train goes into reverse problem

[AntonyVW]

This is driving me nuts and I cant see any reason behind it.
I have placed a train at a station in the direction I want it to go. It has a track direction marker right in front of the train pointing the same way. Its destination is on the same track further up the line. The signal gives the clear road and the train begins to move. Not forward but in reverse. I have replaced the engine in case it was a faulty loco. No difference. The only item that I can see that might cause a problem (though I have no idea as to why), is the invisible station I am using. It is one of the AJS invisible stations. Next to the white track lineup marker on it - there is a small grey marker with an arrow on it. This arrow is pointing in the opposite direction I want it to go in. Could this be the problem? If it is how can I change its direction? Ive tried deleting the invisible station and replacing it but no change. Is there something Im missing somewhere?
Just to give some details on the station. It is a 4 track station. lines 1 & 4 are through lines, 2 & 3 are bay platforms. Just before the problem express train leaves from platform 1, a local train leaves from platform 2. After leaving the station area it bares left and the line is cleared. The problem train is to take the main line but just goes into reverse.

 

[shaneturner12]

It's worth checking two things:

1.The heading on the train (this is the red/green arrows at either end of the train)
2.That grey marker - try rotating it.

Shane

 

[AntonyVW]

Red/Green heading on train is correct. It actually changes when it goes into reverse to face the opposite direction. Cant rotate the grey marker without rotating the whole station as far as I can tell.

 

[AntonyVW]

Ive even stopped the local train leaving to let the express go first but same result.

 

[fran1]

Put the direction mark behind the train.

 

[AntonyVW]

Ok will try that. But just for some additional info. Up till now I have stopped the train as soon as it starts to reverse. I decided to see what happens if I leav it alone. It reverses to the end of the platform where it mets a signa which is set against it. It pauses and then heads off in the correct direction. I cannot see why that would happen but I will now move the track direction marker.

 

[fran1]

Probably because it see's a shorter route (in it's mind), but because of the red signal goes your way.

 

[AntonyVW]

Tried moving the track direction marker - no change.

 

[Deano5]

Also plonk a track mark further down the line and add "Navigate Via Track mark" to the front of the command list.:wave:

 

[AntonyVW]

Ok I plonked down 2 track markers. The first one just short of the signal. That did no good. The train pulled forward to the marker then reversed. The second one was about the length of the train in front of the signal. No joy there either. The train advanced to it and then reversed into a siding. I then checked the track from the station for the next block - just outside the next station. There was a loco in that block but moving it had no effect either. So Im stumped. Short of relaying all the track in that part of the station and replacing the loco and its consist I have no idea where to go next.

 

[Andyz]

This behaviour appears to be caused by the "invisible station" and "drive via trackmark" combination.
Invisible stations are a "kind buildable" object, and the drive via trackmark command appears to have a problem searching the track beyond these objects. This makes the train search randomly for its destination.


To test this theory, try using the "drive to trackmark" command instead. This command does not appear to be affected by this problem.


Some clever programmer might like to compare the code for these two commands, because they appear to behave different when used with a buildable object between it and the train.


andyz

Edit: for "drive" read also "navigate"

 

[AntonyVW]

Thanks Andyz. Since my last entry for this problem I have added a third "drive via trackmark". Initially it only went as far the second one then reversed again. So I deleted the first one (just before the signal) and tried again. This time it succeeded in going the correct way. If you are right in the cause of the problem it would be nice to see if it can be fixed. Im no programmer so i hope someone who is sees this and can take a peek at it. Thanks again everyone for the help.