Tips for using ATC/ACSES

[kennethlopezjr921]

Now before anyone says anything, yes I know any info I can find is in the manual. I always do refer to them whenever Im dealing with a new locomotive or route, but usually I can get the hang of a route mostly on the fly. That is except for routes that include ATC and ACSES. I will 100% I am not entire familiar with both those systems or more specifically, how to operate with those functional. On train sim world, for example, I usually play with those off because its default, and sometimes the game doesnt register your pressing the circle button unless you hold it down to contact dispatch (Yes I play TSW on Console). So its no surprise when I fell completely on my ass when playing one of the scenarios for the Train Sim Classic Version of LIRR. I am currently going over the manual right but I wanted to get some tips and feedback from those who are more experienced with dealing with ATC/ACSES to see if theres anything Im missing, stuff that manual might fail to mention or like work around and such. Thanks

[Spikee1975]

ACSES shows the signal speed, these are variable depending on your path and the switches being set.

ATC is a system designed to pack more than one train into a signal block, and is depending on the actual traffic. It slows you down so you're not running into a SPAD or another train.

ACSES will sometimes need you to go into Suppression braking to suppress the alert (cancel with Q then).

Just observe the limits shown in the display.

[kennethlopezjr921]

Originally posted by Spikee1975:

ACSES shows the signal speed, these are variable depending on your path and the switches being set.

ATC is a system designed to pack more than one train into a signal block, and is depending on the actual traffic. It slows you down so you're not running into a SPAD or another train.

ACSES will sometimes need you to go into Suppression braking to suppress the alert (cancel with Q then).

Just observe the limits shown in the display.

Ah I see! It similar to how it was explained in the tutorials that were on New York to Trenton on TSW 3. Although even then, I wasnt able to get the hang of it due it being a little more intrusive when it comes to driving (I seem to react 0.0093 seconds too late for slowing down). Im hoping it will be a lot more manageable on pc, since that tutorial was on console.

Now according to the manual for LIRR, it seems putting the brakes into 40% is the equivalent of Suppression for brakes. I've also noticed certain keyboard commands such as 'CRTL + SHIFT + ENTER', but Im not sure if those turn off the ATC or ACES entirely, or act as a alternate version of pressing 'Q' for acknowledge. Needless to say this definitely quite a lot which isnt a bad thing. You certainly cant jump into it blind without looking at the manual first which Im trying to get used to. I've played Train Sim World way more than Train Sim Classic, so I'm still getting used to the latter not having in game tutorials and such.

[cuavas]

Spikee, that doesn’t explain it at all. They’ll be more confused after reading that.

The ATC and ACSES keyboard controls in the game vary between vehicles (e.g. they aren’t the same for the the LIRR vehicles as for ALP-45DP that comes with North Jersey Coast Line). I believe the controls for LIRR vehicles are:

• Ctrl+Shift+Enter – turn ATC on/off
  
• Left Alt+Shift+Enter – turn ACSES on/off
  
• Right Alt+Num Enter – turn alerter on/off
  
• Q – acknowledge ACSES, ATC or alerter

The alerter is the simplest safety system. You’ll periodically receive an audible alert if you haven’t adjusted the power/brake lever or operated the horn. You must acknowledge the alert or you will suffer a penalty brake application.

ACSES shows speed limits in the cab. This allows speed limits to be adjusted to maintain a safe distance between trains. There are two kinds of ACSES alerts:

• New cab signalling speed. The alert must be acknowledged within seven seconds or you will suffer a penalty brake application. If the new speed limit is lower than the previous cab speed limit, you must cut power (move the master controller to “coast”) before acknowledging the alert.
  
• Approaching a permanent speed restriction too rapidly. You must cut power, set the train brakes to at least 40% and then acknowledge the alert, all within seven seconds or you will suffer a penalty brake application.

