Converting switches & signals Options

[Old Geaser]

Well I must be doing something wrong. Every time I start making a new act, I click the Convert switches to manual and Convert signals to permissive.

I get the pop up saying something about switches have been changed. Same for signals. I seem to have no problem with some acts, but on the longer one where I do a little traveling, I cannot throw some switches, or get by the light.

Is there something else I have to do ? I am on one now on the revised East Metro, that has pu and so at CL LL Coal plant and I cannot get off the main at either end of the coal plant. Must be doing something wrong. Thanks

Bert

[nbeveridge]

Well I must be doing something wrong. Every time I start making a new act, I click the Convert switches to manual and Convert signals to permissive.

I get the pop up saying something about switches have been changed. Same for signals. I seem to have no problem with some acts, but on the longer one where I do a little traveling, I cannot throw some switches, or get by the light.

Is there something else I have to do ? I am on one now on the revised East Metro, that has pu and so at CL LL Coal plant and I cannot get off the main at either end of the coal plant. Must be doing something wrong. Thanks

Bert

These problems show up on some routes, and not on others.

You are not necessarily doing anything wrong. Occasionally we run into a track switch that won't convert, or a signal that seemingly won't convert. If you can send Steve the specifics about the location, then maybe he will be able to figure out why the track switch is not coverting. We found several on the Stevens Pass route that would not convert no matter what. As for the signal, in time past when I hit one of these signals it usually had to do with how the signal itself was set up, and carefully moving the player train forward or backward, closer or farther, seemed to release the signal to clear. Also, sometimes I had to "save game" and restart for the signal to clear. None of this is your fault -- it is all related to the MSTS signaling mess.

If we cannot get this fixed, then perhaps I can create a specific path to get around this problem.

I am not sure when Steve will be able to help. Another of his daughters is getting married (last weekend? or this weekend?) plus his company is in the middle of a buyout/merger.

[sgdavis]

These problems show up on some routes, and not on others.

You are not necessarily doing anything wrong. Occasionally we run into a track switch that won't convert, or a signal that seemingly won't convert. If you can send Steve the specifics about the location, then maybe he will be able to figure out why the track switch is not coverting. We found several on the Stevens Pass route that would not convert no matter what. As for the signal, in time past when I hit one of these signals it usually had to do with how the signal itself was set up, and carefully moving the player train forward or backward, closer or farther, seemed to release the signal to clear. Also, sometimes I had to "save game" and restart for the signal to clear. None of this is your fault -- it is all related to the MSTS signaling mess.

If we cannot get this fixed, then perhaps I can create a specific path to get around this problem.

I am not sure when Steve will be able to help. Another of his daughters is getting married (last weekend? or this weekend?) plus his company is in the middle of a buyout/merger.

Thank you Norm for covering for me! My daughter's wedding was Saturday and it was beautiful, and the buyout closes this Thursday. So I will be more attentive to these forums very soon!

The problem here is the software changes certain flags in the TDB so that signals which once displayed 'STOP' now display 'STOP AND PROCEED' and switches which were flagged as dispatcher controlled (automatic) are now flagged as manual. However for some routes, based on the way that route author set up his/her track objects and the track database, certain signals and switches simply don't convert when these flags are changed. At this point I have not figured out any way to get around this, and the best approach if you need a path into an area that you can't get to by converting signals to permissive or switches to manual is to create or edit the path in the Activity Editor or ask the template designer to do it if that template seems to require work at a spur that can't be reached. (So sorry, back on you Norm on this one!)

Thanks,

Steve

[jrmeindl]

Thank you Norm for covering for me! My daughter's wedding was Saturday and it was beautiful, and the buyout closes this Thursday. So I will be more attentive to these forums very soon!

The problem here is the software changes certain flags in the TDB so that signals which once displayed 'STOP' now display 'STOP AND PROCEED' and switches which were flagged as dispatcher controlled (automatic) are now flagged as manual. However for some routes, based on the way that route author set up his/her track objects and the track database, certain signals and switches simply don't convert when these flags are changed. At this point I have not figured out any way to get around this, and the best approach if you need a path into an area that you can't get to by converting signals to permissive or switches to manual is to create or edit the path in the Activity Editor or ask the template designer to do it if that template seems to require work at a spur that can't be reached. (So sorry, back on you Norm on this one!)

