I've just spent 4 hours trying to write the next Schedule (Schedule 9).  It runs from Block 2 through to Block 11.  I've fixed many, many problems as I went along, but I'm finally back to the original problem I faced in Schedule 2 - stopping the loco while there is a train in the End Block.

I've gone back and forth from Schedule 2 to Schedule 9 and from Block 2 to Block 11; trying to replicate all of the Markers from the left side to the new right side ends.  Replicating the Start Lists and the End Lists.  Checking all of the Rules.  They all look correct.

Doctor Railroad has the usual jumble of stuff, but nothing that I can identify as being helpful.

Traffic Control shows a red triangle, but although the loco is in Block 11 spinning its wheels, it doesn't show up in that Block on the Track Plan.

I have about 200 pages of posts printed off, but re-reading them for the 50th time isn't helping, either.

The worrying thing is that I'm still only about 10% of the way through writing the programme.  I didn't really understand what I was doing last time I tried it, but I got it to work.  I foolishly thought that if I copied what I had done, I would be able to go on.  Not so.

Could someone please have a look and see if they can put their finger on the problem?

 

I'm so frustrated, I think I attached the wrong file.

Try this one.

Hi Max

The  Stop/Brake marker is linked to the contact indicator in block 11 and not the virtual contact

Delete the stop and brake marker

Click on the section of the block containing the VC and insert it there

When you test it keep an eye on the colour of the VC……. if it isnt red when the loco enters block 11 you are in trouble……I would extend the memory to be on the safe side………

That should work…….I have been doing the same thing all day

 

If it were me I would have the join separate commands as a start operation in the next schedule……the coupler commands and associated physical uncoupling are fine…….but it is better (believe me) to Join and Separate in the next schedule

But for now lets focus on the block recognising the train and stopping it

Let me know how you get on

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks, John.  I've tried many, many combinations.  I'll look at what you're saying and see if I can understand it.

I take your point about the join/separate.  I haven't done the next Schedule yet and it was a desperate attempt to locate the cause of the over running.

Cheers

There you go

[1] I reversed the two indicators so that the VC section is nearest to the entry to the block

[2] I allocated  your 2" markers to the VC part of the block and I specified they only applied to schedule 9

[3] I put an end of block marker in the section controlled by the CI. It is debatable if I needed to because no other schedules use block 11 right now……but its good practice to always do this (I just guessed the block was 12" long)

Try this and make sure the VC stays red until the loco stops.


 

I spent a half an hour trying to reverse the two sections and gave up.  How did you do it?

I had to go out for a while, but I'll try to do it now.  I don't understand why the one in Block 2 works and this one doesn't.  :???:

Anyway, I'll try to make some sense of it.

I wasnt sure………never done it before. I just clicked on one and sort of slid it across……not sure how vital it is……it just made sense to me to have it in logical order

Block 2 doesnt have a VC………..I am guessing you mean Block 4………….and you have that set up exactly as I am suggesting

You can see the time here I will hang on for 10 minutes or so…..there is some great jazz on…..but then its bed time

Good Luck

 

 

 

Thanks, John.  It will probably take me more that 10 mintes.  It took me half an hour NOT to do it last time. 

I think I should have higlighted the half of the Block with the VC in it when I made the Brake and Stop Markers.  .

There's a lot of minutae that dummies like me miss in the explanations.  I'm thinking of doing a "blow by blow" when/if I ever understand it.

Talk to you tomorrow.

Thanks again.

Here's a "How to" for reversing cells in Block diagrams, John.  DON'T make them the same size.    Make one larger than the other and you will be able to see the end of it once you drag the little one over the big one.  Then you can drag the bottom one out and then move the partition back into the middle.

:shock:  :oops:

[user=269]MaxSouthOz[/user] wrote:

I think I should have higlighted the half of the Block with the VC in it when I made the Brake and Stop Markers.  .

Yup…….thats what you have to do.

I am only getting my head around this concept of sections within blocks and markers driven by specific indicators

I need to re write this section of the tutorial. ………..I was playing with flagmen this afternoon and you can create them within a block as well just like a VC………..there should be something useful there if I can ever work it out

Bon Soir

[user=434]John Dew[/user] wrote:

..I was playing with flagmen this afternoon and you can create them within a block as well just like a VC………..there should be something useful there if I can ever work it out

Bon Soir

Hi John,
I use flagmen to activate my signals ( about 40 +  of them) although I only have about 10 of them actually connected to physical signals at present.
I use them to control the signal so that it shows red unless certain conditions are met   - I have not tried to use them within a block so I'll be interested to see what you come up with.