ATC is designed to help prevent derailments and collisions by enforcing speed limits. If you exceed a speed limit for too long, you will receive an ATC alert. If you receive an ATC alert, you must cut power, set the train brake to at least 40% and then acknowledge the alert, all within eight seconds or you will suffer a penalty brake application.

ATC and ACSES have some overlap in functionality, but ATC is less sophisticated. ATC doesn’t handle temporary speed restrictions.

If you suffer a penalty brake application, power will be cut and maximum brakes will be applied. You must cut power and set the train brake control to the Suppression position before you will be able to release the brakes and reapply power.

[x1Heavy]

Keeping in mind the Penalties dont matter if you ignore the million negative accumulated points for being late arriving somewhere at the end of the sorry scenario.

There are times that the engine power, tonnage and grade is stable near or at the track speed and the alerter will kick in at some point. ATC is the worst of the two.

Its not to be confused with American ABS (Automatic Block Signalling.) which keeps a block of track between trains protected by a yellow and a second block given a green. In special situations the signals will issue other commands related to speed and next upcoming signal situation etc. (Too much to get into here)

I am not the right person to delve into the details as provided by others here. I am learning also. Its not my forte to deal with technology while trying to keep a train to a schedule. Sometimes I think its similar to what modern trucking has become, a bunch of electronic killjoy non work nannies programmed to disrupt everything going from A to B in a very timely manner according to commerce.

Although I can appreciate what in cab signalling does at 110 mph, theres no time to read a block signal and decide what it is and what to do before you pass the damn thing.

[kennethlopezjr921]

[quote=cuavas;4032472470665101663

• New cab signalling speed. The alert must be acknowledged within seven seconds or you will suffer a penalty brake application. If the new speed limit is lower than the previous cab speed limit, you must cut power (move the master controller to “coast”) before acknowledging the alert.
  
• Approaching a permanent speed restriction too rapidly. You must cut power, set the train brakes to at least 40% and then acknowledge the alert, all within seven seconds or you will suffer a penalty brake application.

[/quote]

I actually missed 'put into coast acknowledge' part when on my first skim through the manual. While I did acknowledge the alert, it was before I had put the train into coast. Maybe that's why it was still going off no matter how many times I pressed 'Q' lol. I guess Im more used to aws (in train sim and in trainz railroad simulator), where I acknowledge the art first before putting the train into coast or put on the breaks, just because I find it hard to multi task for certain things. But I think putting to the train into coast then acknowledge the alerter will help me out with driving going forward. At least for LIRR, but Im sure its works the same in other ATC/ACSES routes like the 2 only good Northeast Corridor routes available for Train Sim Classic as an example.

[kennethlopezjr921]

Originally posted by x1Heavy:

Keeping in mind the Penalties dont matter if you ignore the million negative accumulated points for being late arriving somewhere at the end of the sorry scenario.

There are times that the engine power, tonnage and grade is stable near or at the track speed and the alerter will kick in at some point. ATC is the worst of the two.

Its not to be confused with American ABS (Automatic Block Signalling.) which keeps a block of track between trains protected by a yellow and a second block given a green. In special situations the signals will issue other commands related to speed and next upcoming signal situation etc. (Too much to get into here)

I am not the right person to delve into the details as provided by others here. I am learning also. Its not my forte to deal with technology while trying to keep a train to a schedule. Sometimes I think its similar to what modern trucking has become, a bunch of electronic killjoy non work nannies programmed to disrupt everything going from A to B in a very timely manner according to commerce.

Although I can appreciate what in cab signalling does at 110 mph, theres no time to read a block signal and decide what it is and what to do before you pass the damn thing.

