Speed Limit Problems

[FarRock]

I notice on certain parts of my layout, when I add a speed limit, it doesn't come into effect until the whole train passes the sign. I tried relaying the sections of tracks the other way and it still doesn't work correctly. Can somebody help?

 

[Mouse84]

That is the way it works on the real railroads. If you're running along on track that has a 25mph speed limit and you get to a location where the speed limit picks up to 50mph, let's call it MP 251. We are not allowed to pick up the speed until our whole train clears MP 251.

 

[mmcdono1]

Far Rock,

I am assuming you mean that when your engine passes a speed limit sign that is faster than the current speed limit, it will not speed up until the entire consist has passed that point. If that is the case, this is not a mistake. If you think about it, why would it be safe for the entire consist to increase to a higher speed if only the engine is in the higher speed zone? The simulation waits until the entire consist passes the increase speed sign for safety reasons. If, however, you are referring to entering a speed zone that is lower than the current speed, it should slow down as soon as the engine reaches it. I hope this helps.

 

[FarRock]

I'm talking about on a NYC Subway style layout.

Heres an example.

The speed limit is 20 MPH for the upcoming curve. The train must slow down once it reaches the sign because of the signals up ahead. If the train resumes its regular speed above 20 MPH and doesn't follow the speed limit until the whole train passes the sign, then the TO and maybe even the passengers will be trouble.

 

[FarRock]

It doesn't matter if the speed limit is above or below the trains speed it must be followed.

For example, a speed limit sign might be 30 MPH at the end of a platform in a station. The train must start speeding up to reach that limit once train reaches the sign.

If a 30 MPH sign is up ahead and the train is above that limit, once the train reaches the sign it must slow down to get to that limit.

 

[FarRock]

Can anybody explain how I can fix this problem? On some parts of my layout the speed limits change right when the train reaches the sign. I'm trying to set them up correctly for AI operations.

 

[AussieNightcrawler]

Hi,

When the front of the train passes a lower speed limit then its currently doing, say its doing 60kmh (about 40mph) it will slow down, but when the back of the train passes a higher speed limit then its currently doing, say its doing 40kmh (about 25mph) it will speed up.

There is nothing you can do to 'fix' it, that's the way it is, you have to be careful how close you place speed signs due to this reason.

Hope this helps...

 

[FarRock]

I don't understand how some parts of my layouts work the way I want it to and some parts don't.

I just want the trains to slow down or speed up to a certain speed when it reaches a sign.

 

[AussieNightcrawler]

Hi,

Another thing you have to be careful of, by default, the speed limit on a layout is 65kmh (about 44mph) until a train passes a speed sign telling them different.

Like I said above, you have to be careful where you place speed signs, if the train is long, don't place speed sign too close or the front of the train will pass one, then pass another, then the back of the train will pass one which will change the speed limit again.

This will confuse the driver to no end, I have seen it happen a few times myself on my layout, had to redesign a few areas around industries.

Hope this helps more...

 

[FarRock]

Drivers

One more question.

Do different drivers react differently when it comes to following comands?

I always hear rumors about Alastair.

 

[Stormscape]

It's more of a running joke, the whole Alastair thing. The reason he gets more flak than the others is the fact he's the default driver for all sessions.

 

[worthless]

I find the answers in this thread are theoretically correct but not in keeping with my experience. I find that my speed limits (in TRS 2006) are invariably applied when the whole train has passed the limit sign. This applies whether the change is to a higher speed or a lower one. Furthermore, I find it strange that a train (driven by Alistair of course) will stop from 25 mph in a distance of about 100 metres, but when reaching a speed limit sign it takes well over a kilometre - on level track - to reduce speed from 45 mph to under 40. (From a 50 limit to a 40.)

If I were using particularly heavy trains I could understand this happening, but I have been using a variety of multiple units in trying to determine just where the limits need to be placed in the route I am creating.

Now it seems I am not alone in trying to fathom this one out.

Regards

Peter

 

[lewisner]

Don"t forget that the stopping or slowing down distance of a train is influenced (as in real life) by the gradient.On my current route there is a steep downward gradient from Sleaford South Junction to Sleaford Station.I ran a train headed by the powerful RENFE Confederacion loco and 10 coaches and it slid past the signal (which was at danger) and had an emergency brake application.If you have a down gradient and you put a heavy train behind a loco that isn"t up to the job you either need to apply a lower speed limit or move the signal..

 

[SuperFudd]

I have npticed that a train passing into a section that is much slower than the previous will over do it. For instance when doing 50mph and entering a 20 mph zone it may slow to 10 mph before correcting to 20 mph, so I avoid such large changes.