Reverse points - an odd discovery

The MSTS Activity Editor allows you to make your own activities, or missions, for the player to complete. This is also how you can get lots of other trains running while you drive yours!

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mazda
Getting the hang of things now
Posts: 38
Joined: Sat May 10, 2003 11:10 pm

Reverse points - an odd discovery

Post by mazda »

Dear all

I use reverse points all the time in my activities, particualry double reverse points to hold trains while others overtake. I've always understand these work because a reverse point creates a discontinuity in a path - the path not projecting from the revers point until it is reached by the train. Or thats what I thought.

Yesterday I created an activity for the Bala Hub - my player train ran from Bala Jnc towards Barmouth. Amongst the oncoming traffic was a pannier and two coaches on a local from Barmouth to Dolgelly, with the train shinting to a siding on the up side of the station before 'disappearing'.

I approached Dolgelly expecting to run into the down paltform but was held at the signals guarding the crossover. The signals were off for the approach of the local to the up platform. To my astonishment I was held out until the local stopped at the up platform, pulled forward level with my train (where it hit the reverse point) reversed into the down platform (where it hit the next reverse point) and then pulled forward again into the siding. The signal protecting the cross-over then cleared and I pulled into the down platform.

My previous understanding of reverse points would suggest that while the the local was approaching the platform its path would only project as far as the 1st reverse point (still on the up side of the loop) - ie not in conflict with my path and that I would therefore have the road into the platform.

Does the AI controller no more than we think!

Cheers

Greg
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gopher
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Post by gopher »

It does on the Bala Hub Greg :wink:

Gordon
mazda
Getting the hang of things now
Posts: 38
Joined: Sat May 10, 2003 11:10 pm

Post by mazda »

G'day Gordon

While you're there - thanks for the magnificent route! I love it. And if the AI controller is brighter than most then all the better!

Cheers

Greg
MartinH
Not a TooMuchTime user if his girlfriend asks!
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Joined: Sat Dec 15, 2001 12:00 am

Post by MartinH »

Interesting observation. Just when you think you've understood a particular function in msts, you find something else that mucks up your theory completely. :-? I think the general theory about how reverse points work generally holds true, but there are many instances when the AI trains seem to defy logic, particularly if you have multiple items of traffic. That said, we've moved on a long way since the early discussions back in 2001, when moves such as overtaking were thought to be impossible.

Martin
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