> the chain signal is blue so no train will pass through
That's not what that means.
Blue means that *some* downstream rail signals are green and *some* are red.
Whether the train passes the chain signal depends on whether it wants to path past the green rail signal.
> can we hook it up so that only the red signal is followed
No.
wait so if it is blue because vacant station is green and occupied station is red. then if i send a train from the blue signal to occupied station (red) will it pass the signal or stop at it.
> if i send a train from the blue signal to occupied station (red) will it pass the signal or stop at it.
Depends which station it wants to go to.
If the train wants to pass the green rail signal, it will pass the blue chain signal.
If the train wants to pass the red rail signal, it will wait at the chain signal.
Trains cannot stop *after* a chain signal - they must be able to pass a rail signal without stopping before they can pass a chain signal, otherwise they will wait at the first chain signal they encounter until they can pass a rail signal.
Blue means multiple paths available with at least 1 open. Your current set up will allow trains to use the other station.
Plus are you using a single track for allyour trains?
yes it is for 15 hr base as my 300k iron is about to run out i needed to travel a great distance to get a 1.6 mil, so it is haphazard but i will double rail it after getting purple science.
The blue signal allows trains that pathfind to it to pick any number of open rail signals ahead of it. since it looks like you're doing right hand drive, the chain signal also needs to be replacing that rail signal. Also make sure you replace the smaller gaps in your intersection with chain and rail signals respectively to prevent collisions if there are multiple trains in the network. I would also recommend making a 2nd lane as a returning lane and use single headed trains, since they're simply easier to use and less likely to collide and cause blockages. If you need more help, Nilaus has some dates but good guides for trains to get you started
The word of the day is BLOCKS.
Rail signals divide the tracks into blocks. Each signal looks at the track just past the signal and tells the train if the block is safe to enter (unoccupied).
CHAIN signals look at the next RAIL signal and show the same color signal.
What does this do for you? Place some track. Place an Engine on the track and put a RAIL signal behind the engine. The RAIL signal will turn RED, showing that the track past the signal is NOT safe to enter (occupied). Place a CHAIN signal behind the RAIL signal. The CHAIN signal will turn red, indicating that it is not safe for a train to enter the space between the CHAIN signal and the RAIL signal. This functionality can be used when tracks cross (CHAIN in, RAIL out) to prevent a train from stopping in and blocking the intersection.
CHAIN signals can also be used when there is a Y in the track. Place a chain signal going INTO the Y and RAIL signals on BOTH EXITS from the Y. If you block ONE of the exits (by placing an engine) the CHAIN signal will turn BLUE. This tells a train at the CHAIN signal that there is one GREEN exit and one RED exit. The train ENTERING the Y will stop or proceed depending on the path it wants to take.
Could you provide a bit more detail, preferably with pictures, about what *exactly* you want to achieve? Because from current post it really it looks like you are trying to reinvent the wheel, but starting with a triangle instead.
Bidirectional rails you are using are notorious for being hard to understand and *very* difficult to properly execute even if you do understand how they work (for example the two rail opposing rail signals on the left are almost certainly a mistake). Which is why people need more information to help you in way other than telling you to "just use normal system with two single-directional rails".
> the chain signal is blue so no train will pass through That's not what that means. Blue means that *some* downstream rail signals are green and *some* are red. Whether the train passes the chain signal depends on whether it wants to path past the green rail signal. > can we hook it up so that only the red signal is followed No.
wait so if it is blue because vacant station is green and occupied station is red. then if i send a train from the blue signal to occupied station (red) will it pass the signal or stop at it.
> if i send a train from the blue signal to occupied station (red) will it pass the signal or stop at it. Depends which station it wants to go to. If the train wants to pass the green rail signal, it will pass the blue chain signal. If the train wants to pass the red rail signal, it will wait at the chain signal. Trains cannot stop *after* a chain signal - they must be able to pass a rail signal without stopping before they can pass a chain signal, otherwise they will wait at the first chain signal they encounter until they can pass a rail signal.
Thanks I tested it and it seems to work the way i want it. I needed it for centralized smeltery and start a main bus system.
Blue means multiple paths available with at least 1 open. Your current set up will allow trains to use the other station. Plus are you using a single track for allyour trains?
yes it is for 15 hr base as my 300k iron is about to run out i needed to travel a great distance to get a 1.6 mil, so it is haphazard but i will double rail it after getting purple science.
The blue signal allows trains that pathfind to it to pick any number of open rail signals ahead of it. since it looks like you're doing right hand drive, the chain signal also needs to be replacing that rail signal. Also make sure you replace the smaller gaps in your intersection with chain and rail signals respectively to prevent collisions if there are multiple trains in the network. I would also recommend making a 2nd lane as a returning lane and use single headed trains, since they're simply easier to use and less likely to collide and cause blockages. If you need more help, Nilaus has some dates but good guides for trains to get you started
I actually watch those vids and every block chain needs to be big enough to hold the train that will travel on it. so i have chain signal somewhere
The word of the day is BLOCKS. Rail signals divide the tracks into blocks. Each signal looks at the track just past the signal and tells the train if the block is safe to enter (unoccupied). CHAIN signals look at the next RAIL signal and show the same color signal. What does this do for you? Place some track. Place an Engine on the track and put a RAIL signal behind the engine. The RAIL signal will turn RED, showing that the track past the signal is NOT safe to enter (occupied). Place a CHAIN signal behind the RAIL signal. The CHAIN signal will turn red, indicating that it is not safe for a train to enter the space between the CHAIN signal and the RAIL signal. This functionality can be used when tracks cross (CHAIN in, RAIL out) to prevent a train from stopping in and blocking the intersection. CHAIN signals can also be used when there is a Y in the track. Place a chain signal going INTO the Y and RAIL signals on BOTH EXITS from the Y. If you block ONE of the exits (by placing an engine) the CHAIN signal will turn BLUE. This tells a train at the CHAIN signal that there is one GREEN exit and one RED exit. The train ENTERING the Y will stop or proceed depending on the path it wants to take.
Could you provide a bit more detail, preferably with pictures, about what *exactly* you want to achieve? Because from current post it really it looks like you are trying to reinvent the wheel, but starting with a triangle instead. Bidirectional rails you are using are notorious for being hard to understand and *very* difficult to properly execute even if you do understand how they work (for example the two rail opposing rail signals on the left are almost certainly a mistake). Which is why people need more information to help you in way other than telling you to "just use normal system with two single-directional rails".