Note that the west and south signals are chain signals, which serve the same block defining function as regular signals, but behave differently with respect to how trains reserve the block for which that given chain signal allows entry.Ĭhain signals work exactly like regular signals in that they perform the identical block defining functions, however where they differ is in what must be true for a train to succeed in reserving the block that they precede. the four signals define a single block, not two blocks, which I have enclosed with a red square. As a result, in this crossing.Ĭrossing block.jpg (575.82 KiB) Viewed 11613 times Note that in my description of what a block was, I said that a block could contain overlapping rail segments. Before discussing chain signals however, there is one last detail about blocks that is important enough to show in a picture. The solution to this predicament is to use chain signals. The two trains will end up both stopping face-to-face, unable to get past each other. Meanwhile the other train can't reserve the red block and hence will slow to a stop at the entrance signal. With a little thought, one may be able to recognize a potential problem with the above situation: what happens if there is a train in the block north of the red block, heading south and another train in the block south of the red block, heading north? At some point, one of those trains will be the first to attempt to reserve the red block, and will eventually get to enter it, however the 2nd train is still occupying the next block, so that train can go no further until that changes. In a 2-way block, a train needs to be able to enter and exit from the block at either end, hence there needs to be a signal on both sides, as pictured below.Ģ-way block.jpg (575.43 KiB) Viewed 11613 times In order to allow a train to enter a block at a given signal location, there must be a signal on that train's right at that location, conversely, in order for a train to be able to exit. Rail signaled in that way is called 2-way rail, whereas rail signaled as above is 1-way rail. The preceding has hinted that it is possible to signal rail so that trains may travel in both directions. The bottom signal in the picture will indicate the status of the block marked in red, whereas the top signal will indicate the status of the next block in the train's direction of travel. In general, if you want a train to be able to head in a particular direction through a desired block, than you need to make sure that there are signals on the right at both ends of that block relative to the desired direction of travel (in short: always signal to the right of the train this is the same as train station placement). Note that it is a 1-way block, trains can only enter it from the south and exit from the north. The purple arrow indicates in what direction trains may move through this block. The red line denote the boundaries of the block pictured, as defined by the signals. So what does this actually look like in game?ġ-way block.jpg (564.32 KiB) Viewed 11613 times Once a train enters the block, the signal(s) preceding it will turn red indicating that the block is occupied and cannot be reserved by another train. If it fails to reserve that block (usually because it is either already occupied by another train or already reserved by another train), then the train will begin slowing to a stop until it either succeeds at reserving that block, eventually stopping at the signal that precedes the given block if it hasn't yet succeeded in reserving that block. If it succeeds in doing so, the signal will become yellow indicating that the block that it precedes is now reserved and cannot be reserved by another train (and hence that other train cannot enter that block). A train moving along a rail line will attempt to reserve the next block in its intended path the moment the signal preceding that block is exactly as far away as the trains current stopping distance. Hence the rail signals actually define the boundaries of blocks. Specifically, a block is actually the collection of connected and/or overlapping rail segments which are cordoned off by a group of rail signals. This guide will explain how rail signals work, and how to use that knowledge to get your trains to be able to do what you want and as efficiently as possible.
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