Stumped: Loco refuses to enter onto main line

[JohnnyC1]

Here are some screen shots, the arrows of the signals point in the direction of train travel:

The L5 type signals can not be compared to the Safetran Signal. Each L5 signal is named for the function not light position.

Converging would be an 06
Permissive would be an 05

John

 

[JCitron]

Which I will add... I found that the AI refuses to pass a Converging Type 06 if it is facing a yard throat, however, they work fine for passing sidings (loops).

I ran into this recently on my own route. I had AI drivers stopping instead of entering into the yard. By removing, what seemed to be the logical choice of a type 06 signal, they passed happily along.

John

 

[JohnnyC1]

Which I will add... I found that the AI refuses to pass a Converging Type 06 if it is facing a yard throat, however, they work fine for passing sidings (loops).

I ran into this recently on my own route. I had AI drivers stopping instead of entering into the yard. By removing, what seemed to be the logical choice of a type 06 signal, they passed happily along.

John

There has to be signal that is not blocked by any cars beyond the junction. You can check this out while still in surveyor by placing a engine in front of the signal and see what the signal is indicating. Add invisible signals until you get a clear indication, the L5 signals are perfect for this.

John

 

[stouthm]

Wow, it wasn't the signals. I had them correct. What's been happening is that when I selected drive to or any other command the loco will reverse rather than go the correct way. Just for the heck of it, while the loco was going in the wrong direction, I selected change direction and it went through all the switches and everything worked the way it was suppose to. Now, why is the loco choosing to go in reverse instead of forward? Before I start changing track directions and messing with MIN do you guys have any suggestions as to why the loco chooses to go in reverse rather than straight ahead? Thanks for hanging in here with me. It's appreciated.

 

[mtldrm38]

Do those signal types work as directionals also? If so it would seem as they approach each other wouldn't they confuse the AI to conflict ?

 

[JohnnyC1]

Do those signal types work as directionals also? If so it would seem as they approach each other wouldn't they confuse the AI to conflict ?

No to your question, place them as you would a regular signal. Place them after a trackmark.

John

 

[Enzo1]

Wow, it wasn't the signals. I had them correct. What's been happening is that when I selected drive to or any other command the loco will reverse rather than go the correct way. Just for the heck of it, while the loco was going in the wrong direction, I selected change direction and it went through all the switches and everything worked the way it was suppose to. Now, why is the loco choosing to go in reverse instead of forward? Before I start changing track directions and messing with MIN do you guys have any suggestions as to why the loco chooses to go in reverse rather than straight ahead? Thanks for hanging in here with me. It's appreciated.

Are you running the locomotives long-hood forwards? Trainz AI is really dumb when running that style, so it is best to run that way by hand. If you're running long hood forward, you'll notice in surveyor that green and red arrows appear over the train, well, when in the consist tab, select the consist library (The second button next to the single train car like button) and switch the heading so the green arrow points in the direction of the long hood forward running. Should work!

 

[JCitron]

There has to be signal that is not blocked by any cars beyond the junction. You can check this out while still in surveyor by placing a engine in front of the signal and see what the signal is indicating. Add invisible signals until you get a clear indication, the L5 signals are perfect for this.

John

In most cases, this is true. I never bother with invisible signals and maybe this is why things work for me as it does. I signal things pretty simply, as I found the simpler things are the better they are with AI drivers.

A Type 06, with it's back to some stub sidings doesn't work. An 06, setup the same with, with 2 type 04s facing back at the type 06 turns this into a passing loop instead which works.

I always check my signals and junctions by placing and dragging a train. This not only checks the validity of the junctions, but also helps the hunt down of a moved switch lever or broken track somewhere. I learned that many, many years ago.

John

 

[stouthm]

Chris - I do not run my locos long-hood forward. That is what has me perplexed. Why does the AI want to reverse in order to get to the next destination? As I stated in an earlier post once the loco starts in reverse I select change direction and it proceeds correctly. Looking at my third screenshot you'll see that I have a #06 RD signal on the mainline going to the industry and 2 #04's, one entering the mainline from the industry and one on the mainline for the opposite direction. This is weird.

 

[stouthm]

Problem Solved!!! I'm so glad that you guys aren't sitting next to me so that you could pound on me. Farther along the mainline, through a tunnel and across a bridge there was a Track Mark Direction on the same line I was trying to enter. Deleted that and everything is running smoothly again. Well, I learned something and I hope others did also. Thanks again to everyone who hung in there with me. Happy Trainzing.

 

[mtldrm38]

awesome I kindda sensed something was telling the AI to go the other way......... glad you found the problem...............

 

[davidbird]

Good to know you've found the problem!

I've found that using a Track Direction Marker is a bad idea. Unlike a red signal, a loco will not just pull up to it, it'll just stop as soon as it sees it - which could be miles ahead. To stop a train entering a track it should not, I have now gone on to using invisible, fixed red signals. I was (UK practice) using a (modified, to be visible-in-surveyor-only) version of Bloodnok's Sig 3A with a No-Entry target. Now I've found the Invisible Fixed Red signal by Nexusdj. https://www.auran.com/TRS2004/DLS_viewasset.php?AssetID=343849.

Could you use this instead?

 

[stouthm]

Davidbird - thanks for the link, I'll give it a test.

 

[JCitron]

That was kind of snotty. At least the message box could have said something like train unable to plot route, or direction marker facing the wrong way, with the latter message being more appropriate I think.

David, that signal sounds helpful. I may check that out myself.