trouble with stacker

[Nethogen]

i have this stacker...if you can call it that
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1573353352

My problem is this, all the trains use the rail to the far left and no matter how i lay out the signals ( chain and normal) they always gridlock on the far left line.

how can i fix this its driving me nuts

[The Chaotic Coder]

They're going on the left path because it's the shortest.

If you put a train stop on each track in the stacker, name them "Stack 1", "Stack 2", and so on, then you can manually tell each train to go to a different track before proceeding to the next station. That's the easiest way to do it.

I would also recommend not using two-directional trains. Once you have this level of complexity, making trains just go one direction will save you a lot of trouble with them getting in each other's way.

[Nethogen]

And thats the second problem, id have to tear down the entire base to build turn abouts to have the more normal set up of one way trains and im to lazy to do it all over again :(

[Nethogen]

but there is no way to set up signals to direct trains to use other lines if one is already in use? even if i need to learn the circuit network i will but it just seems very primitive if i have to use stations for a statging area

[The Chaotic Coder]

You can use the circuit network to change the colors of signals. There are some good tutorials on YouTube about it. Just search for something like "Factorio smart train stacker" or "Factorio train stacker tutorial". The circuits involved aren't too complex, and it's a good way to start how the circuit network works. The thing is most of them are for 1-directional trains, so I'm not sure how well they'd work with your design.

[Nethogen]

ok, i may just have to break down and start rebuilding...again thank you for the info!

[The_Mell]

Maybe - and i want to be clear that i say maybe - your problem is the way you merge&separate lanes. Part of my problem right now is that i'm not sure what you mean by gridlock (What do trains do and what not?) and i never use 2headed trains - so not sure if what i say might help.

You go 2 to 7 in one intersection at top but this is not separated from your train stop - you block the intersection with a stopped train.
Then i'm not even sure which kind of signals you use there and in a 2way rail system those head end stations (?) are the only places where a normal (3 light) signal makes sense.
As a test to make it work i would place 2 normal signals (1 for ech lane) inbound to that station outside of train length with corresponding chain signals outbound into 2-7-intersection. (Probably do this on both ends of train route to be sure.)

[Zorz]

Originally posted by Nethogen:

i have this stacker...if you can call it that
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1573353352

My problem is this, all the trains use the rail to the far left and no matter how i lay out the signals ( chain and normal) they always gridlock on the far left line.

how can i fix this its driving me nuts

on your "stacker" u have to use a rail signal for an incoming train and a chain signal for outgoing.

actually u use chainsignal for incoming and outgoing, but then never a train will stop and use the stacker.

[Nethogen]

Zorz, i want to thank you for the help, it did work and now everything is as smooth as butter!