Waiting For Track Clearance Issue

[NJCurmudgeon]

I've run into this problem a couple times now and have never really found a resolution...but first I have to explain what I have set up.

The overall track layout is like a Y. The bottom leg is a single track at the end of which sits a switcher. Off the left arm, it links to a quad track that goes back down to a single. Off the right arm is the coal mine industry, so it splits into four tracks. I put a string of empty coal cars on the left quad track. The switcher is commanded to go up and couple to it. It couples to the front of the engine. The next command brings it back to a track mark at the bottom of the Y where the switcher started from. I want it to push the cars through the mine and load the coal, then navigate to a track mark on the other side of the mine, where it will decouple and return to the bottom of the Y. In theory, a loco drops off the empties, the switcher pulls and pushes them through loading and leaves them to get picked up by another loco. The commands are to navigate to the mine, load and then navigate to the track mark where it will uncouple.

The switcher pushes the cars up to the loading point on the mine but stops, warning that it's waiting for track clearance. There are no other cars anywhere (yet, this is a test of the layout) and what few switches are on the other side are set in its favor. It does not push the cars any further nor load them. I can't figure what kind of clearance it could be waiting for!

I was wondering if it was because I have the switcher pushing instead of pulling? Does it want to somehow navigate around the mine so it can pull the cars instead of push?

I hope I've described it clearly. If more details are needed, let me know. Thanks in advance for any answers!

 

[maruffijd]

I have read signal set ups can be a problem. Does the switcher see a green or yellow light in the intended direction?

 

[NJCurmudgeon]

I haven't gotten around to putting signals in. But there is nothing I can tell that would prevent it from moving - no other trains, no switches set against it, missing rails, etc. That's why I was wondering if it was some kind of preference for entering the mine engine-first? I don't believe there is a preferred direction to enter the mine asset, is there?

 

[shaneturner12]

It's worth checking if you have any junctions/turnouts between the start and finish points of your navigate commands, as sometimes (esp. if it is a loop) it cannot continue if there is no junctions between.

Shane

 

[JohnnyC1]

Install invisible signals on each leg of your turnouts/junctions facing in the locomotives direction.

John

 

[colourlight]

1st Is there a yellow directional marker between the switcher and the track marker facing the wrong way? Pointed end should be facing switcher. 2nd Check point switches. They must all have red and green arrows indicating they have motors or levers to operate them. 3rd Are there point switches between the switcher and the track marker? If so set them for the switcher. If signal still does not clear (yellow or green) Take over the controls drive just past the signal and change to AI control. If train proceeds it is a signal fault. If train stays put it is likely to be a track fault. Examine track for a fault. 2 ways to find fault. drive train manually and see if it derails. Another method is to place several red track markers and call them "Test 1" "Test 2" etc. Then instuct AI driver to go to them, one at a time starting with the nearest.If it is the signal, replace it with either the same type or something else.

 

[tomurban]

Install invisible signals on each leg of your turnouts/junctions facing in the locomotives direction.

John

They don't have to be invisible. In situations like this I like to use dwarf signals.

tomurban

 

[JCitron]

I haven't gotten around to putting signals in. But there is nothing I can tell that would prevent it from moving - no other trains, no switches set against it, missing rails, etc.

There is your problem. You need to put in signals. Small dwarf type 04's will work at the entrance to each siding, facing towards the main.

John

 

[NJCurmudgeon]

I'm going to see if adding the signals helps when I get some time back on Trainz. But, in the meantime, let me ask this - why wouldn't the lack of signals on the left leg of the Y prevent the switcher from going over, coupling with the empties, drawing them back to the start point, and then pushing them up to the mine?

Also, is there a preferred way of approaching the mine? As I have it set up now, the switcher is working on the side where the buildings are to the right from it's perspective. The numbers on the loader go 4, 3, 2, 1, so I could be said to be at the back side. Could this problem be because it wants to go around the other side but there is no path?

 

[JCitron]

I'm going to see if adding the signals helps when I get some time back on Trainz. But, in the meantime, let me ask this - why wouldn't the lack of signals on the left leg of the Y prevent the switcher from going over, coupling with the empties, drawing them back to the start point, and then pushing them up to the mine?

Also, is there a preferred way of approaching the mine? As I have it set up now, the switcher is working on the side where the buildings are to the right from it's perspective. The numbers on the loader go 4, 3, 2, 1, so I could be said to be at the back side. Could this problem be because it wants to go around the other side but there is no path?

The lack of signals can definitely cause this kind of action with the AI. They see the line as blocked because they look to the very end of the track and line has freight cars in it. Regular type 04 dwarfs may not work for what you're doing either. Sniper made some special dwarf signals that will allow the driver to pass them and pick-up cars that are on the other side.

The direction of your coal mine shouldn't make a difference. If the path was blocked, the AI would put up a "Cannot plot route", or "No path to destination".

John

 

[JohnnyC1]

This is what I do; I place dwarfs facing the points then I place an invisible signal on the track facing in the same direction as the dwarf but after the dwarf. The invisible signal will change the dwarf to caution allowing your locomotive to advance to the invisible signal, at this point the locomotive should slow or even stop, however it will couple to the cars on the that track as long as you have the invisible signal placed before the consist. This has not failed me yet.

John

 

[NJCurmudgeon]

Well, as it turned out, I discovered the fault was with where the track was connected with the track in the mine asset, not with the signals. I replaced the mine, relinked the tracks and it worked. However, I am having a difficulty later in the scenario trying to get the coal train to couple with a log wagon consist. But since this is a different issue from this one, I will post it shortly as a new thread.

Nevertheless, since I'm still learning about signals, some of the ideas in reply will be instructive and I thank everyone for chiming in!