Trackmarks are a totally brilliant feature; you can place them here there and everywhere and use Drive to trackmark> or Drive via trackmark> and your AI drivers scuttle about all over your layout following orders (more or less).
I have noticed, however, that when I use a Drive via trackmark> command the driver always slows down when approaching these trackmarks.
I have a station at the foot of a fairly substantial grade with a 40 mph speed limit through the station. There are trackmarks on all tracks and sidings at each end of the station as well as an AJS invisible station on the main line.
If I give no specific instruction about this station, say Drive to> Next Station, then when the AI encounters this intermediate station it may travel via the main line, the loop, or even a siding; I guess it depends on how the AI is feeling at the time.
To get around this I give specific instructions to this station such as Drive via trackmark> main line south, Drive via trackmark> main line north, Drive to trackmark> Next Station.
This certainly cures the problem of taking the wrong line but now what happens is that the train slows down to about 8 mph over each of the 'via' trackmarks. Admittedly it doesn't actually stop but it does then face hauling a heavy coalie up a very steep grade. In real life we would always make sure that we had the maximum permitted speed on when facing a grade like this (sometimes even stealing a few mph over the limit).
When the main line also includes a passenger enabled station (an AJS invisible one in this case), the AI slows down to 8 mph at three places instead of just the two trackmarks and this just compounds the problem.
How do I get a through train to thunder through the station at maximum speed without diverting itself onto the loop or a siding or slowing down to wave at the trackmarks and passengers on the platform?
Cheers
Nix
I have noticed, however, that when I use a Drive via trackmark> command the driver always slows down when approaching these trackmarks.
I have a station at the foot of a fairly substantial grade with a 40 mph speed limit through the station. There are trackmarks on all tracks and sidings at each end of the station as well as an AJS invisible station on the main line.
If I give no specific instruction about this station, say Drive to> Next Station, then when the AI encounters this intermediate station it may travel via the main line, the loop, or even a siding; I guess it depends on how the AI is feeling at the time.
To get around this I give specific instructions to this station such as Drive via trackmark> main line south, Drive via trackmark> main line north, Drive to trackmark> Next Station.
This certainly cures the problem of taking the wrong line but now what happens is that the train slows down to about 8 mph over each of the 'via' trackmarks. Admittedly it doesn't actually stop but it does then face hauling a heavy coalie up a very steep grade. In real life we would always make sure that we had the maximum permitted speed on when facing a grade like this (sometimes even stealing a few mph over the limit).
When the main line also includes a passenger enabled station (an AJS invisible one in this case), the AI slows down to 8 mph at three places instead of just the two trackmarks and this just compounds the problem.
How do I get a through train to thunder through the station at maximum speed without diverting itself onto the loop or a siding or slowing down to wave at the trackmarks and passengers on the platform?
Cheers
Nix
