Signal sigcfg and sigscr help.

Could someone who knows a lot more than me (wouldn't be hard) about signalling in MSTS.

Explain to me or point me in the direction of an explanation.

On how to modify existing signals, so that they are able to see further ahead than one or two signals.

I put this request in here as it concerns MSTS signalling.

But my problem is actually running same in OR, so please move if this is in the wrong forum.

This concerns the Thames - Trent v1 route and it affects trains running under AI or the new Autopilot function.

Both are continually speeding up and slowing down.

Due to only one Home (usually) or only two Home signals ahead clearing.

Usually the Distant signals do not work at all, particularly on the combined Home\Distant setups.

I use OR exclusively for MSTS routes, so would prefer them to work with OR rather than MSTS.

Mike.

Hi Mike,
I would suggest posting in a forum dedicated to OR (Elvas Tower?) but I think the signalling is hard coded by MSTS to replicate block signalling (of sorts).

One reason I do no more than dabble now and then with OR is that the semaphore signalling doesn't seem to work correctly at this time. No doubt its on their list of things to do.

Cheers
Clive

Thanks for taking the time to reply Clive, appreciated.

I know that it is possible to change a number in one of the files for each signal type, to increase num signals ahead i think it is.

But exactly what to change i don't know.

I have tried asking on Elvas Tower, even posted on the OR bug forum about the incorrect functionality of UK Semaphores.

But unless it involves running on 200 miles of single track in the US, they don't seem interested.

As i only run your excellent routes, they are not much help.

Thanks very much anyway.

Mike.

Hi Mike,
had a search on Trainsimdotcom and came up with this as an answer to a question about OR very similar to yours:

1) How far ahead signals are cleared is determined using the "SignalNumClearAhead" value in the sigcfg.dat file.
This number indicates the number of normal signal heads cleared ahead (so not signals : clearly, some signals have multiple heads). This is more or less similar as in MSTS.
If the signals do not clear far enough, it is likely this value is set too low.

and

In MSTS I had set that value to 4, With Open Rails I have set it to 8 and it seems to have cleared the issue up.

Make a back up of your sigsfg and try changing things. You shouldn't do any damage as long as you've got a back up to copy back in. The worst that can happen is MSTS will do a wobbly and not load.

Cheers
Clive

Many thanks for the further help Clive, very kind.

I did look at the tech docs supplied with MSTS.

But both examples are for Marias Pass.

I will give that a go, can't do any harm with a back up.

Much appreciated.
Mike.

No good i am afraid. Probably has an effect on signalling function in MSTS.

But not in OR, not to worry.

Mike.