Cheers

I'm going to stick with clockwork ………………..:shock::shock::shock::shock:

I'm sure this must make sense to you guys but it's totally baffling to most of us.  Well done you pioneers. :cheers:cheers

I hadnt realised you had learned the password to access this thread Peter……..only computor wonks are allowed  in

The software is totally amazing but the developer Herr Freiwald is somewhat parsimonious with his documentation. When everything works it is great but getting there can be a toil…….and you have just seen a bit of it!

It will be perfect for your tram layout believe me

 

[user=434]John Dew[/user] wrote:

……………………………………………………………………..

It will be perfect for your tram layout believe me

 

Ah !! Then maybe I should start again at the beginning and pay attention……………………….:roll::roll::roll:

It's not too long ago that I said I could never see myself using a computer to control trains but then at school, I also said I'd never need to speak French so learnt German ……………………:???::???:

OK  John.  I think we tackled this one before, but I can't remember what we did.

The loco is moving in Boxcars 13 from Block 11 into Block 12.  There is a boxcar in both 11 and 12, but they aren't part of a train.  The loco is just completing a run around E 59 (the blue one) and is now running up to it to couple up and push it into Block 1.

The problem is that the B & S Markers aren't activating as the loco doesn't enter the block during the schedule and so start off the timer.  The VC etc., look correct, but the loco never stops.

Can you remember what we did?

Hi Max

A VC can only be activated by a train passing through the reference block.

If the reference block is the start block it will not work ie you cant use VCs in two block schedules.

The only solution I can think of is to split Block 12 into two with the new block (13?) having its own dedicated CI



Edited      …………….see my later post I may have devised a work around

 

[user=434]John Dew[/user] wrote:

Hi Max

A VC can only be activated by a train passing through the reference block.

If the reference block is the start block it will not work ie you cant use VCs in two block schedules.

The only solution I can think of is to split Block 12 into two with the new block (13?) having its own dedicated CI

The file you sent me didnt have schedule 13 set up. If you could resend it I have a wild idea I could try…….does TC recognise the loco entering Block 12 even though it doesnt stop?

Can the Vc not be activated by the loco leaving the start block in a sched?

I.e. The ci in block 12 has switched off because the loco is out of the block,  therefore activate the Vc and it's associated b&s . The trigger being the CI in block 12 going black?

Just a thought, I guess this depends on time and distance to react.

Pete

I dont think so

The VC is triggered the moment the reference CI is turned on not when it is turned off…….the memory options indicate this, you can only select the reference CI in inactive mode and finally I think the manual is fairly clear on this……Page 279  

If an indicator representing an occupancy sensor is used as a reference indicator of a Virtual Contact then the sensing point reached first by trains running into the particular direction is used as the base of the distance from the reference indicator to the Virtual Contact. In Diagram 86, for instance, the left boundary of the sensed track section is used as the base of the distance for trains running from the left to the right.

However my wild idea was based on yours……..turning on a flagman allocated to Block 12 …….triggered by CI 11 turning off and then activating the stop marker in Block 12….but I dont know how TC would know the loco was in the block so where would it measure from?

 

OK Max I think I have cracked it with one slight snag

The recipe:

[1] Remove the VC in Block 12 referenced to CI North Terminus East

[2] Create a Flagman Indicator and assign it to Block 12 just like you would for a VC

[3] Assign a brake and stop marker to the portion of the block with the flagman indicator

[4] Condition for the markers is Flagman on (ie Red) and Schedule Box Cars 13

[5] Trigger for the flagman is CI North Terminus East off    ie Black 

[6] Condition for the flagman is Schedule Box Cars 13

[7] Memory for the flagman say 30 secs

Using the simulator:

TC recognised the engine was in the block

Traffic Control showed the stop marker was activated when the flagman turned on.

The loco stopped running (ie the throttle window showed 0 mph)

The schedule stopped and the loco joined with the box car

EUREKA 

 

The slight snag? :hmm

It was only on the simulator and I am not sure how TC will measure the distance for the stop marker. I think what you have to do is a bit of trial and error to get the distances so that the loco stops where you want it to……I suspect the distance that works will have no relation to reality!

Let me know how you get on……….if it works it is a big breakthrough

 

 

Morning Guyz.

I've just got up and I'm reading your posts.  I remembered that last time we tried to stop a train by using a previous Block as a reference it didn't work as it is supposed to trigger by the train entering the reference Block.  At least I remembered that much.  :shock:

I had an idea that we dealt with it, but I can't for the life of me find which post in which thread it's in.  It's important that I can do it, because I have lots of these ahead.

I'll have a good read of it all and report back.  :thumbs

Cheers