Unruly AI

[madncan52]

Hi all. Here's my problem, I know someone can tell me an idea. I built a meat packing plant on the route I'm using right now. 3 tracks for the plant and a 5 track yard in front for reefers, stockcars and boxcars(feed/hay) and tankers for manure. The feed/manure track was an afterthought, and I connected it the No1 track in the yard instead of the yard ladder. There are trackmarks at the N & S end of each track. There is also at least a full locomotive length between the junctions on the ladders. Using CNR #4 switchstands and CNR sgl and dbl dwarf signals(they work flawlessly together everywhere else)
I start the session and give the switcher a couple at trackmark command to TM-feed/manure. Loco starts up and proceeds. Loco is parked on the track next to the boxcar/tanker track(feed/manure). Loco drives past every ladder track and drives all the way to the main before it stops and reverses. Never seen that before. There is an open section of 500-600 ft between last ladder junction and mainline junction. I know AI usually has to pass several junctions to function correctly, but this is ridiculous. That is problem 1. I even put an invisible junction just past the last ladder track in an attempt to fool AI, same deal.
Problem 2...As the loco backs up it throws the correct track switch and as it gets closer it throws the switch on track 1 to the right to proceed onto new track 1(feed/manure). It slows and stops as for any occupied track. Then it throws the junction to the left and proceeds at 5 mph(in coma mode) forever. Through signals, thrown junctions, etc. Have tried couple at trackmark, navigate to trackmark, drive to trackmark and couple to xxxx. Same result, same fail.
Help!

Mark

 

[boyerm25]

You know AI stands for Artificial Idiocy, right? That might be part of your problem.
But seriously though, just fill your tracks with trackmarks and tell it to navigate via every single one.

 

[Dermmy]

Post a screenshot. I'd bet lots it's either a signal issue or a lever/spline vertex positioning thing....

 

[madncan52]

Kept playing using the scientific method, one change at a time. Set up added(feed/manure track) so it is part of the ladder. Then started playing with signals. Changed CNR dbl's to Searchlight 5(permissive). That problem has been solved. However the loco keeps running all the way out to the main still. Will post screenie tomorrow. thanks for the help so far.

 

[mtldrm38]

double ended yards are a pain tm s work good and based on your setup., switch positions are important keeping a open yard track that they lead to for the run arounds etc...also avoid directional markers in yards also....
option 2 would be from the main using a approaching holding track then yard and a small lead feed track that ends leaving basically a one end yard....
the purpose of the holding track would be to switch the train out to and run around if intended for a opposite continous run along the main....

 

[madncan52]

The searchlight 5's fixed the problem. But I had discovered some time ago that the AI seems to prefer ladders with at least a loco length between switches. Otherwise they just see a line of signals and it kinda goes "DUH" and scratches its head. This yard really doesn't have any runarounds. I am using a switcher to move strings of cars that have been dropped off to the various industry tracks and back to the yard area for later pickup. Added a number of TM's and that helps the problem. A longer cut(10 reefers) still puts the cars on the main, but at that length it is unavoidable. I could extend the yard lead farther down the main, but I don't want to do all that work right now. So for now the situation is satisfactory. Not elegant but functional. This session is turning into a tactical beast, but at least the packing plant operation is settled. Thanks everyone for your help. BTW this is MSGSappers Watseka & Kankakee. It is an excellent route for sessions.

 

[JCitron]

I've noticed that if I stop the AI before he has a chance to continue off into never-land and then issue a continue schedule, he'll resume his schedule and continue correctly. This is as though he remembered what he has to do and he's just said never mind, I forgot to keep an eye on things because I was day dreaming.

John