Atomic Systems

If I want to use one of the supplied track rules such as Bath-Templecombe Main, in the properties it gives the option of UP/DOWN or BOTH..........I presume UP/DOWN means bidirectional.... what does both mean ? If I want to lay double track 2 at once UP & DOWN lines, will it affect directionality if I lay track from from opposing directions?

Better still how do I lay double track, one UP one DOWN, which will allow me to run trains past each other I have made a small stretch of double track with a portal at either end as a destination, no points or crossovers, which will allow an AI train to run from either end....one sits there the other moves.....relay the track neither moves.....relay again ....they both move....change a train....neither moves!!!
Help!!!

From what ive found both is bi directional. you cant lay dubble track with both up and down rules at the same time, to get up and down track rules you have to lay both tracks separate as up and down, or to change track thats already layed select the track in the same way that you would use the offset tool and change the rules.

phil t

AHHH!! Thanks for that!

the only other small things are, if you want to change a length of track to a diffrent track rule ie bath main to bath yard, you will need to relay the track. the last thing is you can use space to cycle through the diffrent track settings for setting up the track direction, speed limits sound sources etc, took me a while to work that one out.

cheers phil t

Yeah I thought that to get sounds for bridges in the right place you would have to lay the track right first time round....lot's of carefull planning! Not to good at that!! That makes things much easier!

Thanks Bud!
Mark

Similar issue for speed limits as I have found on my West Highland route, albeit it appears these can be altered retrospectively.

Not having a go at RSDL over this (as another situation they've inherited) but once again an award must go to Kujumble for devising the most . eyed, obscure back to front way of doing things. The last thing on most route builder's minds when fiddling and swearing to get an odd piece of track positioned is to check you have set the sound rule or speed limit in the properties for that piece. I know they didn't want to be accused of plagiarising MSTS but the system for placing track sounds worked quite well, as does the system of placing speed limits - i.e. anything in advance of the sign is the specified speed until reaching the next speed board.

Success! Done what you suggested and all works...so far

I agree...you could easily forget to set up the correct info when your faffing about...one thing that I really don't like is the gradient tool.....you have to be very carefull when tweaking linear objects...fences etc, one wrong click and all your trackwork has sunk for miles!!! And to make matters worse, the 'undo' function doesn't work in this instance!

Thanks for your help
Mark

Directionality can be changed after laying in the same process as changing the speed limit. Select the track you want to set, change to up down mode (if it isn't already) and then press the Toggle button. You should see the arrows change direction.

It would though be nice if as you prepare to lay a bit of track you could set the speed, direction etc from what the rule is, rather than have to go back and select it.

Phil160 wrote:the only other small things are, if you want to change a length of track to a diffrent track rule ie bath main to bath yard, you will need to relay the track. the last thing is you can use space to cycle through the diffrent track settings for setting up the track direction, speed limits sound sources etc, took me a while to work that one out.

cheers phil t

Hi,
I managed to change a largish section of the Bath old main track into the tunnel_track02 by just adding it to my Track Rule Blueprint and selecting the track and altering the track type in the relevant properties box. But you need to have your own blueprint because the separation distance seems to be different for the Bath Track Rule when compared to the All Track Rule. Unless of course you modify the default Blueprints which I wouldn't advise.
Regards James

Hi Guys,

Seems there is alot of confusion and mis-information being discussed here. Lets start from the top.

Mark - Track Directionality. Up/Down are related to single directions (Up or Down). Use this for sections you wish to force the player and AI pathing in one particular direction. If you lay a section of track that is facing the wrong way (as shown via the space bar displays), simply hit the 'Toggle' button to flip it. Both is related to Bi-Directional track. This is used for track where trains are desired to travel in either direction and where movement is not limited.

Phil - There is definately no requirement to use different TrackRules just to lay lines of Up and Down directionality on a double track or mainline. Simply lay all your track with the most common properties and then select the line that has incorrect direcitonality and change it via the properties window. A reminder then - it is not advised that route builders use more than one track rule per network placed as you will find it difficult to edit track properties across the point which the rules join.

Phil - There is never a requirement to change a track type from one track rule to another. All track rules have access to the same properties. A track rule is merely a list of the most common properties that save you having to edit EVERY property on a route once its laid. You only need edit those different from the common ones you have already used. We thoroughly advise against attempting to change a tracks trackrule as this may cause more problems than I believe you are trying to solve.

