Signaling Help

[Thad09]

(If in the wrong section of the forum please move)

Ok. I am working on a route and need some help with signaling. I have never used a signal before so I don't know what I am doing. On the route, there are two sections of double track with a section of single track. There is a Westbound and an East bound track. I am wanting the Right hand track to have signaling; trains are running on the right hand side of the double track. I am trying to add signaling to this so when I do any AI, things would run smoothly. Now, to what I am trying to do with the signaling. I am wanting to put in 2 signals for both lines. I need one to warn about the other signal and one to show red before the section of single track stoping the train. When a train passes, the signal turns green and the train can depart. I have the sitches set against the signals if that means anything. Like, the signal shows Red when the switch before it is on the other line. I hope that I make sense. IF I do, please help a noob out with signaling. I tried searching the forum yet I could not find anything that I could decipher. If any help is out there, please let it be simple to read and figure out.........

 

[RRSignal]

Are you comfortable with the built-in signalling or do you want realistic signalling? This tutorial has info on using the built-in signals, but if you want more realistic signalling, you'll have to use GrahamSea or JointedRail's signals.

 

[Dap]

Are GrahamSea or JointedRail signals available on the DLS?

 

[Retro00064]

GrahamSea's signals are not on the DLS to my knowledge, but here is a link to his forum thread on them, which has a link to his website: http://forums.auran.com/trainz/showthread.php?t=73132.

The original versions (pretty much basic Trainz signals) of norfolksouthern37's GRS searchlights and Safetran SOU-style (non-"Darth Vader") colorlights, plus one of the Safetran "Darth Vader" colorlights (which you see absolutely everywhere on the railways these days, it seems), are on the DLS, but the latest versions (the Smart Signals, with prototypical scripting) are available at JointedRail (http://www.jointedrail.com/).

Regards,

Retro.

 

[Muliebuck]

Only forseeable 'issue' with GrahamSea's signals, is he has made them KUID2 format, but forgot the :1 :2, etc on the end, as they're KUID2:XXXX:XXXX:127 in CMP, as it doesn't know what 'revision' they are, so add the :127. They may well have been fixed since, I honestly don't know.

 

[Dap]

Retro,

Which are the best for prototype operations?

David

 

[RRSignal]

GrahamSea's are, except that they don't have approach lighting as an option. JR's are realistic too from what I understand, but the only signals currently available are the Safetran and searchlight types.

 

[Thad09]

Wow Thanks guys! I'll look into that toutorial. I could work with either the built in or JR's signals. Thanks again y'all!

 

[SantaFebuff]

Well, the Searchlights from JR are route signalling. Be sure to note they take two blocks of clearance before a train is allowed to proceed. So if your planning on running shorter trains close together, try to push the signals about 1/2 a mile together... but try to keep the speed under 60mph. (respectively) You cannot get a triple-head JR searchlight, but there are good ones on the DLS. Those are US&S H-series searchlights. JRs are GRS searchlights, so it adds variation. I recently signaled my entire redo of the Robe River Iron for a friend with Searchlights from JR. They work marvelously. The only problem is that there is no corona flare on the yellow/amber aspect. To help you more, answer these questions:

- What prototype (if any) will you like to follow for you route?
- What is mainline, medium, and restricted speeds?
- How big is your route?
- Are you willing to have mixed signals or a full-pledge to one company?
- Also, what type of traffic do you expect?
- Would you favor long runs at higher speed, or slower trains more compacted together?

All of those question help real railroads and us Trainzer develop a signal set up and layout that works for our needs.

Cheers,
Joshua

 

[Retro00064]

<snip> You cannot get a triple-head JR searchlight, but there are good ones on the DLS. Those are US&S H-series searchlights. <snip>

I think that I have seen triple-head JR searchlights in screenshots before, plus the original versions of the set have a three-head gantry signal.

Regards,

Retro.

 

[Thad09]

Ok. I looked into those toutorials and I can not make any sense of it. I am trying to signal a stituation like this:

The Eastbound train waits for the Westbound train to pass. The arrows show direction of travel. Points are set for the Westbound giving it control of the streatch of single track. Using the built in USA signals, how would I go about signaling this? (Feel free to send/reupload a version of this diagram with signals labed: ie, USA 01, USA L 02, ect.) I can not figure this out!

 

[rgcx]

I made a quick rendition of the track schematic to help you out. For this to work right using built in signals, you need to use track direction markers and keep the turnouts set for the "exit" route off the single track. As long as you don't create additional turnouts/switches within the single track, you can add intermediate blocks with 05 signals if you desire. I've never had a standoff using this technique from 04 and I am now using 10. Good luck with your route.

