Track Triggers can be programmed to respond when a train (any train or a specific train) passes over them in Driver Mode. The response comes from executing a set of Session Rules that have been attached to a Trigger Check Rule (or a similar rule) or a Driver Command that is monitoring the trigger. |
| Shown below left is a standard Track Trigger and below right is a Directional Track Trigger. They are just two examples of several types of Track Triggers. In both cases:-
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"Standard" Track Trigger |

Directional Track Trigger |
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Track Triggers can be placed in a Route Layer or in a Session Layer |
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Notes:
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Information on Route Layers and Session Layers can be found at:-
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Notes:
A Track Trigger has two important properties:-
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A "standard" Track Trigger has no visible direction and, while it can be rotated, this has NO EFFECT on its operation. The Directional Track Trigger does have a direction because it is only triggered by trains travelling in a specific direction |
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In Surveyor Classic (S10)
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| Surveyor Classic (or S10) is the original Surveyor interface supplied with every version of Trainz and is available as an option in TRS22PE and Trainz Plus. |
| The Surveyor Classic interface used here is the one found in Trainz Plus and TRS22PE. There are some differences from the Surveyor Classic interface found in older versions of Trainz. |
Adding a Track Trigger (S10)
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Track Triggers are Track Objects and have to be attached to a track segment. They can be moved along the track and to other tracks. |
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| Steps: To Add a Track Trigger:- |
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Open the Tracks Tool Flyout (the F4 key) and Left Click on the Trackmark Mode button (the V key) |
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Left Click on the Trigger object shown in the asset list |
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Left Click the + Add Object button - it may already be selected - or press the A key |
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Left Click on the track location where the Track Trigger is to be placed
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Avoid placing a Track Trigger on a junction. You could accidentally place the Track Trigger on the wrong junction branch which means that it will have NO EFFECT if the targetted train is directed to the other branch |
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Notes: Deleting a Track Trigger
| Steps: To Delete a Track Trigger:- |
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If they are not already open and selected, open the Track Tools Flyout (the F4 key) and the Trackmark Mode (the V key). |
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Left Click on the Delete icon. |
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Left Click on the Track Trigger. |
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Set its Name and Layers (S10)
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The name of a Track Trigger is important. It is used to identify the marker for Session Rules and Driver Commands |
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The Layer it is assigned to will decide if will be saved in a Route or in a Session |
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Track Triggers are used in Driver Commands and Session Rules so they MUST be given unique names. |
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To change the Track Trigger name Left Click on the name text entry box, delete the current name and enter a new name.
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Use a simple but recognisable name for the Track Trigger. It will help locate it in the Route or Session and make it easy to remember when used in Session Rules and Driver Commands. |
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| To change its Layer and/or its Bound Layer Left Click on the approprite layer text entry box (or use its scroll arrowheads) and select a new layer. |
Information on the Layer and the Bound Layer settings can be found at:-
How to Use Layers |
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WARNING:
Switching an objects Layer between a Route Layer and a Session Layer will change where it is saved (in the Route or the Session). |
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To confirm the changes Left Click on the icon or the Save Changes button (depending on your Trainz version) at the bottom of the window OR click on the icon or Cancel button to cancel the changes. Both actions will close the Properties Window. |
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Change its Direction (S10)
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Except for the Directional Track Trigger, the direction a Track Trigger is pointing has NO EFFECT on its operation. |
If you need to change the direction of a Track Trigger then:-
| Steps: To Reverse the Direction of a Track Trigger:- |
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In the Track Tools Flyout (the F4 key) select Trackmark Mode (the V key) |
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Then select the Rotate Trackmark Tool (the R key) |
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Left Click on the Track Trigger |
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Move it Along the Track (S10)
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Track Triggers can be dragged along the track and moved to other tracks. |
If you need to move a Track Trigger then:-
| Steps To Move a Track Trigger to a New Position or to Another Track:-: |
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In the Track Tools Flyout (the F4 key) select Trackmark Mode (the V key) |
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Then select the Move Trackmark Tool (the M key) |
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Left Click and Drag on the Track Trigger to its new position.
