Double Reversing Points

spikeyorks · Post by **spikeyorks** » Sun Mar 14, 2004 9:39 pm

This may be a stupid question (but I'll ask it anyway). How close together should reversing points be to get the desired effect of either changing signals, allowing overtaking etc ?

Some threads seem to suggest that you can just drive straight over the rev points and everything should happen automatically whilst others say the train needs to do a "shuffle" to get the required affect.

Can you put two reversing points 1 on top of the other ?

I currently have one pair of reversing points where the effect of them is that they clear the signals in both directions on a single line at the same time !!! Surely this can't be right ?

Lad491 · Post by **Lad491** » Sun Mar 14, 2004 9:45 pm

well i always put double reverse points as close together as possible, but not overlapping. Somewhere else though, others have said that you cannot use double reverse points on single line tracks as it doesnt work

On double track to achieve a passing service and break the path of the player service a reverse isnt necessary, simply running over the double reverse has the desired effect.

MartinH · Post by **MartinH** » Sun Mar 14, 2004 10:39 pm

Within the length of the train (and make sure that there are no points immediately behind). As soon as you stop, you automatically clear the RP behind and can continue (provided you are not being overtaken).

Martin

mazda · Post by **mazda** » Sun Mar 14, 2004 10:42 pm

what Martin says is true - within the length of the train. But the sensible thing to do is to put them as close together as possible so that you can use the path for trains of any length. If they're really close even a light engine shoudl straddle both.

Cheers

Greg

asalmon · Post by **asalmon** » Sun Mar 14, 2004 11:20 pm

The point is you don't have to reverse, but you do have to stop.

So the trick is to place the first one quite close to a signal, as the signal is outside the path it will be red forcing the player to stop in the right place. (too close though, and SPAD!

)

Lad491 · Post by **Lad491** » Mon Mar 15, 2004 7:35 am

The point is you don't have to reverse, but you do have to stop

Alan Im not sure thats correct - forgive me for questioning your expert knowledge.

On my "Tanks" activity I used double reverse points at Lincoln to allow the player service to be overtaken by the express parcels. I placed the double reverse point fairly close to the exit signal of the loop which is more than twice the length of the train.

As soon as the rear of the tank train has entered the loop - and actually before you hit the double reverse point, the line gets cleared for the parcels and it can actually overtake you before you reach it. Ive found that i can creep along the loop at about 5 mph and never actually stop, since once the parcels clears the section ahead the player service gets the road.

asalmon · Post by **asalmon** » Mon Mar 15, 2004 7:41 am

That's interesting.

Well, I know you can't blast through a double-RP at 60mph!

So I just assumed you had to come to a dead stop, to trigger the thing.

Alan

jimmyladd · Post by **jimmyladd** » Mon Mar 15, 2004 11:17 am

On an activity I have reasently written you are comming down a branch line and I put a double reverse point in to make an AI train on the main line get priority. You are going about 45mph when you go over them, works every time

jp4712 · Post by **jp4712** » Mon Mar 15, 2004 12:02 pm

Lad491 is quite right, it's not stopping that triggers the thingybob but simply the 'breaking' of the path. In practice, most routes are set up so that the overtaking train doesn't have time to overtake you before you reach the signal at the converging path, so you end up stopping.

However in theory, if there is a suitable location, speed should not be an issue so long as the overtaking train passes you - and clears the section ahead - before you reach the signal after the double reverse point. I should also say that your signal will be red until you reach the second reversing point no matter where the overtaking train is, so you tend to have to slow down to avoid a SPAD if the signal does not clear.

I'm currently writing an act for North West England v2 with a DR point. As the layout here hasn't changed compared to v1, you can try it yourself: set up a path from Manchester Piccadilly going through Oxford Road. Set the path to take the left-most track through the station and put a DR point before the 'starter' signal at the end of the platform.

Now set up an AI train to follow you as closely as you dare from Piccadilly, making sure it takes the second-from-left track through the station.

When you get to Oxford Road, you will face a red and actually see the signal for the overtaking train clear as you reach the first reversing point - cool! You will have to stop, simply because the overtaking train will need time to catch up and pass, but when it reaches Deansgate your signal will clear. It's terribly satisfying to watch.

Hope that helps

Paul

asalmon · Post by **asalmon** » Mon Mar 15, 2004 4:58 pm

that is interesting jimmylad because I know when I put the points a long way before the signal, the first one cleared but the second didn't if I just kept going. Maybe if I'd put them closer together...