Signaling Question

[jrfolco]

I’ve run into a situation when running opposing trains on a single main line with passing sidings. While waiting for an oncoming train to clear a single track, if the stopped train has to wait more than thirty to forty seconds, the speed control changes from AI to manual speed, and has to be restarted after the opposing train pulls into the passing siding.

I’m using Jointed Rail’s Safetran signals, but I’ve experienced this situation in the past using other signals.

Is there any way to prevent this from happening?

Thanks, Joe

 

[Dan_Hat]

are you building this route yourself?

in surveoyr you can add track marks on the passing loops then get the trains to drive to the track mark and use the wait for command, that should do it

 

[fran1]

I've found the same, usually after the same 30-40 secs on green they set off.

 

[jrfolco]

are you building this route yourself?

in surveoyr you can add track marks on the passing loops then get the trains to drive to the track mark and use the wait for command, that should do it

Yes, I'm building the route, but it is one hundred miles long with numerous passing loops. It would be difficult to determine where the trains would meet to add a "Wait for command" for a particular trackmark.

I've run into this problem ever since I started building routes. I'm hoping that there is some way to get the train to stay under AI speed control so that they don't have to be manually be restarted.

Thanks, Joe

 

[JCitron]

Yes, I'm building the route, but it is one hundred miles long with numerous passing loops. It would be difficult to determine where the trains would meet to add a "Wait for command" for a particular trackmark.

I've run into this problem ever since I started building routes. I'm hoping that there is some way to get the train to stay under AI speed control so that they don't have to be manually be restarted.

Thanks, Joe

Joe,

What is the combo of signals you are using at each junction?

a type 06 to guard the single track and a type 04 at the junction of the passing loop to the single?

Using this setup, I've had little problem with drivers calling it quits and going home, or having to intervene very much if at all.

Have you tried clicking on the signal and seeing what it says?

On the type 06 and type 08, you can change an absolute to a permissive and allow the train to proceed through a blinking red by changing the off to on for this option for this train.

John

 

[jrfolco]

Joe,

What is the combo of signals you are using at each junction?

a type 06 to guard the single track and a type 04 at the junction of the passing loop to the single?

Using this setup, I've had little problem with drivers calling it quits and going home, or having to intervene very much if at all.

Have you tried clicking on the signal and seeing what it says?

On the type 06 and type 08, you can change an absolute to a permissive and allow the train to proceed through a blinking red by changing the off to on for this option for this train.

John

John,

I’m using exactly what you mentioned. A type 06 to guard the single track and a type 04 at the junction of the passing loop to the single. I’ve tried clicking all of the signals, but I’m not familiar with the various functions.

To experiment with various signal combinations, I created a seven baseboard map with three passing loops, and four sections of single track. The map uses the 06 Distant signals. I also tried the 06 RD, and the 06 LD signals, but the problem still exists.

I made a video to show the exact problem. The eastbound CSX loco has just pulled up to the #4 signal and has been stopped by the red signal while waiting for the oncoming westbound.

After about thirty five to forty seconds, as the westbound loco approaches, the AI speed control in the upper right corner changes to manual speed control, and has to be restarted after the westbound loco enters the passing loop.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eLbKIZxtS3M

I just started using Safetran signals about a week ago, so I’m very unfamiliar with what type of signal should be used for various functions.

Examples are: the Safetran CLight Signal 06 Distant, the Safetran CLight Signal 06 RD, the Safetran CLight Signal 06 LD, the Safetran CLight Signal 08 Interlocking, and the Safetran CLight Signal 08-1 interlocking.

As I stated previously, I’ve had this problem in the past with other types of signals, but maybe a certain combination of the Safetrans could possibly solve the problem.

Thanks, Joe

 

[JCitron]

John,

I’m using exactly what you mentioned. A type 06 to guard the single track and a type 04 at the junction of the passing loop to the single. I’ve tried clicking all of the signals, but I’m not familiar with the various functions.

To experiment with various signal combinations, I created a seven baseboard map with three passing loops, and four sections of single track. The map uses the 06 Distant signals. I also tried the 06 RD, and the 06 LD signals, but the problem still exists.

I made a video to show the exact problem. The eastbound CSX loco has just pulled up to the #4 signal and has been stopped by the red signal while waiting for the oncoming westbound.

After about thirty five to forty seconds, as the westbound loco approaches, the AI speed control in the upper right corner changes to manual speed control, and has to be restarted after the westbound loco enters the passing loop.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eLbKIZxtS3M

I just started using Safetran signals about a week ago, so I’m very unfamiliar with what type of signal should be used for various functions.

Examples are: the Safetran CLight Signal 06 Distant, the Safetran CLight Signal 06 RD, the Safetran CLight Signal 06 LD, the Safetran CLight Signal 08 Interlocking, and the Safetran CLight Signal 08-1 interlocking.

