Portals

[jgdesign]

I have two questions about Portals. I'd really appreciate any advice on this subject:

1) How can I get trains emerging from a portal to not stop but keep moving. As it currently is, all trains that emerge always stop until programmed or manually moved. Which ties into my next question....

2) When I program an AI train to go through a portal, emerge from another portal, and make stops along the route, and then send it into a portal, it never emerges from the destination portal.

Is there a rule or rules that are needed to solve both these issues?

 

[stovepipe]

1) You need to programme the commands you want when you set the trains up in the portal config box. The portal config box is opened when you select the ? of the scenery tab and click on your portal. All in surveyor of course.

To save you constructing lots of repetitive commands, you could set up a series of commands using the "schedule library" rule which you need to add to your session, and then activate the "copy commands from" in the driver commands. Both accessed via the "edit session rules" icon in surveyor. You can then use the "copy commands from" instruction in the portal dialog box to copy your pre-constructed commands over from the schedule library you set up previously.

2) train will only return if you have setup the portal to return it. Some portals do not have the option to return trains and will only consume or produce trains. try the re-rail portal by maggs if this is the case.

SP

 

[jadebullet]

I had this same problem too. If you gave the commands to the driver when you set him up in the portal and he stops then there is something wrong with your tracks between the portal and where he is going. Load the session and wait til he stops. then click on the microphone to display messages. It should tell you its problem. For me it was a missing switch lever.

 

[jytte]

Very instructive, Stovepipe, thank you from me as well.

 

[jgdesign]

Thanks everyone! I'll give these ideas a try.

 

[stovepipe]

Other stuff I've figured out about portals is:

1) you need to have a good length of track before you first signal - so that the train can come out completely before it meets a signal.

2) there is a limit on the length of trains that will come out of the built-in "basic" portal. If the limit is exceeded (approx 12 coaches or 24 wagons) you will get a train with no AI driver, that can't be selected. It will be called "consist xx" rather than the name of the driver when you look on the map.

3) You can solve this by using the built-in "tunnel" portals which allow unlimited length trains, but see 1) also above. I've got 60 wagon consists coming out of these babys.

4) the tunnel portals need to be entirely on a baseboard. If they hang out into midair they won't work properly.

5) adding "portal dependencies" rule (116387:34:1) to your session saves the rolling stock with the session, so others will know what dependent stock they require if they use/download your session.

6) zooming around the map to set up portals can get a bit tedious. There are a few ways of simplifying portal control. Try "Portal Manager" (192081:14:1) or "CPC:Central Portal Control" (117746:1013:6) rules, both need to be added to your sessions. "Portal dependencies" doesn't work with either though.

7) you can timetable trains leaving portals using pguy's "Portal Timetable Rule" (61392:2002:1), but it slows your session down if you set up a big timetable of trains (say 30+).

8) if you get this far you might want to check out posts by segy, who's worked out how to get 100 trains out of portals to a timetable using SCS2006 (Scenario Creation System) and "un-portal" rule. I'm still figuring this one out!

HTH

SP
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[danny5]

Thanks stovepipe this is very helpful
Danny5

 

[R701Rusty]

Other stuff I've figured out about portals is:

2) there is a limit on the length of trains that will come out of the built-in "basic" portal. If the limit is exceeded (approx 12 coaches or 24 wagons) you will get a train with no AI driver, that can't be selected. It will be called "consist xx" rather than the name of the driver when you look on the map.



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Hi stovepipe,
I am curious about the above as I have 40+ wagon consists coming out of a basic portal on one of the routes I use in 2006. While there might be no visible driver depending upon the loco I use the train retains the driver's name given when setting the whole thing up. What version do you use?

Cheers
Russell.

 

[ldowns]

I have also used the basic portal many times to generate trains with 40 or more cars. What I have found on my own layouts is that the 'rogue' consists (not selectable in driver, sometimes found wandering all over the layout) usually are caused by a bad loco or car. Deleting that asset put a stop to the problem. (The tricky part is finding which asset; trial and error is the only way I've found).

--Lamont

 

[stovepipe]

I WAS using 2006 - note "was" - this thread is one year old.......

At the time I was learning about Portals and thought I'd right down what I'd discovered. You guys may well be right about basic portals and long trains - but they are the only portals I've ever had problems with - ghost trains appearing that can't be selected.

I always use the tunnel portals now, I can't remember having a problem since. But if they work for you then fine, if it ain't broke.....etc.

Maybe it's worth posting back with how you've got them configured (track length before first signal, are you using portal manager rule or setting each portal up separately) so other folks can see.

cheers
Stovepipe

 

[R701Rusty]

Maybe it's worth posting back with how you've got them configured (track length before first signal, are you using portal manager rule or setting each portal up separately) so other folks can see.

cheers
Stovepipe

Happy to detail the Basic Portal setup that I have used to get 40 - 50 car consists emerging from, on the route I use on TRS2006. Please note that this is what works for me and therefore may not work for you.
The portal is sited on straight track that runs for nearly 3 baseboards with at least one (1) junction along the length of track and one 04 signal (absolute) protecting that junction.
The back end of the portal is 140 metres in from the far edge of the board in approximately the middle of the edge. The business end of the portal is approximately 1420 metres from the signal and the signal is a further 50 metres from the junction. From the junction to the join in the baseboard with the rest of the layout is another 210 metres approximately.
While I use the term "approximately" I have measured these distances with the ruler and rounded to the nearest 10 metres as I don't think it requires measuring to the last mm.
I think you can see that there is a lot of room between the portal and the signal for long consists to properly form up after emerging and I do think this is important. I also have the same basic portal working in another location on the same map but have as yet to ask it to produce consists of this length, but must point out that the second portal doesn't currently have anywhere near the space of the one above.
All of this is achieved without using any extra rules or commands and the return traffic is directed to another portal on a separate section of this yard.
Someone mentioned phantom consists in another thread and I had one of those as well. I tracked mine down to faulty rollingstock and once I fixed that problem the phantoms vanished!!!!
I hope this is helpful to all those having trouble with portals.

Cheers
Russell.