SAR Scenarios Tutorial

 The Tutorial Scenario 

Tutorial Updated July 29th, 2022.

The scenario used in this tutorial is  Gladstone-Peterborough Depot Fuel which has the consist already fully assembled with its locomotive (T 258) on the Gladstone  Goods Loop . This tutorial will follow the scenario until the consist arrives at Jamestown and delivers a coal load to the  Coal Stage .

The task in this tutorial scenario is to drive the coal and fuel oil train out of Gladstone yard and onto the Port Pirie to Broken Hill main line. Continue through Caltowie yard and into Jamestown yard.

 Gladstone to Caltowie 

Notes: There is a minor location, Yangya, between Gladstone and Caltowie. It has no visible signals and its track switches are set for the main line through to Caltowie

 A   Using Manual Control 

You can manually drive the train through to Caltowie without using the AI Driver Commands. This requires that all the switches along the path are correctly set. You can do this using the information on the Gladstone  page (link will open in this window).

Part of this page is shown left with only those switches relevant to this tutorial scenario. The red dots indicate the yard Start and Exit positions for the train path. Also shown left below is the Switch Set data, taken from the same page, for the path Gladstone  Goods Loop  to  Broken Hill . The switch directions, L or R are the directions when facing the junction fork i.e. the L and R that determine which direction a train will take when passing over the junction. Switch  20  does not need to be set as the consist is beyond the switch.

Set the switches as shown to create a path for your train from the  Goods Loop  to the  Broken Hill  main line.

You can use the Driver Speed Dial or the keyboard controls ( W ,  S ,  X ) to drive the train out of Gladstone Yard to Caltowie. Alternatively, for those with advanced steam loco driving skills, you can take control of the throttle, brake and various other lever and control wheel devices in the loco cab.

	All locations have a Caution track sign placed just in front of the yard entry point and clear of all signals to provide a stopping guide for manual driving, especially for those locations without visible signals
	At Caltowie the Caution track sign is just in front of the Caltowie Home Dn semaphore signal at the entrance to the yard

Check Train Heading If you are using the manual driving controls (either the keyboard or on-screen controls) then it is a good idea to check the train heading (its forward direction) first by clicking the Train Heading Button in the lower right of the screen. This will reverse the current direction setting (shown by the red and green direction arrows directly above the consist) and reveal the new heading (the green arrow). A second click will reset it, if needed.

 Signals 

When driving manually you will have to obey all signals, unless given specific instructions for shunting operations.

All signals in the layout are Lower Quadrant Sempahore signals. They use a moving arm or arm indicator that drops down at an angle of about 45º from the horizontal to indicate Proceed. The arm stays horizontal to indicate Stop. Shunting lever semaphore signals only appear in SAR Peterborough Narrow Gauge Division V2 of the route for Trainz Plus and TRS22.

Single Arm Semaphores Traffic Semaphore on a mast showing  STOP  Traffic Semaphore on a mast showing  PROCEED  Shunting Lever Semaphore showing  STOP  Shunting Lever Semaphore showing  PROCEED  Shunting Disc Semaphore showing  STOP  Shunting Disc Semaphore showing  PROCEED  Dual Arm (Diverging Path) Semaphores Diverging Traffic Semaphore on a mast showing  STOP  for both paths     Diverging Traffic Semaphore on a mast showing  PROCEED  for the Main† path  STOP  for the Diverging‡ path Diverging Traffic Semaphore on a mast showing  STOP  for the Main† path  PROCEED  for the Diverging‡ path Diverging Shunting Semaphore showing STOP for both paths     Diverging Shunting Semaphore showing  PROCEED  for the Main† path  STOP  for the Diverging‡ path Diverging Shunting Semaphore showing  STOP  for the Main† path  PROCEED  for the Diverging‡ path † The Main path represents the continuation of the current path which may not be straight ahead ‡ The Diverging path represent a path into a siding, a branch line or a turnout to an adjacent track. This will normally be to the left or right, but may, in some circumstances, be straight ahead

 B   AI Control 

One advantage of using the AI to do all the driving is that it will set all the track junction switches to your destination for you

You can drive by adding AI Driver Commands directly into the Driver Command Bar on the bottom right of the screen. A large number of track marks and some industies have been added to provide destinations for these commands.

The approach to every location in the route has  Track Marks added to allow you to let the AI do most of the driving work.

Apart from the standard commands (Drive To, Load, Unload, Couple, Wait For, etc), additional commands have been added to the session. Specifically:-

• Instant Load Command - to instantly load all wagons (except locos and tenders) with the first item in their product queues
• InstantLoadLocos - to instantly load all locos (or their tenders) with water and either coal or bunker c oil
• InstantUnload - to instantly unload all wagons (except locos and tenders)
• Set Max Speed To - to set the maximum train speed (in mph) when approaching loading/unloading points. This can also be used to cancel a previously set Max Speed.

An Approach Track Mark is placed a short distance ahead of the yard approach signal, visible and invisible, at all locations in the route. Alongside each is a Caution track sign.

Check Train Heading If you are using the AI then it is still a good idea to check the train heading (its forward direction) before issuing a Drive To command. Clicking the Train Heading Button in the lower right of the screen will reveal and revese the current train heading - click it again if needed to restore it. The AI does have a "habit" of taking off in the direction of the train heading when its destination is in the opposite direction.

WARNING: If you are using a combination of AI and Manual driving, especially with shunting operations in yards, be aware that the AI system will reset the switches to their original positions after the completion of a Drive To or similar command. Following an AI driving command with Manual shunting operations can lead to derailments if you do not first check the positions of switches that you will be moving over.

The Track Marks are shown on the Caltowie  page (link will open in this window).

Load/Unload Commands AI Load and Unload commands can be a "hit and miss" affair. Some users have reported situations where an AI controlled train will sail through an industry stop and either ignore the Load/Unload command and proceed to the next command in the queue, or it will keep the Load/Unload in its queue and "wander off" looking for a place to load or unload. One suggested solution to this problem is shown in the image below. Insert Wait for <time delay> commands on each side of the Load and Unload commands. The duration of the <time delay> will depend on factors such as the train speed approaching the load/unload point. 20 seconds seems to work well.

 Caltowie to Jamestown 

Caltowie does not have a coal stage or a fuel oil store in need of a refill so the consist will not be stopping here. A through path is the best option.

 A   Manual Control 

To manually drive the train through Caltowie to Jamestown you will have to set all the switches yourself using the information on the Caltowie  page (link will open in this window).

Because Caltowie is a fairly simple yard, the switch sets are not complex.  Port Pirie to Broken Hill  via  Main  -  1 -R  2 -L  6 -R  7 -L  Port Pirie to Broken Hill  via Station -  1 -L  7 -R Once the switches have been set, use the Driver Speed Dial, the keyboard controls ( W   S   X ) or the advanced on screen controls to drive the train through Caltowie.

 Catchpoints 

Notice that the Switch Track Diagram above shows three switches in red with letters as IDs -  A    B    C .

These special switches are identified on the Caltowie  page as Catchpoints, which are also known as Derails. They are designed to prevent runaway wagons from entering the running lines. Most yards in the route have at least one Catchpoint.

The information above shows that the default position of the Catchpoints, the first direction setting shown as an (L) or an (R), is set to  Catchpoint  which is the derail position.

Notes: If you are manually driving through a yard, then you MUST correctly set each  Catchpoint  on your path yourself otherwise your train will DERAIL

The Catchpoints used in major yards have mechanical indicators. Smaller yards use a simplier version with a static sign. The Catchpoint switch green arrow MUST point to the opposite side of the track from the Catchpoint Rail for the train to safely pass.