TC Silver edition

I have now invested in TC  Silver and after some minor head scratching I can run trains and switch points etc.  However a couple of things elude me in  schedules.  I have tried this on two laptops both on the layout and in simulator mode. 

Puzzle 1, When my Class 25 moves  from one block to another in the fiddle yard, on arrival once the speed has dropped to zero, the icon and label disappear but the block remains occupied!  This then screws up the schedule further down  the line (excuse the pun).  I have to  quickly drag and drop it back onto the block.


Puzzle 2, Several trains refuse to move until the preceding move is complete even though I have  "unchecked" the "Train may stay in start block" box.  



I am very new to this  field so any advice is welcome.  This forum will not allow  me to upload the TC file but I will gladly email it to you if you PM me.   



Regards Charlie

I would recommend that you remove your email address from this public post, as spammers will find it and use it to send you junk mail.  Instead ask other members to send you a PM.
 
You can remove the extra lines by editing the post and then at the end of each paragraph hitting the delete key until the extra line breaks are removed.
 
As regards puzzle 1, it could be caused by the loco not being in the orientation that TC thinks.  Another possibility is the indicator is "flickering" which can cause TC to think the loco has reversed direction.  Click on the block concerned, then on the block in the new windows that appears, then in the drop-down list "memory" set "timer beginning when turning off" to 2 seconds.
 
Not really sure what the problem is with puzzle 2.

I'm not a TC user myself Charlie (yet…..) so can't help with your problems but Robert has a point about posting your e-mail address.

You can safely put it in your "Profile" - only registered members can see that. :thumbs

Thanks Robert, email address removed

Hi Robert,  thanks for your suggestion but sadly to no avail.  The bewildering part is that the loco disappears in "simulator mode" as well so therefore surely it must be a software issue.
Regards Charlie

Hi Charlie

I have sent you an email and I will be happy to have a look at the file.

I am sure I used to be able to download TC files……I will pm Alan and Max to see if this can be done

Cheers

John

I would also suggest running "Dr Railroad" from the File menu, as this will point out any inconsistencies that may lie in your definitions.

[user=1238]RFS[/user] wrote:

I would also suggest running "Dr Railroad" from the File menu, as this will point out any inconsistencies that may lie in your definitions.

Indeed:thumbs

Charlie…..Go to the Main Menu/Railroad/Dr Railroad.

There is a long list of messages some of which are quite fundamental.

Block M is not connected to Block J………When setting up a new block it must be placed on track…….you cannot place it in "fresh air" and then connect it to the next block with track.

If you click on Block J in the main switchboard and drag it away you will see there is no track underneath.

I think if you correct this the problem will be solved.


Edited to add:  You should go through all the items listed in Dr Railroad……a few are advisory and you might be able to ignore them…..most have a warning sign…..these should be corrected.

Let me know how you get on……and if you need any further help

Regards

John

PS I have made a second post re Puzzle 2 

[user=1768]charliebishop[/user] wrote:

Puzzle 2, Several trains refuse to move until the preceding move is complete even though I have  "unchecked" the "Train may stay in start block" box.  

If you have a successor schedule which is unable to start immediately it will fail unless you have done the following

Schedule Rules   Check "Train may stay in start block"

Schedule General Properties  change  "try again" from the default zero to an appropriate time…..lets say 30 seconds

The train is now permitted to stay in the start block and TC will keep checking if it can start the schedule for 30 seconds…..or whatever time you select

Hope this helps


John

Hi Charlie,

I have had a look at your file, courtesy of John.

After running the file "blind" in the simulator ( not having read your thread) I also found that Class 25 disappeared.

On closer examination I can see that you have set up  two  contacts indicators for each block - are these momentary indicators or occupancy indicators ?   I would suggest that for the present you remove one of the contacts and set the brake and stop markers off the one contact -
Additionally for TC to run effectively you should set up your locos with their length and then ensure that the brake and stop markers are long enough to accommodate that length.

Cheers

Hi Dave

I think the main problem is that there is no track under block J

If you go to the properties of block J and check " only visible in edit mode " and then leave edit mode you will see what I mean

Looking at Dr Railroad there are a few like that.

It's quite easy to do if you are re arranging your switchboard……how do I know this:oops::roll:

If you've got a minute, John - could you check if MRC will attach the new extensions, please?

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

Hi Dave

I think the main problem is that there is no track under block J

If you go to the properties of block J and check " only visible in edit mode " and then leave edit mode you will see what I mean

Looking at Dr Railroad there are a few like that.

It's quite easy to do if you are re arranging your switchboard……how do I know this:oops::roll:

Good pick up John -

Pretty sure it does Max but I will send one over

Cheers

John

[user=540]gdaysydney[/user] wrote:

H
On closer examination I can see that you have set up  two  contacts indicators for each block - are these momentary indicators or occupancy indicators ?

I believe they are BDL occupancy detectors  …………can you confirm this Charlie?

Second question…….is each block electrically isolated or are there two electrically isolated sections in each block (ie an isolated section for each detector?)

Having a brake marker assigned to one indicator and a stop marker assigned to the other isnt going to work……once we know how the wiring/blocks are set up we will be able to help you correct it

Cheers

John

Well the disappearing loco now remains visible.   It was caused by the "Release Destination Block" being ticked.  What a relief!
I've corrected the missing track from under the blocks but I'm not sure it makes any difference but it's certainly good practice.
My detection is purely block detection using Digitrax BDL168s.  Certain blocks such as those in the fiddle yard and the two at the front of the layout, have two separate BDL feeds but are physically isolated from each other.
I'm working my way through the Dr Railroad alerts but I cant seem to delete the two empty switchboards which appear in the tool bar.
Rest assured of two things, I'm making progress and ……. I'll be back with more queries!
Thanks for your help.  Regards Charlie

[user=1768]charliebishop[/user] wrote:

Well the disappearing loco now remains visible.   It was caused by the "Release Destination Block" being ticked.  What a relief!

:oops:     Thats embarrassing…..I looked at the rules for that schedule :oops:  Well spotted…..glad you got it sorted :thumbs


I've corrected the missing track from under the blocks but I'm not sure it makes any difference but it's certainly good practice.

It can have an effect sometimes……believe me…….been there

My detection is purely block detection using Digitrax BDL168s.  Certain blocks such as those in the fiddle yard and the two at the front of the layout, have two separate BDL feeds but are physically isolated from each other.

Thanks for clarifying that……..I will write some notes in a separate post about Stop and Brake Markers which I hope you will find helpful…………I am not convinced that your current set up is very effective.

 I'm working my way through the Dr Railroad alerts but I cant seem to delete the two empty switchboards which appear in the tool bar.

I have an empty switchboard and I cant either……I keep meaning to ask on the RR&Co forum. You will find there are a few Dr Railroad warnings like that which dont really impact performance…….Max Speed on Locos or same address on Xover points for instance……..once you are satisfied they are purely advisory there is an icon on Dr Railroad that enables you to suppress them so you only see the important ones…….hopefully none!

Rest assured of two things, I'm making progress and ……. I'll be back with more queries!

No problem ……glad to help

Thanks for your help.  Regards Charlie

One final comment……..I know you are in learning mode and its a horribly steep curve……….. but, to get the full benefit of Train Controller, you should profile your locos sooner than later……..it really is a must.

Kind Regards


John