Manual switches/signals

[prr4ever]

When I stop the train and use Ctrl/M to switch to manual control of signals and switches this works fine for a while. However as I roll along for a while and come up to another switch and hit G I get the alert that the switch is locked. Then I have to stop the train and do the Ctrl/M again. It seems that after running a short while the sim defaults to dispatcher control. Is this something I am doing? Actually I have not done anything except switch the main a few times or perhaps only once.

[R. Steele]

Hi Dave, with OR problems it's always helpful to provide a copy of the OR log (found on the desktop) to provide details of the situation.
Without more details it's difficult to provide assistance. I'll take a shot in the dark.
You did not say if you were running an activity or in explore mode. While running an activity and switching to manual a switch may be found to be locked if it has been reserved for AI traffic. You'd have to wait for the traffic to clear to use the switch. (I hope I have this correct).

Providing route information, activity name (and where it can be found for others to test), Version of OR you are running and OR log will
make it easier for other OR users to help with the problem.

[prr4ever]

manual switching

Hi Dave, with OR problems it's always helpful to provide a copy of the OR log (found on the desktop) to provide details of the situation.
Without more details it's difficult to provide assistance. I'll take a shot in the dark.
You did not say if you were running an activity or in explore mode. While running an activity and switching to manual a switch may be found to be locked if it has been reserved for AI traffic. You'd have to wait for the traffic to clear to use the switch. (I hope I have this correct).

Providing route information, activity name (and where it can be found for others to test), Version of OR you are running and OR log will
make it easier for other OR users to help with the problem.

Thanks for the quick reply. I am running an act I made. Works fine in MSTS (of course I can not manually control dispatcher switches) No AI trains. I have to go out for about an hour, when I get back will run some with the log and post.

Dave

[prr4ever]

Manual switching.

Gerry,

Attached OR log. The log gives the route and activity info. My best machine blew a power supply so am running on a back up machine at the moment. However I had the same problem with manual switches/signals on the better computer also. The activity itself is not published. Made it for my own use. But, I would suspect any act on this route under OR would be the same. Other activities I have made on this route exhibit the same problem (if it is a problem)? OR V0.9

[baldwin]

OR V0.9 is so old now it is not even worth pursuing the problem. Go to http://james-ross.co.uk/projects/or/builds and download the latest build. It is labelled as an experimental, but is just fine to run. If the problem is still present then it can be looked at. The signalling logic has improved a bit since v0.9 as well.

[prr4ever]

OR

Thanks, 0.9 is what was available on the site. I will follow your link.

[prr4ever]

OR

Hmmmm I do not see how to install OR from that site?? I am pretty good with MSTS after all these years but without an installer for OR I am lost.

[R. Steele]

Hmmmm I do not see how to install OR from that site?? I am pretty good with MSTS after all these years but without an installer for OR I am lost.

Dave, just got back myself, thanks for the log. Baldwin is right V0.9 is outdated, too many improvements since then.
Go here on the OR downloads page and download ... click the right green button >>> the "testing" version.

http://openrails.org/download/program/

Since you have 0.9 installed you shouldn't need anything else, except a lot of catching up to do...but that's the fun part. You'll discover AI logic is really very fine, read about the timetable option if you're interested and look at the Autopilot feature for testing activities.
Also the extended shunting features, too many new options have been implemented to cover them all.

[OTTODAD]

Hmmmm I do not see how to install OR from that site?? I am pretty good with MSTS after all these years but without an installer for OR I am lost.

All you have to do after un-zipping an experimental ORTS download is to COPY it into the ORTS folder, overwritten some of what is in it !

[prr4ever]

OR Switches

Thanks Gerry,

Weekend coming up, probably not much chance to use the sim till Monday. Wife "needs" attention! (Her idea). "Old dumb train stuff" etc takes a back seat on weekends.

[prr4ever]

Thanks Otto! Sounds KISS!

[prr4ever]

OR Manual switching/signals

Dave, just got back myself, thanks for the log. Baldwin is right V0.9 is outdated, too many improvements since then.
Go here on the OR downloads page and download ... click the right green button >>> the "testing" version.

http://openrails.org/download/program/

Since you have 0.9 installed you shouldn't need anything else, except a lot of catching up to do...but that's the fun part. You'll discover AI logic is really very fine, read about the timetable option if you're interested and look at the Autopilot feature for testing activities.
Also the extended shunting features, too many new options have been implemented to cover them all.

Okay, now have version X3068 installed and set for automatic updates weekly. Will try to get time this weekend to run some. Monday and all next week I can run it for certain. (Not that I will spend all week doin so! :-)

[prr4ever]

OR Manual Switches

OK, had a chance to run a short trial of OR X3068. This is on Ohio Rails V 10 or Bodiddly RR. Run from MP 33 (Florence Yard) to MP 31 (Caldwell Grain) running 4 light PRR GP30's.

Path is down far right hand track. Manual switched to left main (off path). Went to where three tracks merge to 1 at approx MP 30. Attempted to back engines down into Caldwell Grain. Set switches to manual (Ctrl/M). tabbed red signals got yellow and ok. The switch behind me did not move. So, pulled forward past the signal and tried again. Got the warning to set switches to manual. Did so, switch then changed. Backed down past signal (ask permission), set up to move forward onto next trak into Caldwell Grain. Again ask to set swiches to manual. Swiched ok moved forward. Stopped, reversed towards another switch. Got message to set switches to manual. Now, I believe that once Iset up for manual why must I constantly, after almost every move, reset to manual? As I run down the main and desire to switch off the path to service a yard or cross to the other main why do I have to stop the whole train and reset for manal and then continue to do so as I work off portions of the main into the yards? If I want to cross to the other main when I am running at 50 MPH why do I have to stop and set to manual when I had previously set the switches to manual?

Some attachement that I hope will tell you something.

As a final note, I made a final switch change and the whole thing exited to desktop with the attached screen shot I captured. Well, for some reason the attachement function is not working??? Will send them on another post.

I tried to upload three items, the log, a screenshot after the OR dumped to desktop, and an excell file log. Not certain any got there. I can send them e-mail to someone or someplace if they are not on here now.

[baldwin]

The OR log file would be of help. Just zip that and add it to a post here.

[Vince]

If I want to cross to the other main when I am running at 50 MPH why do I have to stop and set to manual when I had previously set the switches to manual?

I can give you one answer here:
You are not setting the switches to manual. You are setting your 'Player Mode' to Manual.
See the F4 HUD to see what Mode you are in.

Another thing is OR makes no distinction between manual and automatic switches. There is a post about this at the ELVAS Tower forums.