It will follow track curves and height changes as it moves. |
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When dragging a marker from one track to another it will not move until the mouse pointer is over, or very close to, the second track when the marker will instantly jump across. |
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Set its Effect Radius (S10)
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The Effect Radius sets how close a consist has to approach the marker to activate its operation. The default value is 20m. |
| The Effect Radius controls for a Track Trigger are in the Tools Menu Advanced Window. |
| Steps: To Open the Advanced Tools Window:- |
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In the Track Tools Flyout (the F4 key) select Trackmark Mode (the V key) |
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Left Click on the Advanced label at the bottom of the Track Tools Flyout.
This will open the Advanced Tools Window (shown below). |
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| The Effect Radius is the size of the green "effect wings" attached to both ends of the marker. This sets how close a consist has to approach the marker to activate the trigger. The smaller the radius the closer it must approach. |

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Other Track Objects that have an Effect Radius include:-
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| Steps: To Set a Track Triggers Effect Radius:- |
| In the Advanced Tools popout (see Steps above) you will have a choice of 4 methods to set and adjust the Effect Radius |
| Options: Choose one of:- |
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To copy the Effect Radius of an existing Track Trigger
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Left Click the Get Effect Radius icon |
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Left Click on the Track Trigger whose radius you want to copy - the radius will be copied into the Effect Radius Value text box (the default value is 20.00 metres) |
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To apply the new value see option below |
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To manually alter the Effect Radius value
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Type the new value (in metres) into the Effect Radius Value text box |
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To apply the new value see option below |
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To apply a value in the Effect Radius Value text box (from methods , or ) to another Track Trigger
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Left Click the Copy Radius Value icon |
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Left Click on the Track Trigger that is to receive the new value (you can click on more than one) |
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To adjust the Effect Radius value up or down
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Left Click the Adjust Effect Radius button |
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Select the Track Trigger |
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Left Click and Drag Forward (to increase the value) or Backward (to reduce the value) |
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The new value will be immediately applied to the selected Track Trigger as the mouse moves (but only one Track Trigger at a time) |
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Once you have an Effect Radius entered in the value box, you can apply it to any number of Track Triggers by using method shown above
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In Surveyor 2.0 (S20)
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| Surveyor 2.0 (or S20) is the latest Surveyor interface and is supplied with TRS22PE and Trainz Plus. |
Adding a Track Trigger (S20)
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Track Triggers are Track Objects and have to be attached to a track segment. The Track Trigger object can be moved along the track and off the track (left, right, above, below) but its attachment point is always connected to a track segment. |
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| Steps: To Add a Track Trigger:- |
In the Filter Palette either:- |
In the Assets Palette to narrow down the filter list, type "trigger" (UPPER/lower case does not matter) in the Search Text Box
 Both pallets shown docked |
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Place the Track Trigger on the track.
Once you have added a Track Trigger and set its properties it can be quickly duplicated (Cloned) in Surveyor 2.0 with those properties and moved to a new location. You can then easily edit the name and properties of the clone at the new location. See How to Use S20 Tools - Cloning Objects for the details. |
Change its Name (S20)
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The name of a Track Trigger is used to identify it for Driver Commands (e.g. Wait on Trigger) and Session Rules (e.g. Trigger Check Rule). |
| Track Triggers can be renamed to give them a more recognisable identity (e.g. ""East Branch Down" instead of "Trigger 4608"). |
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Track Triggers used for Driver Commands and Session Rules MUST be given unique names. |
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Assign it to Another Layer (S20)
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The layer assigned to a Track Trigger will control where it is saved, in the Route or the Session. |
Change its Direction (S20)
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Except for the Directional Track Trigger, the direction a Track Trigger is pointing has NO EFFECT on its operation. |
If you need to rotate a Track Trigger to face the opposite direction then:-
| Steps: To Reverse the Direction of a Track Trigger:- |
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select the Track Trigger then Left Click on its Context Menu Icon (or press the T key) |
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from the popup menu select the Rotate Trackside option |
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Move it Along the Track (S20)
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Track Triggers can be moved along the track or to other tracks. |
Move it Vertically (S20)
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Track Triggers can be physically placed above or below the track. |
| This feature allow a marker to be placed, for example, above the track so that it will not be hidden in Surveyor if a consist is parked on the marker. A change in height will have NO EFFECT on its operation. |
Move it Horizontally (S20)
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Track Triggers can be physically placed left or right of the track. |
| This feature allow a marker to be placed so that it will not be hidden in Surveyor if a consist is parked on the marker. A change in position left or right will have NO EFFECT on its operation. |
