Any secrets to orienting yourself in railyard?

[Larry]

One thing I have struggled with in this sim, is determining where I am located in a railyard. The yard diagram isn't an accurate representation of the layout (..it's a simplified one), so unless you are standing by a track number sign (or at an obvious landmark like the office) I find it hard to establish where I am. That isn't helped by the (current) lack of a compass.

Any tricks/tips to orienting yourself in the yard? It's bad enough on foot, but when your are operating the train, you obviously don't want to be randomly driving around until you spot some clue. The track signs are so small, you can't easily read them from a distance, and have to practically go to them just to see if you're in the right spot.

Curious about how others deal with it... I feel like I'm missing something obvious here.

[bendigo (1983-2023) RIP]

I just did a lot of shunting missions at each yard and learned the layout. The yard maps are useful if you learn how to read them.

[PlutoProductions]

You can use the world map as a rudimentary compass as your player is the blue arrow that points the direction you're looking. Right-Click on mouse is also a zoom function for looking at things from a distance. The station schematic maps are also always aligned north and the entrance/exits are labeled in their respective direction

[Talkingpeanut]

Originally posted by PlutoProductions:

The station schematic maps are also always aligned north and the entrance/exits are labeled in their respective direction

I'm pretty sure they're not (aligned north), but absolutely you can use the world map to orient yourself with whichever entrance you're at

Once you know what entrance you're at, well, you're on a train, you can only go left or right at each switch, so follow each one in order - the map is designed for you to get from point to point rather than show a bird's-eye view of the area

[PlutoProductions]

Can confirm maps are Not aligned to due North. Guess I don't spend a lot of time at the 'vertical' stations to have noticed. (;

[Larry]

Yup, I've used the map, as well as landmarks, and entrances/exits of the layout map... Still, with the maps being very simplified (not showing the real curves/scale, etc) it can get unnecessarily tricky for me to spot my location... especially in moments where you don't see much track, as the various buildings/props block your view.

Just kind of wish the station layout maps were 'accurate'. I wouldn't need anything like a live marker where I'm standing on the map itself (...although I wouldn't say no to one, either). Maybe some more landmarks or something on the map, too. I just find it unnecessarily tricky, currently.

But, ya, for sure... After several sessions at the same station, I'm sure you'll recognise areas and be able to link them to their counterparts on the layout map. Until then, though... ugh...

A higher res (more detailed, less blobby) track display on the world map would help, too...

I'm surprised I haven't found some user-made 'overhead views' of the stations, to use as external map references.

[PlutoProductions]

If you're interested there is a mod for the game called Remote Dispatch that's lets you control your games switches from an external window. With it comes a 'aerial' view of the map but it will appear as a digital switchboard rather than a picture taken from above.

[Larry]

Cool... I wasn't even aware there were mods for this. I'll have to check them out. Thanks.

[PlutoProductions]

Here's a link to save you some trouble :)
https://www.nexusmods.com/derailvalley

[Larry]

Awesomeness... Thanks

[Altfuture]

What I find particularly useful to orientate in yards (and primarily why I added it) is the arrow showing the direction to the office on schematic station map yard pages. If you know the yard and know where the station is, seeing this arrow can help you quickly orientate.

[Larry]

I'll check for that... although the office itself is marked on the schematic, too, isn't it?

I'm surprised that each Y section (track splits) doesn't have a sign that says 'These things are this way, those things are that'... so you know which branch to take. I suppose this is how it might be in real life, but it's odd still that there's no 'in advance' type signs, preventing you from taking an early track 'turn' that will lead you into an area where the target track is no longer accessible (and you would have to backtrack all the way to get to the branch where you can then go on the right track).

[wooddude92]

I downloaded and printed pdf files and hole punched them and put them into a binder. The PDF maps have an overview of the entire yard

[Larry]

We'd need to tap into some sort of Free Camera mode, position it above the stations, and screengrab it... I've never tried to see if you can 'fly' with the cam, or if it's just ground level.

@wooddude92 : Did someone make accurate yard images and post them online somewhere? On the web, I can only find the simplified ones that are available in-game.

[Rick]

The station maps did take some time to get used to, they are a schematic map of the track layout and not a true representation of the station area.

[Larry]

Understood, and I see some reasons why a simplified version would be chosen.

I think maybe I have to approach them differently, and look at them and memorize 'Left, Right, Left, Third'.... although I suspect I'll still struggle with that, and not just in the 'trying to do all that as my train is moving forward and approaching the decision point very quickly, because slowing the train will cause loss of momentum and cost me valuable time' kind of sense.

Again, all this seems like it would vanish if there were 'freeway' like signs, where each split has a sign that tells you what lays ahead... virtually removing the exclusive need for a map (...but not entirely removing it). But I feel like I'll eventually improve, mostly out of using better techniques than I currently am.

But, if that's how the real yards are, I just have to 'git gud'..... (...ugh, I threw up in my mouth a little there...)