Uncontrolled speed

[fran1]

Try this. In surveyor place a loco+some stock. Use quick drive and manually drive the consist along the line end to end without the loop. Then reverse using the loop. Somewhere your going to derail or find you have no switch and the problem is solved. Use another loco to the one in your first post.
A thought. At the end of your track do you have a signal or buffers/track ends, if not AI will not want to go past the last signal they see.

 

[ffccnn]

Try this. In surveyor place a loco+some stock. Use quick drive and manually drive the consist along the line end to end without the loop. Then reverse using the loop. Somewhere your going to derail or find you have no switch and the problem is solved. Use another loco to the one in your first post.
A thought. At the end of your track do you have a signal or buffers/track ends, if not AI will not want to go past the last signal they see.

Hi Fran1. I have already tested the continuity of the track and all switches are ok. Any loco I send it will reach the target and return back to where it started. The problem is that the loco speed goes up and down as you blink your eyes, the speed average is 35 mph under a posted limit of 65 mph. Eventually, at that speed, the loco will reach the destination. Looking at that behavior would drive you crazy. I wish you could see it by yourself.

 

[fran1]

Hmmm. Your track starts at A going to B. Remove a piece track where there are switches and remove the points. Leaving you with plain line A-B, put a few more signals down in each direction. See what happens. Does this erratic speed thing happen in both directions? Are the locos built in with 2009?

 

[Twodorgs]

Hi ffccnn,

The AI drivers obey built in rules, however they are VERY literal and never bend or adjust the rules for unusual conditions.

As some one has already mentioned the end of a track needs a buffer stop or end of track marker. To the AI this is a permanent red signal, which tells the AI driver to use half the posted speed. If the line you are making dosn't use signals in the real world do a search for 'invisible signal'. These are invisible to the user in Driver but will keep the AI drivers happy. Also putting a signal or invisible signal every couple of boards on a long section of track will help because the AI only 'looks' ahead so far and if it sees no signals treats the track as not signaled and drives slowly.

Often a signal or points constantly changing is a sign that two or more AI drivers are fighting for control of that junction. Go to 'Free roam mode', click on each AI loco and select 'Stop train'. You should then be able to alter the points. Then you need to alter the layout or shedule so the AI drivers don't meet at that spot.
There are rules on the Download Station that can help with this sort of thing but are a bit complicated to use.

If you really want the AI drivers to cause you to start pulling your hair out in frustration put a simple loop on the end of your branch.
No matter how many signals you use the AI driver will stop on the loop and refuse to go forward.
If you mouse over the signal/points it will tell you the next block is occupied ( it means it is reserved for another train and the AI will not release it until the other train has entered another 'block'.)
The only problem is in this case it is the AI's own train that is holding the block as 'occupied'!
The cure is to put a set of points in the loop, ( maybe for a short siding ) so the AI sees the loop as two train control 'blocks'.
This happens in TRS 2004, they have made some changes to the AI in TS 2009 so it may be different behavour in TS 2009?

Hope this helps,
Lindsay