Turntable operation for canal lock or drydock gates

L

lodger

New member
I can operate rail turntables with any number of track stubs.
I have the 'input table' rule OK and the 'move turntable' command OK. I want to open and close lock gates (otherwise described a 'turntables'). Does anyone know how many 'stops' to use? Previous and next, or 0 or 1 does not work!
Thanks
John
 
There should only be the two, top and bottom unless you have the double lock which I believe has three split into two sections. Check the spelling and the use of capitals incase they dont match what you named the lock.
 
Thanks Stagecoach - are you suggesting that the 'Input Table' rule, which does match the name of the single lock precisely, shows the number '2' after the final comma, indicating that there are two 'stubs' to the turntable, ie '0' and '1' please? The gates of the lock turn 45 degrees each, so I wondered if the number should be '4' and the turntable Command should say 'turn to stub 2', suggesting this 45 degree move?
John
 
Have just done a check with the small lock. Named it "Turntable". The input table reads "turntable,Turntable,2". Driver command move turntable shows move to 0 or move to 1 plus previous and next. Did a run and the gates opened and closed correctly, this is with 2010.
 
Hi Stagecoach - thanks, it now works.......for the benefit of others reading this thread, don't precisely follow the posted tutorial on turntable operation which advises that the Input Table instruction should read 'turntable, Turntable_(turntable name), (no of stubs)'.
Thanks for your help and hope you had a happy Christmas!
John
 
Hi again - if you can bear it! So, I can get an AI narrowboat to drive to a trackmark in the small lock when it is empty, use the turntable command to go to 'stub 1', the water level rises, and the boat continues out of the lock to the next trackmark via the AI driver commands --all great stuff and works well. However, when I want to go into a 'full' lock via the AI driver commands, it is not possible to place a trackmark in Surveyor at the 'high water' level within the lock - the only option is to place it at the 'low level' (the same as the drive in). AI will not recognize this trackmark - error message 'not able to plot route'. Not surprising as the trackmark is at low water!
The boat will only manually drive into the full lock, and then the resumed AI driver command empties the lock, and continues to the next trackmark as usual.
Any ideas about placing a trackmark at high level, or AI driving into a full lock please?
John
 
Hello:
don't want to butt in..
I just happen to come across some locks, small tourist docks and
a really nice excursion boat on a Swedish trainz site.
Thought you might be interested in

Svenska 3D-Tåg - Forum
kuid <kuid:67375:100502>
username "TORS Slussar"
author "LAn"
I DL them but now can't find the link.

Gerry
 
Last edited:
Hi Stagecoach, thanks. Yes, to get in 'upstream' at low water, the trackmark is at the end of the lock and at a 0.5 radius! My problem is putting one, at the lock end, at high water 'downstream' where there is no invisible rail in Surveyor, but a boat will manually drive in in Driver.......if it is placed on the 'low' rail, the top rail does not plot it!
(Thanks Trainz Veteran for the link)
John
 
You have to place it on the very edge of the lift section of the asset. It does work as ive done that with the one I have, it might be a little tricky to find the edge but move it slightly and you will get it.
 
Thanks Stagecoach. I have heard directly from Vulcan with a comprehensive set of instructions which mirrors your own advice. If and when I, too, am successful with this operation, I will post a final thread for other forum users for information.
Happy new year.
John
 
OK, played around with the trackmark at the edge with a 0.5 radius - the boat enters the highwater lock under AI under the 'drive to' command and stops nicely in the middle. However the 'Move Turntable' command does not kick in as the 'drive to' command does not disappear (as if the boat has not reached the trackmark fully). If I then remove the 'drive to' command, the 'move turntable' command kicks in and the lock empties correctly. I also played with a new lock kindly supplied by Vulcan, which has an invisible track at the exit (high level), so that AI can 'see' a trackmark just outside the lock at high level - this also allows the boat to enter the lock correctly, but unless the same trackmark 'drive to' command is removed, the 'move turntable' will not kick in. Vulcan says there has been some problems with Auran not entirely supporting the 'invisible tracks' lock he created originally, so thinks the operation to drive in and empty will not work.
Thanks Stagecoach, glad yours works, but I think I have come to the end of the line! And thanks Vulcan for your individual help.
John
 
If the TM wont delete its because the boat has not reached its radius. It stopped because it saw the end of the line, increase the TM radius slightly until it deletes when running.
 
Hooray - all works. I placed an invisible signal just before to the high water level exit trackmark and increased this TM's radius to 15 (imperial) to 'kid' the boat that the end of the line is not there! I've ascertained that invisible signals before the lock entrance, and at the exit on the 'downstream' route' (and 'upstream route') are essential for AI operation.
Thank you Stagecoach and Vulcan, for your patience, and I hope others reading this Thread find this exchange useful. Problem solved.....
Happy new year
John
 
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