I'll start this here. This is everything I've learned about signals in Trainz and how they correlate to prototypical signalling, at least in the US (speed-signalling). This may apply to other regions, however places like the UK/Europe I believe mostly used route-signalling, which is completely different. For the most part, I'll try not to get into the actual NORAC (or GCOR/CROR) rules for signals, other than to explain specific things you'll see with the Trainz signals. There are many sites online already that do this, and can be found by using Google.
Information is liable to move around as I go, and I'm going to put a few placeholder posts in after this first one, but feel free to ask questions after that!
We'll start with screenshots of the different types (04, 05, etc) and their general uses. Initially I'll focus on general uses of Searchlight and Vader styles (the "typical" signals seen nowadays). I'll get into other signals such as PRR or B&O signals later.
These screenshots were taken in TANE using the JointedRail signals, I'll go into setting them up, as well as similar signals by rrsignal, which seem to be the two most common scripted signals, using TS12 screenshots soon. I'm not endorsing any specific creator's signals, these are just what I happened to pull up first, and these follow the number scheme that was in question recently.
SIGNAL TYPES AVAILABLE IN TRAINZ USING THE NUMBER SYSTEM
The general types are listed, with the specific signal shown from the DLS in italics.
Type 01 or 08, 3 head w/o nameplate - Searchlight Signal 08 Interlocking - Used for diverging tracks where a more complicated setup may exist, such as multiple possibilities for routes, or more specifically where a route within the interlocking requires a slow speed route to be indicated. This is an Absolute signal, meaning that under no circumstances can a train pass this at all red. In the older 01 series, the bottom head was never properly implemented by Auran/N3V, so will always display red. In newer scripted signals these are usually correctly programmed to indicate slow routes, if you setup that route in the properties window.
Type 02/L02 or 06 Diverge, 2 head w/o nameplate - Searchlight Signal 06-RD - Used for diverging tracks, to the right. Use L02 or LD for left diverges, however in use these can be interchanged by setting the proper junction directions in the properties window. Also used for converging lines where there is a speed reduction over the switch (ignore the one on the right in the picture). This is an Absolute signal, meaning that under no circumstances can a train pass this at all red. The 06-RD and 06-LD from JR are basically scripted replacements for the older 02 and L02 series, but they do the same things (except that the 02 series could only control one junction and got funky if there were multiple junctions on the divergent side - see http://trains.0catch.com/Tut4-IntroToSignaling.htm specifically the last section "Signaling with diverging routes") The 06's allow you a more prototypical way to control multiple junctions with one signal, as opposed to putting one at each junction as had to be done with the 02.
Type 03 or 06 Approach or Distant (sometimes 06 is omitted), two head with nameplate - Searchlight Signal Approach/Distant - Used in advance of an absolute signal in automatic or block signaled territory, this gives indication to the engineer of what to prepare for at the next signal. Under most rules the engineer must begin braking, if the signal indicates, as soon as he has passed the signal. The presence of a nameplate indicates this is a permissive signal, meaning even at all red, he may proceed by it at no faster than 15mph (varies by railroad), able to stop in half the distance he can see. I'll get into why this is later. Again, the older 03 series is unscripted in most cases, however at the same time there usually isn't a lot of scripting involved with the 06/Approaches either. In this image you can see the absolute signal that this signal is the "approach" to in the distance, at the next junction. An "offset" signal, where the top and bottom heads are not in a vertical line, is also used to help indicate a permissive distant signal. Examples of this will be shown in future posts.
Type 04, single head w/o nameplate - Searchlight Signal 04 - Used as a signal on straight thru lines, where no divergence is possible and no speed restriction is necessary over the switch. As you may be able to figure out by now, since there is no nameplate, this signal is an absolute. No passing at red. Period. Because of the lack of route options with this type, even using newer styles these are typically not heavily scripted, so even JR's signals remain type 04. I goofed on the left and right routes, these should be 02/06 signals.
Type 05, single head with nameplate - Searchlight Signal 05 - Automatic block signal, used in long stretches essentially for train spacing purposes, to keep trains from running into the backs of each other (also, if used right, to prevent cornfield meets). Again, the nameplate indicates this is permissive, meaning the engineer can pass it at red, again prepared to stop in half the distance of his sight. I'll explain this half-distance thing now -- "Why not just as far as he can see?" Well, take the cornfield meet example I mentioned - if two trains are heading for each other and aren't prepared to stop in HALF the distance they can see, there's no chance they'll both stop in time to not hit each other. By saying "half the distance" both engineers should presumably see each other at roughly the same time and in theory should stop just before their front couplers meet... In theory... This doesn't totally apply in trainz, as I've yet to see an AI train pass a permissive signal at danger, and I've certainly never had to rely on my sight distance in Trainz when I can easily check the map to see if my route is clear or not. But the rule is there and now you know why.
I used searchlight signals here, but these rules generally also apply to the Safetran C-Light "Vader" and tri-light styles, basically anything that is considered a "color light signal", where multiple heads are used to display one color each in an aspect. Dwarf signals in the "color light" style are similar in that they display a series of colors from top to bottom. In Trainz they generally follow the same "types" as their larger counterparts, where available.