I can relate to this whole heatedly. In terms of a game mechanic, ATC/ACSES feels a lot more distracting than helpful. I understand why most people like it but for me, it can feel very stressful having to keep track of it all while trying to get from destination to destination, especially when the train is literally yelling at you to do something in the form of the ACSES alerter. Kind of counter intuitive when I just wanna wind down after a long day. I do want to get better at it (and I hope you can to), but I think for the time being, I'll probably play with ATC/ACSES disabled. At least until I can get good at it

[cuavas]

Originally posted by kennethlopezjr921:

I can relate to this whole heatedly. In terms of a game mechanic, ATC/ACSES feels a lot more distracting than helpful. I understand why most people like it but for me, it can feel very stressful having to keep track of it all while trying to get from destination to destination, especially when the train is literally yelling at you to do something in the form of the ACSES alerter. Kind of counter intuitive when I just wanna wind down after a long day. I do want to get better at it (and I hope you can to), but I think for the time being, I'll probably play with ATC/ACSES disabled. At least until I can get good at it

The thing is, you’d be pretty much screwed if you were driving on one of the busier lines without ACSES in real life. The speed you’d need to drive at to have sufficient time to stop for a trackside signal after seeing it would be too slow to meet schedules. After a while you’ll learn to recognise the different beeps and react without having to consciously think about it. Yeah, it’s harder to adjust the controls on the screen with a mouse than in real life where you can feel the detents, but you’ll get there en the end.

ATC isn’t really that much of a problem once you know the route. It mostly just enforces track speed limits. Once you know how fast you should be going wherever you are, ATC will stay out of your way. Yes, they often have no trackside speed limit signs at all on routes where ATC is mandatory, but you can usually see upcoming speed limits on the HUD so you have a bit of warning and can learn where they are.

I realise it’s just a game, and if you just want to chill and drive trains, turning the safety systems off is a good idea. Also, you can memorise scenarios in the game, so you know where any other trains are, when you’ll get a red signal, etc. and avoid collisions and SPADs that way. You can’t do that in real life where any number of factors could combine to mean trains aren’t running exactly on schedule.

[kennethlopezjr921]

Originally posted by cuavas:

Originally posted by kennethlopezjr921:

I can relate to this whole heatedly. In terms of a game mechanic, ATC/ACSES feels a lot more distracting than helpful. I understand why most people like it but for me, it can feel very stressful having to keep track of it all while trying to get from destination to destination, especially when the train is literally yelling at you to do something in the form of the ACSES alerter. Kind of counter intuitive when I just wanna wind down after a long day. I do want to get better at it (and I hope you can to), but I think for the time being, I'll probably play with ATC/ACSES disabled. At least until I can get good at it

The thing is, you’d be pretty much screwed if you were driving on one of the busier lines without ACSES in real life. The speed you’d need to drive at to have sufficient time to stop for a trackside signal after seeing it would be too slow to meet schedules. After a while you’ll learn to recognise the different beeps and react without having to consciously think about it. Yeah, it’s harder to adjust the controls on the screen with a mouse than in real life where you can feel the detents, but you’ll get there en the end.

ATC isn’t really that much of a problem once you know the route. It mostly just enforces track speed limits. Once you know how fast you should be going wherever you are, ATC will stay out of your way. Yes, they often have no trackside speed limit signs at all on routes where ATC is mandatory, but you can usually see upcoming speed limits on the HUD so you have a bit of warning and can learn where they are.

I realise it’s just a game, and if you just want to chill and drive trains, turning the safety systems off is a good idea. Also, you can memorise scenarios in the game, so you know where any other trains are, when you’ll get a red signal, etc. and avoid collisions and SPADs that way. You can’t do that in real life where any number of factors could combine to mean trains aren’t running exactly on schedule.

That's fair. Im only looking at this in terms of game mechanics rather than in real life applications. I do understand the importance of ATC and ACSES in terms of safety, as operating without in real life would lead to disaster. I think out of the two, the ACSES is one I have to get more used to. That and not being able to stop perfectly right in front of a red signal on LIRR like I would in an other route. Like I said I do want to get better at operating with both systems and I think a good opportunity to do so would be during quick drive where nothing is really at stake (aka no scheduling and time tables to keep up with)