Signal Debugging

[marlonza]

Hi

I have 10 boards, with a seriously (awesome!) set of tracks, some are one way, some are bidirectional.
I layed the tracks, made the junctions, added switch levers a few industries so far, now I notice how hard signalling can be.

Worked my way through the tuts at trains.0catch.com, but Im stuck at a few points. It seems most of my signals are confused, "line ahead terminates" or "no trains approaching", most of them red.

My question is now, how do I handle this, what method of signal debugging do you folks use?

Like I said, some tracks are single direction, while some are two directional, so Im sure ill have to use direction markers. Will signals care about direction markers?

Thanks !

Marlon

 

[JCitron]

Hi Marlon,

I place a consist on the tracks while in Surveyor. If my signals change properly when I change switch levers, then they appear to work fine. I watch for signals that cycle through all the indications - go red, yellow, green and repeat.

I also use signals to test for properly connected track particularly when there are crossings and industries. I place a signal on the opposite side of the industry or crossing, and place a consist (a locomotive is fine). If the signal lights up green, then the track is fine. I then delete the signal if I want and remove the locomotive.

Being in Driver wil be the only time to check for properly placed signals when using directional markers, or at least this is what I've found.

John

 

[marlonza]

Excellent idea to use signals to check track continuity!

At the moment I have signals saying "no train approaching" but they are red... so my AI waits forever. And then offcourse the "track has direction marker facing against us" also, which shouldn't be, because it's suppose to be bidirectional. im not sure what the proper way is to make a track bidirection and AI friendly.

 

[Skrogsgorks]

At the moment I have signals saying "no train approaching" but they are red... so my AI waits forever. And then offcourse the "track has direction marker facing against us" also, which shouldn't be, because it's suppose to be bidirectional. im not sure what the proper way is to make a track bidirection and AI friendly.

All tracks will naturally have their direction of travel from the begging point you start them (point A) to the end point that you stop that particular piece of track (point B). Even with this, you can still run trains in a BI directional manner.

It is only with the placement of "direction markers" that tracks become "one way only" tracks.

I also place two signals at the end of spurs or sidings usually in the form of a red "track end sign" and a traincar "buffer".

JC is right on with using a Loco for testing. And make sure it (and its direction arrows) are facing toward your junctions.

Another handy tool(s) are the "signal thingy" signal(s) both right and left which help your AI trains and your signals work properly.

 

[marlonza]

Thanks,
With the advice, ive managed to sort out more than half of the issues so far!
My first thought was to have two direciton markers, one in each direction, but that was wrong

Thanks again

PS: just need to figure out what signal thingy's are lol

 

[vosloo]

Thanks,
With the advice, ive managed to sort out more than half of the issues so far!
My first thought was to have two direciton markers, one in each direction, but that was wrong

Thanks again

PS: just need to figure out what signal thingy's are lol

On the DLS. Kuid:93677:1400,1402,1420
Cheers

 

[goochy]

I place a loco on the track and then use the junction switching tool, working along the route.

If the track ends, you need to place a set of buffers (track ends).

Hi

I have 10 boards, with a seriously (awesome!) set of tracks, some are one way, some are bidirectional.
I layed the tracks, made the junctions, added switch levers a few industries so far, now I notice how hard signalling can be.

Worked my way through the tuts at trains.0catch.com, but Im stuck at a few points. It seems most of my signals are confused, "line ahead terminates" or "no trains approaching", most of them red.

My question is now, how do I handle this, what method of signal debugging do you folks use?

Like I said, some tracks are single direction, while some are two directional, so Im sure ill have to use direction markers. Will signals care about direction markers?

Thanks !

Marlon

 

[marlonza]

Thanks everyone, the advice given was valuable, and unobtainable (it seems) elsewhere on the web. Thanks for ther KUID's etc.

My route is now 27 baseboards, complex track and working signals all around. *sleep deprivation*

M

 

[jawais84]

I'd love to see a few screenies if you can get the time! Make sure to get enough sleep though

 

[marlonza]

I'd love to see a few screenies if you can get the time! Make sure to get enough sleep though

Hi,
please see this thread
http://forums.auran.com/trainz/showthread.php?t=56599

There are some screenies, and it's a fictional route, loosely based on my environment, so don't read into the replies TOO much, I seem to have confused the folks.

But yes, Ive managed to sort out the singalling thing all around now.
My only problems now are snags, where for example, two trains wait for each other forever, due to layout... Im working on better flow now.

 

[robogo]

Maybe not confused, just day dreaming.