Signal concerns

[Mr_D]

I have making routes since the program was launched and have never had signal issues before but suddenly I am getting some weird events that I don't understand. I am not sure what I have done differently except include a few inviisible signals. I will describe the route and then the events.
The route is a point to point with my home town, Dothan, AL, as the focal point. There are various industries in and around the city and a small yard for switching. The line is single tracked but there are four passing sidings within the 20 miles. There are three portals which produce and take in trains. Most of the trains are portal to portal to add a through flavor to the switching and/or industrial operations. Each of the passing sidings is signaled at the exit point with two signals. One a standard US 04 and the other an invisible thingy a few hundred yards up the track. Two of the sidings has a third siding dedicated to passenger service to small communities. The siding tracks are directional, one northbound and one southbound.

Events:
1. signal shows train in next block but no train is in block rather a switch is thrown opposite direction and the ai will not switch it to the right track so the loco just sits with a red exclamation mark.
2. signal shows train in next block but the next train is four or five signals ahead when you click on signal rather than being in the next block.
3. signal shows track unsignaled or closed but in fact the switch is opened correctly and so is the next one. This happens in yard a lot when loco is moving from track 4 to 5, etc.

I have never had this happen before and all I know that is different is the invisible signals. I have seen them work fine on the Clovis Sub so I don't know why they won't work here.
Any ideas or suggestions are appreciated.

 

[stagecoach]

Event 1) train has derailed so is no longer operational.
2) Might be connected to above
3) The buffers are not the type that show red by acting like a signal. Replace with ones that act as a signal or place invisible signal next to the buffers. The levers are to close to the junction or on wrong side of it.

 

[edion2]

I've had the "suddenly weired signal" before. Upon investigation (hours and lots of cursing) I found that a "junction lever" waaaaay down the line disappeared. When I was pasting an object nearby, part of the "area to paste" must have been over the junction lever. The software does not distinguish any difference between "track-side objects" and "scenery objects".

Another time it was that the junction lever got moved and was put "out of reach" of AI drivers. This can happen when adjusting track spline points . . . I guess.

Check your junction and make sure the levers are there. Make sure they don't have "2 red arrows" (non-functioning switch lever). And that the lever is between the signal and the junction spline point.

Try that . . . hopefully thats what the problem is.

 

[Mr_D]

Thanks for your input. I've checked all those items. The junctions work fine and if just two trains are running they change direction, obey the signals, the signals change when the engineer request them to and so forth. This is with multiple trains and suddenly the rules don't seem to apply. If I "stop" a train or two the others will then open the line and proceed. Otherwise they just sit and stare. Running a test version with two opposing trains, in about 10 seconds the ai will allow one or the other to go. But with 8,9 trains running on the route they just sit.

 

[stagecoach]

This is all down to the number of trains trying to use the same sections of track. Your computer does a check on each drivers commands but because these calculations are so fast it just keeps going around and around trying to assign each trains requirements. Stopping a train just alters these calculations a fraction which can lead to one train gaining full control. If you look at the signals and levers you will see the computer try to alter them. This is not a game fault as such just a computer calculation problem.

 

[lewisner]

One of the most important things to do when setting up a line is to have the points set for the route/direction the MAJORITY of trains will follow- this is known in railway parlance as the points "Lying Normal" for the Main Line.The more points Trainz AI has to alter for a train to run (esp. in complex areas) the more likely it is to get confused.

 

[Mr_D]

Yes, I agree about the direction. I have a "green light" southbound but it doesn't help if a northbound train controls the junction and refuses to let it loose. It appears the only soloution is to keep adjusting by hand which takes some of the fun out of it. On my Western Mountain route this never seems to happen even though it is signaled the same way. I am currently running 13 trains at once on it without portals and seldom have to change a junction or stop a train.