Stumped: Loco refuses to enter onto main line

[stouthm]

Here's the problem. Loco at a mfg industry. Has to go through two switches and a road crossing (ATLS controlled) and the onto the main line. Loco crosses the road xing and stops. Reverses and starts to go back from where it came (mfg). I've placed track markers before and after the switches and at the road xing Placed a track mark on the main line. Loco goes to all the track marks except the one on the main line. I have replaced everything, track in the correct direction, replaced switch and signals and still no luck. Would a 4.3 % grade make the difference? It's only about 400 ft from the road xing to the mine line. This is driving me nuts and that's a short drive. Any suggestions? Thanks.

 

[pware]

I would try driving the loco manually onto the mainline to see if it derails - if that is the case then a faulty junction is the problem.

The grade should make no difference.

 

[stouthm]

Tried that. No problem driving manually. Drove manually through all the switches, road xing and tracks with no problems. I have no idea what the problem is.

 

[trev999]

If the switches are correctly set, try using Autodrive to the main line trackmark.

Trevor

 

[oknotsen]

Did you lock the junction by a rule?
You can lock junctions in such a way the AI is not allowed to change them. There is a bug with that; if you set the junction correct AND not allow the AI to change the junction, the AI refuses to drive over that junction even if set correct for it.

 

[cascaderailroad]

AI locos will not drive to a trackmarker on a dead end track, as there is no path destination, unless you extend the dead end track, and place a loop of invisatrack, and signals might be needed ... I fired all my AI drivers long ago, and reskinned Alastair.

If real RR locos had AI, there would be all kinds of collisions and foul ups ... that's why real locos don't have AI ... Only Model Railroads have AI, and look what problems that causes.

 

[JCitron]

AI locos will not drive to a trackmarker on a dead end track, as there is no path destination, unless you extend the dead end track, and place a loop of invisatrack, and signals might be needed ... I fired all my AI drivers long ago, and reskinned Alistair.

If real RR locos had AI, there would be all kinds of collisions and foul ups ... that's why real locos don't have AI ... Only Model Railroads have AI, and look what problems that causes.

That's not true, at least in TS12. I use trackmarks at the end of sidings all the time and the AI will drive there no problem. I even sometimes put cars there for them to pick up (couple), and have a drive go to the trackmark. The AI may not go all the way to the end due to the coaches or freight cars in there, but I then take over or use a couple... (pick from the list) command and have them pick up the cars. The thing is you need a bumper or buffer post at the end and signals facing back towards the yard throat or junction with the main. Putting signals facing the other way and the AI get confused and refuse to proceed.

I too have fired all my AI drivers at some point or another. It feels good at the time, but the rehire process is awful especially when the problem is due to dumb programming and not AI being as dumb as they are.

John

 

[JohnnyC1]

The only problem I have with AI is sometimes they take the loooooooooooooooong route to do simple a task, you have to keep and eye on them. I have gotten better performance from AI's when placing trackmarks after signals and after facing point turnouts and not placing invisible signals directly on splines at turnout junctions.

John

 

[stouthm]

Thanks everyone for replying. I just spent an hour changing switches, signals, tracks and anything else that I thought might be effecting the loco but still no luck. I forgot to mention that this is a double track mainline with an industry before this switch entering onto the same track and I'm having no problems with it. Tried placing a loco on the main line before the (bad?) switch and tried driving to a industry down the line and the loco wants to reverse in order to get over to the other mainline track. I'm thinking it's the switch but I'm lost as to how to fix it.

 

[oknotsen]

Are you using all single track splines or are you using double track splines?

The double track splines give problems with AI in some situations.

 

[stouthm]

Single track splines.

 

[mtldrm38]

Well maybe a long shot but you did try using other locos to see if maybe the engine config on that unit is out of whack in AI?

 

[stouthm]

I appreciate everyone's input so far. I already tried different locos, didn't make a difference. What I did try was I deleted the switch before the (bad?) switch, see post #9, so that there would only be one switch onto the main line. Didn't make a difference. Any and all locos refuse to go past that switch using the AI. Driving manually is no problem, everything is connected with no bad track connections. Again, thanks for trying.

 

[JohnnyC1]

There is a problem when placing switchers at a junction if you place 2 on top of another, the second lever will become invisible in surveyor & driver. Try relaying all of the track and junctions.

John

 

[JCitron]

This to me still sounds like a signaling issue. I've had similar issues before and by removing or replacing signals I was able to get the AI to navigate properly through a yard area. Sometimes it's not prototypical, but then the AI aren't typical drivers, and we need to accommodate their idiosyncrasies to get things to do what we want them to do.

Could you post a screenshot for us to peek at?

John

 

[stouthm]

John, I agree about the signaling being the problem but I haven't figured it out yet. Hope these screenshots help.
http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i216/stouthm/stouthm_20140911_0003_zps20b9074c.jpg

http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i216/stouthm/stouthm_20140911_0002_zps8b205218.jpg

http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i216/stouthm/stouthm_20140911_0001_zps35b1d0dc.jpg

http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i216/stouthm/stouthm_20140911_0000_zpsf0cbcaf7.jpg

#1screen - switch up the line from (bad) switch
#2screen - approaching switch from previous switch
#3screen - approaching switch from different direction
#4screen - road xing to switch

 

[JohnnyC1]

These are the signals I use in your situation they are called "L5 Invisible signal." They are 5 of them that are used for different situations they are <kuid2:635427:24001:1> to <kuid2:635427:24005:1. They are named according to near usage. Place these on your spurs.

John

 

[stouthm]

It's getting late so I'll try these tomorrow. Thanks.

 

[Kennilworth]

Hi

Have you tried setting up the path with a Path Set rule (there's one built in to TS12) and then using the Autodrive command by brummfondel to get the loco to drive the path. This takes all decision making out of the AIs hands so it will do exactly what you have told it to do. If it still doesn't work, then you know that it is a trackwork or signalling issue.

Is this the only train using that section of track at about that time? I have had problems in the past with other trains grabbing and locking a junction while they are still miles away from it. It took me quite some time to diagnose that particular problem the first time it happened.

Regards

Brian

 

[stouthm]

John - I want to make sure that we're comparing apples with apples here. The invisible Typical (01) is = to which Safetran Signal? The Diverging (02) = 02?. Please label all 5 of the invisible switches compared to Safetran Signals so I don't get really messed up. Thanks.

Brian - I will look into this if John's suggestion doesn't work. I really think it's a signaling problem.