 

[RRSignal]

Only glitch I see is those 04s are single-headed. Interlocking signals are usually 2- or 3-headed, at least on the end-of-siding, to indicate a diverging move. Maybe practice is a little different in the western U.S. Were you to use multi-head signals, I believe Trainz will interpret the diverging move (i.e. medium clear) as an approach indication and run the trains through at 30 mph on the single-track, so a speed sign might be in order if you want to go faster. Otherwise, that looks like a very solid design, rcgx.

 

[JCitron]

Only glitch I see is those 04s are single-headed. Interlocking signals are usually 2- or 3-headed, at least on the end-of-siding, to indicate a diverging move. Maybe practice is a little different in the western U.S. Were you to use multi-head signals, I believe Trainz will interpret the diverging move (i.e. medium clear) as an approach indication and run the trains through at 30 mph on the single-track, so a speed sign might be in order if you want to go faster. Otherwise, that looks like a very solid design, rcgx.

Actually this configuration works fine with Trainz AI. The type 04's are absolute signals and being red for oncoming traffic, will indicate a stop to the traffic.

The type 02 for the diverge works as it should.

If he uses the JR Searchlights, He uses a type 04 as normal, and a type 06 at the diverge. The current version of Searchlights, as updated and on JR website, require a bit more configuration, but work the same.

If he uses the new ones, he needs to put in some type 05's, which are permissive signals and work as distant signals when approaching an 04 or 06, in between the 04's at each end of the passing siding. I use the US Coal 3000T consist as a "ruler" to figure out my train length between signals.

There are also some type 08's (3-headed signals). The freeware ones are gantry-type, and those that come with TS12 with the Mojave Sub, are on a pedestal. I happen to use those along with the gantry ones now because of the luxury of having them.

The type 08's are used for wyes and line diverges beyond just a single to double track, or extended siding.

John

 

[Dap]

I've just installed the signals you are suggesting and if I put a locomotive on the westbound main behind Jct 0 with Jct 0 aligned to give him acces to the single track, and a locomotive on the eastbound siding behind Jct 2 with Jct 2 aligned to give access to the single track(facing each other), both locomotives get a yellow signal which means they are headed for a stand-off in the middle of the single section of track.

Am I doing something wrong, or is this just the way it is and hope that trains never get to this point? I'm working on a multi-player route, so it is more than likely, both trains will be player driven.

Is there a maximum distance beyond which Jct 0 and Jct 2 should not be placed?

 

[JCitron]

I've just installed the signals you are suggesting and if I put a locomotive on the westbound main behind Jct 0 with Jct 0 aligned to give him acces to the single track, and a locomotive on the eastbound siding behind Jct 2 with Jct 2 aligned to give access to the single track(facing each other), both locomotives get a yellow signal which means they are headed for a stand-off in the middle of the single section of track.

Am I doing something wrong, or is this just the way it is and hope that trains never get to this point? I'm working on a multi-player route, so it is more than likely, both trains will be player driven.

Is there a maximum distance beyond which Jct 0 and Jct 2 should not be placed?

Usually there's a bigger distance between the two. I think this was setup for demonstration of the layout.

I've never had problems with this layout myself, although now this I recall, and forgot to mention, I put in direction markers which will keep the AI from ignoring the right-left thing most of the time.

John

 

[Dap]

I have discovered that you should save and close the route ands then reopen it to get the signales to work properly. Since they are scripted, this does make sense. So far, these JR Smart signals seem to be working great.

 

[Thad09]

Hey Rgcx, Thanks for those pics. It helps seeing an example on how to do things. I might now try it with JR's signals and see how that goes.

 

[seniorchief]

US&S H-series searchlights on the DLS? Where? I know that Seniorchief made a "US&S" triple-head gantry searchlight, but it has GRS visors and does not seem to be very prototypical in appearance to me. The GRS searchlights by JR/norfolksouthern37, on the other hand, are quite prototypical in appearance (the back door texture is flipped horizontally from the real thing, though, but I corrected that for myself). Yea, there I go "rivet counting": naughty me.

I guess that I am one of those guys who cares about the details and appearance of the actual signal itself instead of just whether it passes as the real thing at a distant glance and whether it functions prototypically.

Oh, and I think that I have seen triple-head JR searchlights in screenshots before, plus the original versions of the set have a three-head gantry signal.

Regards,

Retro.

I know that Seniorchief made a "US&S" triple-head gantry searchlight, but it has GRS visors and does not seem to be very prototypical in appearance to me.

Thanks for the slap in the face...................

Damon

 

[Retro00064]

And to think that I have told others to not do so: what a hypocrite I have made of myself. I should have known better. Sorry, Damon. Post redacted.

Regretfully,

Retro.