Recovering From Emergency Application - What Keys Do I Need?

[ForestHIllsRob]

I went past a red signal in ATSF Seligman - my bad here.

From what I can find on this forum, manual mode must be entered by using "CTRL + M."

Am I correct here, and what exactly is manual mode?

Thanks!

Rob

[apco25]

I find the ATS very restrictive when coupled with their locked in automatic routing mode....

[rdamurphy]

Manual mode allows you to adjust switches to change pre-planned routes in Activiites.

Basically, you need to release the brakes by using the normal keys to move the train.

Just a helpful hint, that seems to be a rather large sticking point for virtual train fans: An APPROACH signal, yellow indication doesn't mean "reduce speed to 30 mph."

Really. It doesn't. Because, since your previous signal was an Advance Approach, you should already be going 30 mph when you pass the Approach. It means "Approach next signal prepared to stop at next signal."

For an example, here's a great article on the subject:

http://www.alkrug.vcn.com/rrfacts/mindset.htm

Robert

[seagoon]

.... An APPROACH signal, yellow indication doesn't mean "reduce speed to 30 mph."

Really. It doesn't. Because, since your previous signal was an Advance Approach, you should already be going 30 mph when you pass the Approach. It means "Approach next signal prepared to stop at next signal." ...

The best way that I have to see this in action in real-life is in the Pacific Surfliner cab-ride DVD.
With the crew comms, it really emphasises the proper way to simulate the reaction to yellows because they call them and then you experience the engineer's reaction.

Bruce

[rdamurphy]

I've read numerous times in these forums "I want to be able to see the next signal a mile away so if it's green I can speed up!"

Yeah. That could get you fired on the railroad.

Don't believe me? Look up GCOR Rule 9.8: Next Governing Signal

A train may comply with the next signal's indication when its aspect can be clearly seen and the signal governs the track where movement is occurring or will be made. This does not apply when a rule or previous signal indication requires movement at restricted speed.

An engineer I know basically told me "Why take the risk? Even if you see the signal a mile away, and you speed up, and the *&@#$ thing drops on you..."

Robert

[ForestHIllsRob]

Manual mode allows you to adjust switches to change pre-planned routes in Activiites.

Basically, you need to release the brakes by using the normal keys to move the train.

Robert

Does this work if you go past a signal, i.e. I didn't push the backspace key? I underestimated the stopping distance needed, but then again the train was moving at 8 mph. It could be the coding for the brakes isn't realistic. In any case, I tried to release the brakes, but no go.

Rob

[rdamurphy]

It could be, I'd need to know the specifics, the route, the locomotive, the cars, the version of OR, etc.

Updating OR usually results in those glitches have already been found and are fixed. New releases come out on a weekly basis.

Unless you're on SVN, which the developers use, then new releases sometimes come out every couple of hours...

Robert

[ForestHIllsRob]

It could be, I'd need to know the specifics, the route, the locomotive, the cars, the version of OR, etc.

Updating OR usually results in those glitches have already been found and are fixed. New releases come out on a weekly basis.

Unless you're on SVN, which the developers use, then new releases sometimes come out every couple of hours...

Robert

Here's some information that should help:

Route - ATSF Seligman

Scenario - Westbound Intermodal

I changed the default lead engine, which is now SLI UP SD70M 4846.

The red light is at the beginning of the activity.

I've included a couple of screenshots. BTW, what's with the pollution spewing from the helper engines? Is there any way to make this more realistic?

Also, if there's a way to increase the size of these screenshots, let me know.

Thanks

[rdamurphy]

Yeah, I've been meaning to fix that problem. Only takes a change to one line of code, I should get that done. I've also got an improvement to the steam loco smoke and steam that I need to update...

Robert

[conrail1]

Just a helpful hint, that seems to be a rather large sticking point for virtual train fans: An APPROACH signal, yellow indication doesn't mean "reduce speed to 30 mph."

It doesn’t, since when? An approach signal in every rule book I've been qualified on (GCOR, NORAC, CSXT) indicates that “trains exceeding 30 mph/medium speed must begin reduction to 30 mph/medium speed as soon as the engine passes the approach signal”.

Really. It doesn't. Because, since your previous signal was an Advance Approach, you should already be going 30 mph when you pass the Approach. It means "Approach next signal prepared to stop at next signal."

How about locations where you don't get an advanced approach? Depending on the operating rules you don't have to be down to 30 mph/medium speed before the approach signal either. As an example from just one rule book, an advance approach indicates that passenger trains exceeding 45 mph and freight trains exceeding 40 mph must begin reduction to those speeds as soon as the engine passes the advance approach signal. This is in addition of course to being prepared to stop at the second signal.

[rdamurphy]

And you're correct, I did phrase that pretty sloppily.

BTW, you wouldn't find signal aspects and indications in the GCOR or NORAC. They're in the SSI for each railroad.

On the UP, it says: "Proceed prepared to stop before any part of train or engine passes the next signal. Freight trains
exceeding 30 MPH must immediately reduce to 30 MPH. Passenger trains exceeding 40 MPH must immediately reduce to 40 MPH."

However, I do stand by my statement that if you're approaching a STOP indication, you don't want to "hope" it changes before you have to stop...

Back to the topic on hand, if you pass the end of the Activity's path, say you're at the end of the Activity, OR won't allow you to go any further, which is why the brakes don't release. OR has no idea where to route the train, there's no path. MSTS does the same thing, it just gives you an Activity Ended message box instead.

BTW, I did correct the exhaust on the trailing units tonight, you should see the change on the next Experimental Release, Friday or Saturday...

Robert

[conrail1]

BTW, you wouldn't find signal aspects and indications in the GCOR or NORAC. They're in the SSI for each railroad.

Sure you can, signal indications can be found right in the NORAC and CSXT operating rule books. Before some railroads started to heavily modify GCOR for their specific purposes signal indications could be found right in that book also.