How to Use Track Markers

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

In Summary:
Track Markers are red coloured track objects that are invisible in Driver Mode but visible in Surveyor Mode
Track Markers are used as destinations or waypoints for AI driver commands
Track Markers 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


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What are Track Markers?

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

Track markers 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 Markers can be placed in a Route layer or in a Session layer


Notes:
Placing Track 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 Track 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 Track Marks (destinations and waypoints) in each Session.


Information on Route and Session layers can be found at:-


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Adding a Track Marker

Notes:

A Track Marker has two important properties:-

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


In Surveyor Classic (S10)

 Setting the Track Marker 
Steps:
  1. Open the Track Tool
  2. Select the Trackmark button
  3. Select the Track Marker
  4. Select the + (add) button - it may already be selected
  5. Left click on the track location where the Track Marker is to be placed

If necessary, you can adjust the position of the Track Marker by dragging it along the track using the Move tool

When placed, the properties window for the Track Marker will appear.


Enter a name for the Track Marker and, if needed, select a layer.


Enter a useful name for each Track Marker - 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 Marker 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 Markers

To copy the current Trigger Radius of an existing Track Marker

  1. Left click the Get Trigger Radius icon
  2. Left click the Track Marker 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 Marker

  1. Left click the Set Trigger Radius icon
  2. Left click on the Track Marker that is to receive the new value (you can click on more than one)

To adjust the value up or down

  1. Left click the Adjust Trigger Radius button
  2. Select the Track Marker
  3. Hold down the Left mouse button and move the mouse forward (to increase the value) or backwards (to reduce the value)
  4. The new value will be immediately applied to the selected Track Marker 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 Markers by using method shown above


In Surveyor 2.0 (S20)

 Adding a Track Marker 

In the Asset Palette either:-

Left click the Track Mesh Filter icon

Track mesh

OR
Left click the Content Drop-down Box

Filter List
Then select Track Objects
Track Objects

 Shortcut 

If you already have a Track Mark in your route then:-

  1. select the Eyedropper Tool in the Tools Palette (or press the  R  key)
  2. Left click on the existing Track Mark object

This will instantly select the Track Mark in the filter list.

Jump down to Step below.


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

Text search
This will list all the Track Objects containing the text "mark" in the filter list.
Filtered list Select the item Track Mark.

If you are not sure about an asset then double-click on the name to bring up its image and description.

Place the Track Mark on the track.

Add trackmark


Notes:

To delete a Track Mark (or any asset):-

  1. select either the:-
    • Free Move Tool (or press  S ) or
    • Fine Adjustment Tool (or press  D )
  2. Left click on the Track Mark
  3. press the  Delete  key


If you need to rotate the Track Mark to face the opposite direction then:-
  1. Left click on its Context Tool (or press the  T  key if the asset has already been selected)
  2. from the popup menu select Rotate Trackside
But note that 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.


Tools and keymap for S20


 Set the Track Mark Properties 

Name the Track Mark
Steps:
  1. Left click on the Context Tool ( 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
  2. Left click on Edit Properties
  3. Enter a name for the Track Mark
Select Edit


Set the Track Mark Trigger Radius
Steps:
  1. Left click and hold down the mouse button on the Green Dot next to the Track Mark ( in the image above)
  2. While holding down the Left mouse button, move the mouse Forward or Backward to increase or reduce the trigger radius


Move the Track Mark Along the Track
Steps:
  1. Left click and hold down the mouse button on the Yellow Dot next to the Track Mark ( in the image above)
  2. While holding down the Left mouse button, move the mouse Forward or Backward to drag the Track Mark along the track


Reposition the Track Mark 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:
  1. Select the Fine Adjustment Tool (or press the  D  key)
  2. Left click and hold down the mouse button on the Blue Vertical Axis Line above the Track Mark ( in the image on the left)
  3. While holding down the Left mouse button, move the mouse Forward or Backward to move the Track Mark Up or Down
If you need to return the Track Mark to its original position then:-
  1. Left click on its Context Tool (or press the  T  key if the asset has already been selected)
  2. from the popup menu select Reattach to Track


Reposition the Track Mark Left/Right
This feature allows a Track Mark to be physically placed alongside the track so that it will not be hidden if a consist is parked on the Track Mark.
Steps:
  1. Select the Fine Adjustment Tool (or press the  D  key)
  2. Left click and hold down the mouse button on the Red Horizontal Axis Line on the Track Mark ( in the image above)
  3. While holding down the Left mouse button, move the mouse Forward or Backward to move the Track Mark Left or Right of the track
Notes:

The Green Horizontal Axis Line also shown 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. Using this device to move the Track Mark forward/backward does not alter its "active" position on the track as indicated by the yellow dot. The active position will always remain at the point where the Track Mark was originally placed. To move the Track Mark and its active position follow the instructions shown in Move the Track Mark Along the Track above.

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


Move 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.

Info palette

Layer control

Steps:
  1. click the small arrow next to the layer name. This will open the layer properties for the selected object
  2. click the Layer drop down box to select a new layer for the object
  3. if required, click the Binding drop down box to select a new binding layer for the object
  4. 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.

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Track Marker Operation

The most common use for Track Markers 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:-


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


Error creating thumbnail: /bin/bash: line 1: /usr/bin/convert: No such file or directory Error code: 127 Drive To Trackmark

Instructs the AI driver to Drive, via the shortest available path, to the designated Track Marker. The AI will noticeably slow the train as it approaches the Track Marker. 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 Marker. All signals and speed signs along the route are obeyed.

This command is built in to Trainz
Error creating thumbnail: /bin/bash: line 1: /usr/bin/convert: No such file or directory Error code: 127 Drive Via Trackmark

Instructs the AI driver to Drive, via the shortest available path, to and through the designated Track Marker. If there are no further navigation commands (e.g. Drive To, etc) then the AI will halt the train after passing the Track Marker. If there are further navigation commands then the AI will proceed through the Track Marker to the next Track Marker 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 Marker. All signals and speed signs along the route are obeyed.

This command is built in to Trainz
Error creating thumbnail: /bin/bash: line 1: /usr/bin/convert: No such file or directory Error code: 127 Navigate To Trackmark

Instructs the AI driver to Drive, via the shortest available path, to the designated Track Marker. The AI will noticeably slow the train as it approaches the Track Marker. 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 Marker. All signals and speed signs along the route are obeyed.

This command is built in to Trainz
Error creating thumbnail: /bin/bash: line 1: /usr/bin/convert: No such file or directory Error code: 127 Navigate Via Trackmark

Instructs the AI driver to Drive, via the shortest available path, to and through the designated Track Marker. If there are no further navigation commands (e.g. Navigate To, etc) then the AI will halt the train after passing the Track Marker. If there are further navigation commands then the AI will proceed through the Track Marker to the next Track Marker 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 Marker. All signals and speed signs along the route are obeyed.

This command is built in to Trainz

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

Information on navigation points can be found at:-


Coupling Operations

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

Error creating thumbnail: /bin/bash: line 1: /usr/bin/convert: No such file or directory Error code: 127 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:-

Related Links


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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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