:

first menu, start screen > Manage Content > Add name of route in upper right> Select route LMB > select content upper left >select clone

at this point, in a small window, I see the original kuid and a different kuid for the clone
The line above this says the clone kuid is open for editing

When I select the little down arrow as you directed, and then select open, the small window goes away and the page is blank below blue banner on top.

I went back and selected (LMB) the whole line in the small window, selected submit edits, now clone shows up in Content manager. Not rocket science but required a specific set of steps (in order) to accomplish. All new to me.

I don't understand the steps to delete the AI train in the clone, especially in Freeport Mills, where I can't even see the AI train on this small layout.

Is there a tutorial for this section? I need a roadmap and then I can accomplish. Without knowing the steps, it's a lost cause.

I do appreciate your attempts to help me.

Your cloned Route has a unique kuid number. Every Session will be directed to a Route kuid number (shown as "Map" in the Session config). Because your Route has a unique number, none of the Sessions will connect to it. You now have the freedom to create your personal Session with whatever locos and Rolling stock you like.

 

[OddRails]

Most of the routes I use have portals. Your route may not have them.

If the ai train has been created or produced by a portal, it won't exist until a set amount of time has elapsed in driver. So you may not be able to find it in surveyor.

But if it wasn't produced by a portal you should be able to find it on the route in surveyor.

In driver, use ctrl - rmb on the loco of the ai train. Choose the "view details" option on the list. The dialog will identify which loco it is and if it is the 1st, 2nd or whatever copy of the loco in the session. Write down that loco name and the number after it.

Then load the session in surveyor and press ctrl-f to bring up the find object dialog. Type in the loco name and the number at the end of the name. Then click on the check mark in the lower right corner of the dialog. (Or you can omit the number and all of the copies of that loco will be listed. Just be certain to delete the correct one.)

If the train is somewhere on the route, it should find it. Double check that this is the correct train. Then delete it if that's your goal. Save the session.

However, if the train is produced by a portal you will have to select the objects tool tab in surveyor and check the properties of each portal to see if it is configured to produce a train. If it is, again check to see if it is the train you want to delete, then delete it from the portal's settings.

If the portals aren't configured to produce trains, you might someday experiment with the configuration to try it out.

 

[OddRails]

In message#4
I should have said that you could ctrl-rmb on the ai train and select stop train or halt train.
But you can switch between trains by clicking lmb on them and then do whatever you want with the driving controls. You can let it follow its schedule and just ride along. Or you can change the schedule by adding or removing schedule goals. Or you can click on the the three dots in the lower right corner of the screen to change between driving modes for that train.

I missed your comment that stated there was no ai train visible on the layout. But it sounds even more like the ai train will be produced by a portal, unless someone went crazy and put an invisible train on the tracks in the route. There are actually a few instances where an invisible train is useful, but I don't use them.

The trainz software is bewildering at first, but that's because they've given us tools for doing so many things. I don't know if you'd be interested, but there are numerous youtube videos on trainz. And some instruction pages online.

Also if you are running Trainz while online, there is a question mark tool at the top of the screen that may offer help. I'm offline usually, so I haven't seen what help it loads.

Also, someday you might want to create a route of your own in surveyor. Lay some track from the track tools tab. Add one or more locos and some railcars. Add some industries. And just generally experiment with the various tools in surveyor.
It doesn't have to be pretty, just something to experiment with.

 

[JCitron]

Also if you are running Trainz while online, there is a question mark tool at the top of the screen that may offer help. I'm offline usually, so I haven't seen what help it loads.

This brings up a box with options to view online documentation, click on an object to get help on it, search the Wiki or contact Trainz support.