Need help with signalling a multi-station + stacker

[BustedHipGaming]

The station signals seem OK but no matter what I try, the stacker signals turn blue. Will edit to add links to the images of the entire setup and a close up of the stacker signals and station signals.

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1469559861

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1469560430

[BustedHipGaming]

OK, pics added. Where have I gone wrong?

[BustedHipGaming]

...am willing to make the map multiplayer if someone can come fix it and explain the solution. :)

[KatherineOfSky]

You need to remove the regular signals from the lower, horizontal track.

[BustedHipGaming]

Originally posted by KatherineOfSky:

You need to remove the regular signals from the lower, horizontal track.

Ok, took out all the bottom signals and the stacker signals all turn red. New problem: the signal at the top right just above the station now shows red, so that train will never be able to leave the station.

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1469691739

[catheterizedeye]

the signals are red because they tell the train "you have no place to park" I.E a station, when they are blue it has a potential path I.E the loop to the right of the track. speaking of the loop to the right ---- thats whats causing the red signal on the right station, just remove the right hand loop track. i think that will work.

[BustedHipGaming]

Originally posted by catheterizedeye:

the signals are red because they tell the train "you have no place to park" I.E a station, when they are blue it has a potential path I.E the loop to the right of the track. speaking of the loop to the right ---- thats whats causing the red signal on the right station, just remove the right hand loop track. i think that will work.

I put that track there as a bypass, a kind of "just in case" item. Would it be equally valid to put another station there, maybe a supply station to let a small fuel train deliver solid fuel bricks that would funnel over to the other stations and top off the locomotives as they load?

[The Chaotic Coder]

You need a signal (regular, not chain) just south of each loading station. Right now they're all in the same block, which means all 4 trains will have to leave before another will enter.

Also try putting a signal on the loop track on the right (or do as you said and turn it into a fuel dropoff, just make sure there are signals both before and after it). Right now the upper and lower horizontal tracks are part of the same block, so trains can't leave.

EDIT: After re-reading, it looks like you had it right the first time. The 4 trains at the stations all had green signals, so if their wait conditions were good they should've already gone and let the next trains come in from the stacker. What are the wait conditions set up like?

[BustedHipGaming]

Originally posted by jchardin64:

You need a signal (regular, not chain) just south of each loading station. Right now they're all in the same block, which means all 4 trains will have to leave before another will enter.

Also try putting a signal on the loop track on the right (or do as you said and turn it into a fuel dropoff, just make sure there are signals both before and after it). Right now the upper and lower horizontal tracks are part of the same block, so trains can't leave.

EDIT: After re-reading, it looks like you had it right the first time. The 4 trains at the stations all had green signals, so if their wait conditions were good they should've already gone and let the next trains come in from the stacker. What are the wait conditions set up like?

There's nowhere for them to go yet, I have not built the smelting facility for the trains to drop stuff off at. :)

[The Chaotic Coder]

Well, as soon as you do that, everything should work fine. (if you put the signals at the entrance to each station and on the loop track)

When your chain signals are blue, all that means is "some paths are clear, others are blocked." In your case, the 4 stations are occupied but the right-hand loop is clear, so the signals turn blue. If the trains are told to go to the stations, they'll wait at the blue chain signals until one of the stations is free. If they're told to go somewhere else, then they'll pass the chain signals and use the loop track.

[Warlord]

You had it half right both times. Katherine wanted you to remove the bottom regular signals ONLY on the completely horizontal parts. You should still keep a regular signal on each part of the track that curves north to head into a station. If you don't have that, any train that enters any one of the stations will be in the same "block" as every other station.

As for the original question, what was wrong with a blue signal for the trains at the stacker? That simply indicates that there are multiple exits, one of which is valid. If the far right loopback track section is for if a train that doesn't end up wanting to park here (a random artillery train, for whatever reason) can loop back to the main line, right? In which case, even under perfectly placed signals, EVERY chain signal at the stacker will be blue, because the loopback bypass track should be available at all times.