How to Use Track Direction Markers

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

In Summary: Track Direction Markers are yellow coloured track markers that are invisible in Driver Mode but visible in Surveyor Mode Track Direction Markers are used as "One Way" signs to force trains under AI control to travel in a specific direction through the track section where they are placed Track Direction Markers only work on AI controlled trains. They have no effect on manually controlled trains

What are Track Direction Markers?

While Track Marks can be used to direct trains around a layout, they must be added to the Driver Commands in the form of Drive Via commands, and similar, to individual train drivers to work. Direction Markers can perform some of the same work without needing to be added to the command lists of the drivers. Their disadvantage is that Direction Markers will affect all AI controlled trains while Track Marks will only affect those AI trains where they appear in the driver command lists.

Direction Markers force AI drivers to follow a particular path. They only work on AI controlled trains and have no effect on manually controlled trains.

Route or Session?

Direction Markers can be placed in a Route layer or in a Session layer

Notes: Placing Direction Markers 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 Direction Markers 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 Direction Markers in each Session.

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

Adding a Track Direction Marker

Notes: A Direction Marker has no useful properties other than the direction it is pointing. This is the direction that all AI controlled trains will be forced to take.

 In Surveyor Classic (S10) 

Steps: Open the Track Tool Select the Trackmark button Select the Track Direction Marker Select the + (add) button - it may already be selected Left click on the track location where the Direction Marker is to be placed If it is not facing the correct direction, rotate the marker to point in the opposite direction

 In Surveyor 2.0 (S20) 

 Adding a Direction Marker 

In the Asset Palette either:-

Left click the Track Mesh Filter icon

OR

Left click the Content Drop-down Box Then select Track Objects

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

Shortcut  If you already have a Direction Marker in your route then:- select the Eyedropper Tool in the Tools Palette (or press the  R  key) Left click on the existing Direction Marker object This will instantly select the Direction Marker in the filter list. 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. Select the item AI Routing Direction Marker or Track Direction Marker. Notes: There are two separate Direction Markers available. Track Direction Marker - this is the original version AI Routing Direction Marker - this is similar to the original but it does not affect signal operations If you are not sure about an asset then double-click on the name to bring up its image and description.

Place the Direction Marker on the track.

Notes: To delete a Direction Marker (or any asset):- select either the:- Free Move Tool (or press  S ) or Fine Adjustment Tool (or press  D ) Left click on the Direction Marker press the  Delete  key

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 Direction Marker The Direction Marker can be easily moved if needed - see below.

 Set the Direction Marker Properties 

Change Its Direction The direction the marker points is its ONLY important property. If you need to rotate the Direction Marker to face the opposite direction then:- Left click on its Context Tool ( in the image on the left or press the  T  key) to open up the object property and control menu from the popup menu select  Rotate Trackside  Change Its Name The name of the marker is only useful for finding it in the route. It is not needed for any operational purpose. Steps: Left click on the Context Tool ( in the image on the left or press the  T  key) 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 Direction Marker click the to accept the change or the to reject it

 Move the Direction Marker 

Move it Along the Track

	Steps: Left click and hold down the mouse button on the Yellow Dot next to the Direction Marker ( in the images above and below) While holding down the Left mouse button, move the mouse Forward or Backward to drag the Direction Marker along the track

Reposition it Up/Down This feature allows a Direction Marker to be physically placed above the track so that it will not be hidden if a consist is parked on the Direction Marker. Steps: Select the Fine Adjustment Tool (or press the  D  key) Left click and hold down the mouse button on the Blue Vertical Axis Line above the Direction Marker ( in the image on the left) While holding down the Left mouse button, move the mouse Forward or Backward to move the Direction Marker Up or Down If you need to return the Direction Marker to its original position then:- Left click on its Context Tool (or press the  T  key if the asset has already been selected) from the popup menu select  Reattach to Track

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

	Steps: Select the Fine Adjustment Tool (or press the  D  key) Left click and hold down the mouse button on the Red Horizontal Axis Line on the Direction Marker ( in the image above) While holding down the Left mouse button, move the mouse Forward or Backward to move the Direction Marker Left or Right of the track
Notes: The Green Horizontal Axis Line shown as in the image above pointing forward from the Direction Marker will move the Direction Marker forward/backward regardless of whether it is on the track or not. It has the same effect Move it Along the Track. However, by using this tool it is possible to move the Direction Marker beyond the end of the track if that is ever required.

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

 Assign a Direction Marker 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: click the small arrow next to the layer name. This will open the layer properties for the selected object click the Layer drop down box to select a new layer for the object if required, click the Binding drop down box to select a new binding layer for the object if required, 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

Direction Marker Operation

Main Points:
	Track Direction Markers only work on AI controlled trains. They have no effect on manually controlled trains
	If the set path is blocked, then the AI will NOT attempt to find another path
	A set path will be ignored if a shorter path is available

Consider the situation represented in the diagrams below. An AI controlled train is moving left to right towards a junction and a loop line. A Direction Marker (yellow triangle) has been set on the main line which only allows AI trains traveling right-to-left to pass along that section of track.

In Figure 1 below, The train approaches the junction at the start of the one way section.

Figure 1

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In Figure 2 below, the train has been forced to take the loop line to avoid the section controlled by the Direction Marker.

Figure 2

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In Figure 3 below, the loop line has been blocked by another train. The moving train will attempt to use the loop line but it will be halted and will not attempt to find another path.

Figure 3

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Direction Markers can be ignored by the AI
In Figure 4 below, the marker has been placed on the loop line and is pointing in the same direction as the moving train. However, the mainline path represents the shorter route for the consist so the "preferred" direction, as indicated by the Direction Marker, is ignored. Placing a Direction Marker is no guarantee that the path will be followed if more suitable paths are available.

Figure 4

Related Links

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

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Trainz Wiki

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