Thanks,

Steve

I have run into some issues with signals as well a few times. In some cases, I really feel some issues are caused by the locations of all the trains, player and AI, at the given time when you decide to switch the signals. Make sure you always change them before you pass an absolute signal. Otherwise it won't let you pass if you change the signals after the fact. Such is the case on the Bob Wirth's Seligman Sub where there are multiple signals close together. One thing I haven't tried yet is to run without AI traffic. For switches, I have run into many with the frozen point syndrome, where they do switch, but visually they don't.

Jim

[sgdavis]

I have run into some issues with signals as well a few times. In some cases, I really feel some issues are caused by the locations of all the trains, player and AI, at the given time when you decide to switch the signals. Make sure you always change them before you pass an absolute signal. Otherwise it won't let you pass if you change the signals after the fact. Such is the case on the Bob Wirth's Seligman Sub where there are multiple signals close together. One thing I haven't tried yet is to run without AI traffic. For switches, I have run into many with the frozen point syndrome, where they do switch, but visually they don't.

Jim

Jim,

Great advice on both counts! Yes it is best to change the signals before passing an absolute, and also I have seen switches that don't seem to throw (no change in the visual graphics) but they throw nonetheless.

Thanks,

Steve

[ssstump]

Hi there from a new member.

I have read many posts about switches that will not change, and stop signals that are stubborn, looking for my answer. Not found it so far.

Maybe someone can help me?

I have downloaded one of the best freeware routes (in my opinion and many others too).

I have tried 3 switching activities provided by the route creator and in all of them I eventualy get to a place where I am stopped at a signal or a needed switch will not throw. Judging by the quality of the package, I highly doubt that the creator would include activities that are impossible to complete.

I also generated two activities for the same route with Activity Generator and the template providede by Skyline, and same problem. I get stuck somewhere. The dispatcher always denies permission to pass the signal. I tried the AG options of all switches to manual and all signals to permissive, and even if I start the activity over from the beginning, same deal.

Uninstalled everything, did a fresh install of MSTS and add-on, and still the same. Just seems like a 0 for 5 record is too far off the mark to be just the random problem with MSTS.

I'm still enjoying myself, but it is frustrating to get just so far, and then can't complete to work order.

Anyone have a hint for me? Thanks. :-)

[jrmeindl]

Hi there from a new member.

I have read many posts about switches that will not change, and stop signals that are stubborn, looking for my answer. Not found it so far.

Maybe someone can help me?

I have downloaded one of the best freeware routes (in my opinion and many others too).

I have tried 3 switching activities provided by the route creator and in all of them I eventualy get to a place where I am stopped at a signal or a needed switch will not throw. Judging by the quality of the package, I highly doubt that the creator would include activities that are impossible to complete.

I also generated two activities for the same route with Activity Generator and the template providede by Skyline, and same problem. I get stuck somewhere. The dispatcher always denies permission to pass the signal. I tried the AG options of all switches to manual and all signals to permissive, and even if I start the activity over from the beginning, same deal.

Uninstalled everything, did a fresh install of MSTS and add-on, and still the same. Just seems like a 0 for 5 record is too far off the mark to be just the random problem with MSTS.

I'm still enjoying myself, but it is frustrating to get just so far, and then can't complete to work order.

Anyone have a hint for me? Thanks. :-)

Which route is this? Do you have the activity set up with traffic? It is possible to have timing issues with some AI traffic. I also believe somethings won't change if the signals have been set by some traffic that is already within a certain range of the switches and signals you are trying to pass. If you are trying to back the train thru the signal, it is important to change the signals to permissive before you go past the signal in question.

Jim

[ssstump]

Which route is this? Do you have the activity set up with traffic? It is possible to have timing issues with some AI traffic. I also believe somethings won't change if the signals have been set by some traffic that is already within a certain range of the switches and signals you are trying to pass. If you are trying to back the train thru the signal, it is important to change the signals to permissive before you go past the signal in question.

Jim

Thank you for your reply. I didn't say what route, because I didn't want to sound as if I was criticizing it. I really don't think it's the fault of the route creator.

I don't think it really has anything to do with traffic though, because in one activity, the work was entirely within the yard, which I had traveled through and saw no AI traffic at all. In another, I had to enter a yard just to use the Wye, and there was no traffic on the way in, and no matter how long I wait at the signal (hours even), there is still no traffic. I can also zoom out far enough (using MSTS Bin), to see that there are no other trains.

Tricky stuff ;-)