How to Use Track Direction Markers

The information in this Wiki Page applies to TANE, TRS19, Trainz Plus and TRS22.

In Summary: Track Marks are red coloured track objects that are invisible in Driver Mode but visible in Surveyor Mode Track Marks are used as destinations or waypoints for AI driver commands Track Marks only work on AI controlled trains. They have no effect on manually controlled trains The direction that the marker is pointing has absolutely NO EFFECT on its operation

What are Track Marks?

The Trainz AI relies heavily on Track Marks to direct trains around a layout. They are only visible in Surveyor Mode.

Track Marks are the targets for:-
	Drive To Trackmark and Navigate To Trackmark driver commands
	Drive Via Trackmark and Navigate Via Trackmark driver commands
They can also be used as:-
	attachments for Navigation Points
	locations for Coupling operations

Route or Session?

Track Marks can be placed in a Route layer or in a Session layer

Notes: Placing Track Marks in a Route layer (e.g. in the same layer as the track) means that they will be available in all Sessions created using that particular Route. Placing Track Marks in a Session layer means that they will only be available in that Session. This can be useful if two or more Sessions are being created and you want to use different Track Marks (destinations and waypoints) in each Session.

Information on Route and Session layers can be found at:- How to Use Layers

Adding a Track Mark

Notes: A Track Mark has two important properties:- its name which is needed for all commands and rules that use the Track Mark, and its Trigger Radius (the red "wings" shown in the image below, the radius value is shown below the Track Mark name). This controls how closely an AI train has to approach the marker to activate it (smaller radius = closer to the Track Mark) The direction that a Track Mark is pointing has NO EFFECT on its operation

 In Surveyor Classic (S10) 

 Setting the Track Mark 

Steps: Open the Track Tool Left Click the Trackmark button Left Click the item named Track Marker Left Click the + (add) button - it may already be selected Left Click on the track location where the Track Mark is to be placed If necessary, you can adjust the position of the Track Mark by dragging it along the track using the Move tool When placed, the properties window for the Track Mark will appear. Enter a name for the Track Mark and, if needed, select a layer.

Enter a useful name for each Track Mark - the name will be needed for driver commands. Most creators base the name on the location (e.g. "Maintown Track 1 North")

 Set the Trigger Radius 

At the bottom of the Track Tools flyout menu is an Advanced button. Left Click this button to open the Track Mark advanced tool set.

Steps: Left Click the Advanced button You then have a choice of methods to set and adjust the Trigger Radius of Track Marks To copy the current Trigger Radius of an existing Track Mark Left Click the Get Trigger Radius icon Left Click the Track Mark whose radius you want to copy - the radius will be copied into the Trigger Radius value box (the default value is 20.00 metres) To manually alter the Trigger Radius Type the new value (in metres) into the Trigger Radius value box To apply a value in the Trigger Radius value box (from methods , or ) to another Track Mark Left Click the Set Trigger Radius icon Left Click on the Track Mark that is to receive the new value (you can click on more than one) To adjust the value up or down Left Click the Adjust Trigger Radius button Select the Track Mark Left Click and Drag forward (to increase the value) or backwards (to reduce the value) The new value will be immediately applied to the selected Track Mark as the mouse moves (but only one marker at a time)

Once you have a Trigger Radius entered in the value box, you can apply it to any number of Track Marks by using method shown above

 In Surveyor 2.0 (S20) 

Surveyor 2.0 is currently only available for Trainz Plus Standard and Trainz Plus Gold subscription members.

 Adding a Track Mark 

In the Asset Palette either:-

Left Click on the Track Mesh Filter icon

OR

Left Click on the Content Drop-down Box Then select Track Objects

Notes: If the Assets Palette is not shown on the screen, then:- 1. open the Window Menu from the menu icons at the top of the screen 2. Left Click on the Assets Palette name to add a tick and make it visible.

Shortcut  If you already have a Track Marker placed in your route then:- move the tool pointer over the existing track marker object and hold down the  Alt  key. The object name will appear in a ToolTip attached to the pointer while holding down the  Alt  key Left Click on the track marker to identify it in the Assets Palette and to select the Placement Tool. Release the key. Jump to Step below.

To narrow down the filter list, type "mark" (UPPER/lower case does not matter) in the Search Text Box

This will list all the Track Objects containing the text "mark" in the filter list. Left Click on the item name Track Mark. If you are not sure about an asset then Double Left Click on the name to bring up its image and description.

Place the Track Mark on the track.

Notes: To delete a Track Mark (or any asset):- select either the:- Free Move Tool (or press  S ) or Fine Adjustment Tool (or press  D ) Left Click on the Track Mark press the  Delete  key If you need to rotate the Track Mark to face the opposite direction then:- Left Click on its Context Menu Icon (or press the  T  key if the asset has already been selected) from the popup menu select  Rotate Trackside  Note: the direction it faces has no effect on its operation.

Steps: Select the Placement Tool (or press the  E  key) from the Tools Palette Left Click on the track at the position where you want to place the Track Mark The Track Mark can be easily moved if needed - see below.

 Set the Track Mark Properties 

Change Its Name Steps: Left Click on the Context Menu Icon ( in the image on the left or press the  T  key if the asset has already been selected) to open up the object property and control menu Left Click on the  Edit Properties  option in the popup menu enter a name for the Track Mark Left Click on the to accept the change or on the to reject it

Set its Trigger Radius
The Trigger Radius controls how closely an AI train has to approach the marker to activate it (smaller radius = closer to the Track Mark).