As I said, I'll also get into PRR (Position Lights) & B&O (Color Position Lights) in the future. Amtrak NEC signals are essentially colored versions of the PRR Position Lights, so those will be covered then as well.
Information is liable to move around as I go, and I'm going to put a few placeholder posts in after this first one, but feel free to ask questions after that!
We'll start with screenshots of the different types (04, 05, etc) and their general uses. Initially I'll focus on general uses of Searchlight and Vader styles (the "typical" signals seen nowadays). I'll get into other signals such as PRR or B&O signals later.
These screenshots were taken in TANE using the JointedRail signals, I'll go into setting them up, as well as similar signals by rrsignal, which seem to be the two most common scripted signals, using TS12 screenshots soon. I'm not endorsing any specific creator's signals, these are just what I happened to pull up first, and these follow the number scheme that was in question recently.
SIGNAL TYPES AVAILABLE IN TRAINZ USING THE NUMBER SYSTEM
The general types are listed, with the specific signal shown from the DLS in italics.
Type 01 or 08, 3 head w/o nameplate - Searchlight Signal 08 Interlocking - Used for diverging tracks where a more complicated setup may exist, such as multiple possibilities for routes, or more specifically where a route within the interlocking requires a slow speed route to be indicated. This is an Absolute signal, meaning that under no circumstances can a train pass this at all red. In the older 01 series, the bottom head was never properly implemented by Auran/N3V, so will always display red. In newer scripted signals these are usually correctly programmed to indicate slow routes, if you setup that route in the properties window.
Type 02/L02 or 06 Diverge, 2 head w/o nameplate - Searchlight Signal 06-RD - Used for diverging tracks, to the right. Use L02 or LD for left diverges, however in use these can be interchanged by setting the proper junction directions in the properties window. Also used for converging lines where there is a speed reduction over the switch (ignore the one on the right in the picture). This is an Absolute signal, meaning that under no circumstances can a train pass this at all red. The 06-RD and 06-LD from JR are basically scripted replacements for the older 02 and L02 series, but they do the same things (except that the 02 series could only control one junction and got funky if there were multiple junctions on the divergent side - see http://trains.0catch.com/Tut4-IntroToSignaling.htm specifically the last section "Signaling with diverging routes") The 06's allow you a more prototypical way to control multiple junctions with one signal, as opposed to putting one at each junction as had to be done with the 02.
Type 03 or 06 Approach or Distant (sometimes 06 is omitted), two head with nameplate - Searchlight Signal Approach/Distant - Used in advance of an absolute signal in automatic or block signaled territory, this gives indication to the engineer of what to prepare for at the next signal. Under most rules the engineer must begin braking, if the signal indicates, as soon as he has passed the signal. The presence of a nameplate indicates this is a permissive signal, meaning even at all red, he may proceed by it at no faster than 15mph (varies by railroad), able to stop in half the distance he can see. I'll get into why this is later. Again, the older 03 series is unscripted in most cases, however at the same time there usually isn't a lot of scripting involved with the 06/Approaches either. In this image you can see the absolute signal that this signal is the "approach" to in the distance, at the next junction. An "offset" signal, where the top and bottom heads are not in a vertical line, is also used to help indicate a permissive distant signal. Examples of this will be shown in future posts.
Type 04, single head w/o nameplate - Searchlight Signal 04 - Used as a signal on straight thru lines, where no divergence is possible and no speed restriction is necessary over the switch. As you may be able to figure out by now, since there is no nameplate, this signal is an absolute. No passing at red. Period. Because of the lack of route options with this type, even using newer styles these are typically not heavily scripted, so even JR's signals remain type 04. I goofed on the left and right routes, these should be 02/06 signals.
Type 05, single head with nameplate - Searchlight Signal 05 - Automatic block signal, used in long stretches essentially for train spacing purposes, to keep trains from running into the backs of each other (also, if used right, to prevent cornfield meets). Again, the nameplate indicates this is permissive, meaning the engineer can pass it at red, again prepared to stop in half the distance of his sight. I'll explain this half-distance thing now -- "Why not just as far as he can see?" Well, take the cornfield meet example I mentioned - if two trains are heading for each other and aren't prepared to stop in HALF the distance they can see, there's no chance they'll both stop in time to not hit each other. By saying "half the distance" both engineers should presumably see each other at roughly the same time and in theory should stop just before their front couplers meet... In theory... This doesn't totally apply in trainz, as I've yet to see an AI train pass a permissive signal at danger, and I've certainly never had to rely on my sight distance in Trainz when I can easily check the map to see if my route is clear or not. But the rule is there and now you know why.
I used searchlight signals here, but these rules generally also apply to the Safetran C-Light "Vader" and tri-light styles, basically anything that is considered a "color light signal", where multiple heads are used to display one color each in an aspect. Dwarf signals in the "color light" style are similar in that they display a series of colors from top to bottom. In Trainz they generally follow the same "types" as their larger counterparts, where available.
As I said, I'll also get into PRR (Position Lights) & B&O (Color Position Lights) in the future. Amtrak NEC signals are essentially colored versions of the PRR Position Lights, so those will be covered then as well.
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