As I stated previously, I’ve had this problem in the past with other types of signals, but maybe a certain combination of the Safetrans could possibly solve the problem.

Thanks, Joe

Joe,

It looks like Andy is asking for track clearance here, because the radio-speaker is flashing. I would expect because the AI is set to wait about 30-35 seconds.

The way he drops to no control is a bit odd? Do you have something at the end of this track? I've seen the drivers do this when the destination can't be reached due to some reason such as a direction marker being incorrect, a missing junction lever, or even a broken rail somewhere.

I'm not that familiar with the SafeTrain signals. I would expect they would work no different than the US S&S Searchlight signals I use extensively.

If anything, I would pay attention to what's being asked by the driver here, and even take a look at the JetLog.txt file. Believe it or not, this file contains a lot of information on what's happening in a session, and point you in the direction of incompatible scripts, and even errors with content.

John

 

[jrfolco]

John,

Yes, I do have track marks at each end, and I'm using the drive to track mark command. I'll keep trying. Maybe someone has an answer.

Thanks for your help.

Joe

 

[eswearingen]

I have been building an "interaction test route" just so I can see how the different industries work together and have run into this same problem with different drivers. I even made the single track a 1-way (it's a long loop), thinking that the driver was maybe "scared" of the oncoming loco. even with enough signals to split the single track into several blocks, the AI would still sit idle at the first signal until long after the first train had cleared the single track by going past the next junction. I think that if the AI cannot see a clear path to either it's destination or a junction, it gets confused. I have seen in these forums where a dummy junction may help, but I haven't tried that yet.

Hope this helps,

Eric

 

[jrfolco]

I have been building an "interaction test route" just so I can see how the different industries work together and have run into this same problem with different drivers. I even made the single track a 1-way (it's a long loop), thinking that the driver was maybe "scared" of the oncoming loco. even with enough signals to split the single track into several blocks, the AI would still sit idle at the first signal until long after the first train had cleared the single track by going past the next junction. I think that if the AI cannot see a clear path to either it's destination or a junction, it gets confused. I have seen in these forums where a dummy junction may help, but I haven't tried that yet.

Hope this helps,

Eric

Eric,

So far, I’ve tried tried installing track marks at each end of my test route, went back to the original Auran Signal USA signals, and still I’m having the same problem. I’m beginning to wonder if this situation is built into Trainz, and that there is no solution to the problem.

Thanks, Joe

 

[stagecoach]

The simple rule from the first trainz is dont put signals on the single track. Only place signals on the loop track and make sure the junction lever is set for the approaching train to enter the correct loop. I did a test section back in the early days with 10 trains happily going back and forth with five loops between the ends and not once did they complain.

 

[jrfolco]

The simple rule from the first trainz is dont put signals on the single track. Only place signals on the loop track and make sure the junction lever is set for the approaching train to enter the correct loop. I did a test section back in the early days with 10 trains happily going back and forth with five loops between the ends and not once did they complain.

Thanks for your input, Stagecoach.


Fortunately, I was able to solve my problem by setting the junction levers, at the entry of each passing loop, to the right hand track. In addition, I added a Track Direction Marker to the adjacent track to force the train to the right. I then used a Safetran Signal 06 LD to control the junctions at each end of the passing loops.

If the passing loops and adjacent tracks are long enough to hold two or more trains, I add the appropriate number of Safetran Signal 05s to create additional blocks.

I also did the same thing on the single tracks if the length was long enough to hold two or more trains.

Finally, I added a Track Marker at each end of the track I’m testing, and named them east and west. I then used the Drive to Track Mark command to send each train to its respective destination.

I tried this first on the test map that I constructed, and set it up on the route that I’m building. It has worked very well without a glitch.

This method may or may not be an orthodox way to run trains under AI, but it works. I might also add that these new Safetran signalsare quite an improvement over signals that I've used in the past.

Regards, Joe

 

[BRClass66]

hi,
i have a problem on a single track where the switch lever will not divert train to the right hand track...the left hand track has a train stopped ..so it should take the right hand track as its clear...but it won't
i have 06's in front of the train and 04's on the left and right tracks further down and 04's behind train...why won't it divert?

 

[jrfolco]

hi,
i have a problem on a single track where the switch lever will not divert train to the right hand track...the left hand track has a train stopped ..so it should take the right hand track as its clear...but it won't
i have 06's in front of the train and 04's on the left and right tracks further down and 04's behind train...why won't it divert?

Try using a Track Direction Marker on the oncoming track. This forces the train to take the opposite track. It worked for me as described in post #12.

Joe

 

[JCitron]

Try using a Track Direction Marker on the oncoming track. This forces the train to take the opposite track. It worked for me as described in post #12.

Joe

Joe,

I always do this. It's kind of like Hansel and Gretel. They put bread crumbs down to follow out of the woods. The only differences here there is no witch (I was going to same something on this, but I won't ), and there are no birds to eat the track marks.

John