	Steps: Left Click and Drag forward or backward on the Green Dot next to the Track Mark ( in the images above and below) to increase or reduce its Trigger Radius

 Move the Track Mark 

Move it Along the Track

	Steps: Left Click and Drag forward or backward on the Yellow Dot next to the Track Mark ( in the images above and below) to move the Track Mark along the track

Reposition it Up/Down This feature allows a Track Mark to be physically placed above the track so that it will not be hidden if a consist is parked on the Track Mark. Steps: Select the Fine Adjustment Tool (or press the  D  key) Left Click and Drag forward or backward on the Blue Vertical Axis Line above the Track Mark ( in the image on the left) to move the Track Mark up or down If you need to return the Track Mark to its original position then:- Left Click on its Context Menu Icon (or press the  T  key if the asset has already been selected) from the popup menu select  Reattach to Track

Reposition the it Left/Right
This feature allows a Track Mark to be physically placed left or right alongside the track so that it will not be hidden if a consist is parked on the Track Mark.

	Steps: Select the Fine Adjustment Tool (or press the  D  key) Left Click and Drag left or right on the Red Horizontal Axis Line above the Track Mark ( in the image on the left) to move the Track Mark left or right of the track
Notes: The Green Horizontal Axis Line shown as in the image above pointing forward from the Track Mark will move the Track Mark forward/backward regardless of whether it is on the track or not. It has the same effect as Move it Along the Track. However, by using this tool it is possible to move the Track Mark beyond the end of the track if that is ever required.

If you need to return the Track Mark to its original position then:- Left Click on its Context Menu Icon (or press the  T  key if the asset has already been selected) from the popup menu select  Reattach to Track

 Assign a Track Mark to a New Layer 

The Info Palette will show the layer assigned to the currently selected object. To the left of the layer name is a small arrow object.

Steps: Left Click the small arrow next to the layer name. This will open the layer properties for the selected object Left Click the Layer drop down box to select a new layer for the object if required, Left Click the Binding drop down box to select a new binding layer for the object if required, Left Click the  Lock Layer  button to lock the selected layer. If the layer is already locked then this will be shown as an  Unlock Layer  button WARNING: You will not be allowed to place a track object in a layer that is higher up the list than the layer containing the track. Information on layers can be found at:- How to Use Layers

Track Mark Operation

The most common use for Track Marks is as destinations for driver commands or as "way points" to direct a train to a destination via one or more intermediate places. They can also be used as the targets for Navigation Points and coupling operations.

Driver Navigation Commands

Information on adding driver commands can be found at:- How to Use the Driver Setup Rule

	Drive To Trackmark and Drive Via Trackmark commands will NOT force the AI to find a clear path to the Track Mark if the shortest path is blocked
	Navigate To Trackmark and Navigate Via Trackmark commands will force the AI to find a clear path to the Track Mark if the shortest path is blocked. The path chosen may not be prototypical

	Drive To Trackmark Instructs the AI driver to Drive, via the shortest available path, to the designated Track Mark. The AI will noticeably slow the train as it approaches the Track Mark. Switches ahead of the train that are not locked against the AI will be set to allow the train to proceed and reset after the train has cleared the switch. The AI driver will NOT attempt to find a way around blockages when calculating the shortest path to the Track Mark. All signals and speed signs along the route are obeyed. This command is built in to Trainz
	Drive Via Trackmark Instructs the AI driver to Drive, via the shortest available path, to and through the designated Track Mark. If there are no further navigation commands (e.g. Drive To, etc) then the AI will halt the train after passing the Track Mark. If there are further navigation commands then the AI will proceed through the Track Mark to the next Track Mark or Industry at normal speed. Switches ahead of the train that are not locked against the AI will be set to allow the train to proceed and reset after the train has cleared the switch. The AI driver will NOT attempt to find a way around blockages when calculating the shortest path to the Track Mark. All signals and speed signs along the route are obeyed. This command is built in to Trainz
	Navigate To Trackmark Instructs the AI driver to Drive, via the shortest available path, to the designated Track Mark. The AI will noticeably slow the train as it approaches the Track Mark. Switches ahead of the train that are not locked against the AI will be set to allow the train to proceed and reset after the train has cleared the switch. The AI driver will attempt to find a way around blockages when calculating the shortest path to the Track Mark. All signals and speed signs along the route are obeyed. This command is built in to Trainz
	Navigate Via Trackmark Instructs the AI driver to Drive, via the shortest available path, to and through the designated Track Mark. If there are no further navigation commands (e.g. Navigate To, etc) then the AI will halt the train after passing the Track Mark. If there are further navigation commands then the AI will proceed through the Track Mark to the next Track Mark or Industry at normal speed. Switches ahead of the train that are not locked against the AI will be set to allow the train to proceed and reset after the train has cleared the switch. The AI driver will attempt to find a way around blockages when calculating the shortest path to the Track Mark. All signals and speed signs along the route are obeyed. This command is built in to Trainz

Navigation Points

Navigation Points can be attached to Track Marks to provide users with session instructions.

Information on navigation points can be found at:- How to Use Navigation Points

Coupling Operations

An AI controlled train can be issued with a driver command to couple with the consist located at a specified Track Mark.

The AI driver moves the train (or just the locomotive if it is by itself) to couple with the wagon that is closest to a specified trackmark. More information on this command can be found at Couple At Trackmark This command must be downloaded from the DLS and installed in Trainz

Information on adding driver commands can be found at:- How to Use the Driver Setup Rule

Related Links

How to Use Track Markers How to Use Track Priority Markers How to Use Track Triggers

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Trainz Wiki

More Tutorials and Guides to Using Trainz How to Guides Driver Commands List Session Rules List (Alphabetical) with Parameters Session Rules List (Categories) With Parameters

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This page was created by Trainz user pware in September 2019 and was last updated as shown below.

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