Mark - What is this problem you hint at for appling sounds to track on bridges? What about placement prevents you editing the sound properties at a later date than when it was first laid? RSDL are not aware of any issue in this department.

Vern - There is absolutely no reason why track properties need to correct when first laid, or infact correct until you ship the route out. All track properties can be edited at any point in time during the development of a route. I see no reason why this open and highly flexible method is .-eyed or back to front. This system is totally open and non-critical until fine tuning Train operations for scenarios.

Mark - The symptoms when editing gradients you describe is evidence that you do not have Upgrade Mk1 installed. This issue was highlighted over christmas and we ensured it was fixed quickly.

I'm reassured to read that so much can be altered after laying, because I now have two routes partially laid, and I would hate to have to go and undo it all again. But there is one problem I am struggling with. I laid some track "Bath Wood Old" using Bath Temp yard as the type, in order to get the reduced radius, and in some cases there is no point lever. All points were laid with the manual switch radio button on, so I am not sure why the levers are missing from some of them. Is there an easy way to add a lever to there points? They all function correctly in the 2D map, so I am assuming that they are OK, but I have seen a message on some points to the effect that the rials do not line up with the mainline rails. However, these points Do have the lever.

Vern - There is absolutely no reason why track properties need to correct when first laid, or infact correct until you ship the route out. All track properties can be edited at any point in time during the development of a route. I see no reason why this open and highly flexible method is .-eyed or back to front. This system is totally open and non-critical until fine tuning Train operations for scenarios.

Up to a point Adam - but if you have mixed track rules in (say) a 3 mile section if you highlight that section you get a message about more than one track rule and cannot edit any entries in the pull out box. You need to proceed along the entire length doing short stretches at a time to change the speed limits. I would strongly urge the application of speed limits is reviewed for future patches/versions and revert to the traditional way of setting the speed limit by placing the actual sign itself. Maybe others have a different view so other route builders feel free to express your views...

And of course begs the question already asked during my previous route building excursion, what exactly is the point of the track rule system? What useful function does it serve?

Thanks for the detailed reply Adam, I'm much clearer on what to do now, I thought I had installed the MK1 update I have recently added the Cajon expansion pack also...I'll make sure MK1 is installed.
I was refering to bridge sounds not being to easy to do as I didn't know that they could be implemented in this way....just thought you laid the track and that was that until Phil 160 enlightend me on how to do it!

Having lots & lots of fun with RS now, thanks for the support Adam.
Mark

I'm afraid that I got so frustrated with trying to get to grips with laying track that I finally gave up, threw all my toys out of my pram and uninstalled the whole shooting match in a fit of pique. It's so complicated I can't understand it.

However, a week has past and I've calmed down a bit. My blood pressure is slowly returning to normal, but I'm getting withdrawal symptoms. I can't stop my fingers twitching, so, having read Adam's post, will re-install it tomorrow and have another bash...

I could do with a "for dummies" tutorial, on everything.

(Other things I managed not to achieve was getting the DEM data to show and my start point up at 54N. I've read all the posts but I still failed miserably. You can understand why I uninstalled everything. Anyway, tomorrow's another day).

Phil - There is definately no requirement to use different TrackRules just to lay lines of Up and Down directionality on a double track or mainline. Simply lay all your track with the most common properties and then select the line that has incorrect direcitonality and change it via the properties window. A reminder then - it is not advised that route builders use more than one track rule per network placed as you will find it difficult to edit track properties across the point which the rules join.

Phil - There is never a requirement to change a track type from one track rule to another. All track rules have access to the same properties. A track rule is merely a list of the most common properties that save you having to edit EVERY property on a route once its laid. You only need edit those different from the common ones you have already used. We thoroughly advise against attempting to change a tracks trackrule as this may cause more problems than I believe you are trying to solve.

I get what your saying, i ment change the track rule settings rather than change the rule bit of a typo in my post, dident make things clear.
the only question i have is what type of problems would we run into using more than one track rule, part of the route im building joins an electrified route, so i know im going to need a new track rule, but im a bit reluctant to start ths section due to the problems that may arise
phil