Signalbox config
Once you have drawn the signalbox layout, you can go back to 'Operation' mode.
First you have to link the signals, redstone IO and other signalboxes in the world with the signalbox using the Linking Tool or Multi Linking Tool. You can find all linked blocks in the 'Linking' tab.
There you can sort by the type of block element. You can also search for a specific linkage.
With the 'x' button you can remove this linkage.
| Symbol | Type |
|---|---|
 |
Signal |
 |
Redstone Input |
 |
Redstone Output |
 |
Signalbox |
Next step, after all blocks are successfully linked, you need to tell which signal in the world is corresponding to which signal in signalbox.
In this step you also adjust further settings like:
- slow-speed
- redstone output (for switches or level crossings, etc.)
- redstone input (for blocking & resetting paths)
- subsidiary signals (Zs signals)
- train number fields
- intersignalbox pathways
- etc.
Therefore, go to 'Operation' mode. You can configure an element by right-clicking it. Then the sidebar should open. Click there on the 'Configure' button. A new window should open.
With right-click or the 'Back' button you can close the configuration window.
NOTE: The settings are all stored in so-called nodes. Each tile has such a node and has different settings depending on the elements in the tile.
TIP 1: It is recommended to give the signals and redstone IO their own names to be able to distinguish them better in the signalbox.
TIP 2: You can also link single elements first and connect them before you link others. You can also make additions and changes at any time.
-
Signal: Here you can select your associated signal from the dropdown menu (There is also a searchbar).
TIP: It is also possible to leave some signals unassociated, especially when they should be signals for exiting or entering a signalbox area, so-called auxiliary or dummy signals. -
Define Presignal: [Optional] Here you can select a related distant signal.
TIP: If there is an active pathway over a distant signal, the distant signal also get changed. So you don't need to define always a distant signal. - Overlap: [Advanced] With overlap you can define the point until the overlap should go behind the main signal. The overlap is the yellow path behind the destination signal, for safety purposes.
- Overlap reset: [Advanced] Select a redstone input which triggers the reset of the overlap.
- Delay-overlap-reset: [Advanced] Is time in seconds until the overlap reset should be executed.
- Can be skipped: [Advanced] Says, if the signal should be skippable.
- Signal: Here you can select your associated (distant) signal from the dropdown menu (There is also a searchbar).
- Signal repeater: Says, if the distant signal should be a distant repeater signal.
- Signal: Here you can select your associated (distant) signal from the dropdown menu (There is also a searchbar).
- Can be skipped: [Advanced] Says, if the signal should be skippable.
- Redstone Output: This gives out a redstone signal at the associated Redstone Output as soon as it is activated, through an active pathway. E.g. for switches. The redstone output can also control other things, there are no limits to your creativity.
-
Blocking & Resetting: This 'gets' a redstone signal from Redstone Inputs, which are used for blocking and resetting pathways. A pathway can have several states:
- Either it is not set, then it and the contained elements are not active and the signals show stop.
- The route is set, but not occupied by a train (free). Then it and the contained elements are active and the signals show drive.
- The route is set and occupied with a train (blocked). Then it and the contained elements are active, but the start signal shows stop.
- Zs Signals: [Advanced] The subsidiary (additional) signals function in a similar way to speed and can contain 'additional information' like direction indicator that is to be shown at the signals. (We will not discuss them at this point.)
-
Speed: There you can set the speed value that should be displayed by the signals, e.g. for switches. The speed is the entered number x10 (5 means 50 km/h)
NOTE: If several speed elements are located in a pathway, the lowest value is always assumed. - Additional pathway costs: [Advanced] With additional pathway costs you can manipulate the path algorithm to manual control a prefer path. Lower costs will favor a path and higher costs will prevent a path.
- Zs6: [Advanced] This indicates if the track leads into the wrong side of tracks.
IMPORTANT: The path element at the same location with the signal isn't part of the pathway and will not work for this signal!
- Delay time: Here you can set a delay time in seconds, how delayed the pathway should be setted. In this time your level crossing redstone logic can work.
For activating level crossings barriers and lights use in addition a redstone output on a track element.
If there are several level crossings with different times in a route, the longest time is assumed.
- Signal: [Advanced] Here you can select your standalone associated subsidiary (additional) signals from the dropdown menu (There is also a searchbar.) (We will not discuss them at this point.)