Set its Effect Radius (S20)
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The Effect Radius sets how close a consist has to approach a Track Trigger to activate or complete its operation. The default value is 20m. |
| The Effect Radius is the size of green "effect wings" attached to both ends of the trigger. This sets how close a consist has to approach the trigger to complete certain Driver Commands (such as Wait on Trigger) or activate certain Session Rules (such as Trigger Check Rule). The smaller the radius the closer it must approach. |
| In the image shown below, the approaching vehicle will "reach" the Track Marker when it is 20m away from it. |
Once you have set the Effect Radius of a Track Trigger it can be quickly duplicated (cloned) in Surveyor 2.0 with those settings and moved to a new location. You can easily edit the name and properties of the clone at the new location. See How to Use S20 Tools - Cloning Objects for the details |
When a consist enters the Effect Radius of a Track Trigger it will create an "event" that can be detected and responded to by some Session Rules and some Driver Commands. One such rule is the Trigger Check Rule which is added to a Session in the Session Editor. |
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More information on the Trigger Check Rule can be found on the Trainz Wiki Rules Page at:-
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| Steps: To Create a Trigger Event:- |
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Open the Session Editor:
To add the Trigger Check Rule to a session:-
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Open the Surveyor Main Menu in TANE (shown below left) or the Surveyor Edit Menu in TRS19 and later Trainz versions (shown below right) |
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Select the option Edit Session from the drop down menu list |
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Add the Trigger Check Rule: |
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In the Edit Session window (shown below left) Left Click on the Add button |
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In the Rule Selection window (shown below right):-
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Scroll down the list to select the Trigger Check rule, and |
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Left Click on the icon |
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Open the Trigger Check Rule Properties:
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With the Trigger Check Rule highlighted (shown below) Left Click the Edit button. This will open the rule Properties Window
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Configure the Rule:
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Adding a Child Rule
To test your Trigger Event you will need to add some Session Rules.
| Steps: To Test a Trigger Event:- |
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Add A Message Popup Rule:
When you are back in the Session Editor window:-
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Make sure that the new Trigger Check Rule is selected (highlighted) |
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Left Click the Add button to add another new rule |
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Scroll down the rule selection window to find and select the Message Popup rule |
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Left Click on the icon
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| The Message Popup Rule should now appear directly below the Trigger Check rule. It will display a red cross because it has not yet been configured.
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Indent the Popup Message Rule:
The Message Popup Rule has to be indented so that it becomes a Child of the Trigger Check Rule and is controlled by that rule.
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| With the Message Popup Rule highlighted Left Click on the Indent (right arrow) button. This should indent the Message Popup rule one level inwards (as shown below).
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The Message Popup Rule is now a Child Rule of the Trigger Check Rule and will only be executed after the Track Trigger has been activated by a train. |
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Configuring the Message and Testing
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| Steps: To Use the Message Popup Rule:- |
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Open the Message Popup Rule for Editing:
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With the Message Popup Rule highlighted and indented (as shown above) Left Click the Edit button. The Message Popup Rule Properties Window will appear (as shown below) |
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Configure the Message:
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(Optional) Add a Message Icon:
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Left Click the link click here to set (shown left) and either:-
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Scroll down the Texture Asset Selection List (shown below) to find a suitable icon, OR |
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Simply type "icon stop" in the text box to use one of the builtin icons |
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Left Click on the icon to select the icon |
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Left Click on the icon to exit the Message Popup Rule and return to the Session Editor |
The completed Message Popup Rule
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More information on this rule can be found on the Trainz Wiki Page at:-
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Test the Trigger Event:
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Exit the Session Editor |
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Add a consist to your layout a short distance from the Track Trigger (but further away than its Effect Radius), save the Surveyor Session, and then test in Driver |
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Another example of using the Trigger Check Rule can be found in the Trainz Wiki Page
How to Use Message Popup Rule (Applications).
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There are other Session Rules that can be used in place of the Trigger Check Rule and Track Trigger. A few possibilities are listed below:-
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There is a driver command that can be used in place of the Trigger Check Rule:-
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Trainz Wiki
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More Tutorials and Guides to Using Trainz
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Related Links
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This page was created by Trainz user pware in May 2018 and was last updated as shown below.