- Connect trainnumber: Select a track from which the given trainnumber should be displayed.
- Incoming connection: Select the destination signal from the incoming pathways. (Close with the back button at top.)
Inter-Signalbox-Pathways are for pathways between signalboxes. There can exist several connections between signalboxes and several signalboxes can be linked together. This requires an outcoming connection in one signalbox (yellow arrow for outgoing) and an incoming connection in another signalbox (yellow arrow for incoming).
- Signalbox: Select the linked signalbox to which the outgoing pathway should leads.
-
Incoming connection: Select the entry point coordinates for the corresponding connection. Therefore:
- Go to the other signalbox and right-click on the corresponding incoming connection. In the info panel at the right are the coordinates displayed. You need these.
Inter-Signalbox-Pathways are for pathways between signalboxes. There can exist several connections between signalboxes and several signalboxes can be linked together. This requires an outcoming connection in one signalbox (yellow arrow for outgoing) and an incoming connection in another signalbox (yellow arrow for incoming).
- Track end
- Plattform
- Shunting holding sign
- Track blocking sign
- Dead signal
- Ne1
- Ne5
have no further settings.
Here are some features of the signalbox explained.
The core element of the signalbox is the ability to block and reset a pathway.
To do that, you will need a Redstone Input block or Combined Redstone Input block. The Redstone Input block is a simple variant, it will block or reset as soon as the train drive on it. The Combined Redstone Input block is more advanced. It will block as soon as the train drives on it and will reset as soon as the train has leaved it.
TIP: We recommend to use the Combined Redstone Input.
In our test setup we have the main signal 1, 2 and 3 as well as the 'end' of our signalbox.
- At 1 we want to block the first pathway from signal 1 to 2.
- At 2 we want to reset the first pathway and block the second pathway from signal 2 to 3.
- At 3 we want to reset the second pathway and block the third pathway from signal 3 to End.
- At End we want to reset the third pathway.
So we placed a Combined Redstone Input shortly after each signal and at the end.
Next we need to link each signal and Combined Redstone Input to the signalbox.
There we draw our layout. With tracks and signal 1, 2 and 3 as well as the black arrow as our 'end of signalbox'. So we can set a pathway from signal 1 to 2, a pathway from signal 2 to 3 and a pathway from signal 3 to end.
The best way to block a pathway is behind the current starting signal and to reset it is before the desired destination signal. In the example is 'B' for blocking a pathway and 'R' for resetting it. In our signalbox we have 'B' and 'R' separated, but the Combined Redstone Input in the world combines the 'B' and 'R' to one block.
If we have all signals, blocking and resetting configured, we can set the pathway and drive with our train. When we pass a signal, the next pathway will be blocked and the current signal changed to stop light. When we fully passes the signal the previous pathway will be reset.
You are also be able to create more complex situations with blocking and resetting, like the following station.
There are some rules about blocking and resetting:
- A blocking point blocks the full free pathway between two (main) signals in same direction.
- A resetting point resets the previous path up to that point. So if there were resetting points in the middle of the pathway (like from signals of the opposite direction), they will partial-reset the pathway up to that point.
- A blocking point where a train 'is parking overhead' (so the blocking point is permanently triggered) ensurses that the (partial-)pathway can not be resetted. This is helpful for shunting and some rolling stock have been left on the track, so the track is still blocked.
- Only a shunting pathway can always be set on (partially) blocked tracks but not a normal pathway.
Inter-Signalbox-Pathways are for pathways between signalboxes. There can exist several connections between signalboxes and several signalboxes can be linked together. This requires an outcoming connection in one signal box (yellow arrow for outgoing) and an incoming connection in another signalbox (yellow arrow for incoming).
The following section describes how to set this.
- The signalboxes must then be linked with each other using the Linking Tool. To do this, use SHIFT+click to save the target signalbox to the tool and then link it normally to the start signalbox.
- In the incoming signalbox, a target signal must be selected for the incoming connection for the pathway to where it goes. To do this, the position x,y of the signal is selected in the signalbox. The position of the signal can be obtained by clicking on a signal in the signal box on the right and the position is displayed at the top of the Info&Help panel.
- In the outgoing signalbox, the correct destination signalbox must be selected for the outgoing connection. Then you have to go out and open the configuration again and then select the appropriate input connection (position) of the destination signal box.
See Pathway Requester for more informations.