Basic "Y" junction; can't get it to work right

[ScottVal]

Hello-
I'm trying to create a simple Y-shaped junction. I want trains to be able to move in either direction on all the track. I have put two bi-directional signals near the junction (in the top parts of the "Y", as close as possible to the junction).

Another way to explain this is: I have a station at the base of the "Y". I'm feeding the station with two lines which come together just prior to the station. I'm operating two trains, one on the line going off to the right and the other on the line going off to the left.

The signals essentially create three blocks, one for the line going off to the right, the other for the line going off to the left, and the other for the junction itself and the station.

I'll give the three blocks these names: (1) Upper right block, (2) upper left block and (3) station block. It's really quite simple. (I don't think a screenshot or picture is necessary.)

Wierd things happen, like a train in the uppoer left block will be heading toward the station and reach its signal, but then reverse for no apparent reason. (The other train is not in the station block.)

Another wierd thing is I can't pick up the train in the upper-left block and put it down in the station block, even though the station block is clear.

This leads me to believe there is some basic concept I'm not getting. Can anyone help?

Thanks.
-Scott

[Illegal_Alien]

Got a screenshot? (In buildmode please so we can see the signal arrows.)

[ScottVal]

OK, to illustrate my question I've created a simple junction and taken a screenshot of it. Actually, this junction seems to work fine; one train runs from the station at the bottom (Breakers Bridge) to the station at the upper left, and the other train runs from the Breakers Bridge to the station at the upper right. One train carries coal, and the other, iron ore.

[ScottVal]

Here I've made the railroad a little more complex, by adding a run from Breakers Bridge off to the right, for a train to deliver steel. I figured that I could add a bi-directional signal to the right of the Breakers Bridge station, and this would keep trains from colliding at (or near) that station.

However, when the train coming in from the right reaches the signal, it sometimes reverses direction and goes back the other way. This seems to be when there is already a train in the block to the left of the signal.

I would prefer that the train wait until the block is clear, and then proceed into the block (rather than reversing direction and going back).

The other trains would also sometimes reverse direction at the signals, so everything is out of whack now.

I realize that I could simply build another, separate station to pick up the steel, but this approach should save construction costs (if money is tight), and also illustrates what you can and cannot do with signals.

Thanks for your help. -Scott

[rdrdrdrd]

just use two tracks for that man

[uktrackbuilder_loco]

Here I've made the railroad a little more complex, by adding a run from Breakers Bridge off to the right, for a train to deliver steel. I figured that I could add a bi-directional signal to the right of the Breakers Bridge station, and this would keep trains from colliding at (or near) that station.

However, when the train coming in from the right reaches the signal, it sometimes reverses direction and goes back the other way. This seems to be when there is already a train in the block to the left of the signal.

I would prefer that the train wait until the block is clear, and then proceed into the block (rather than reversing direction and going back).

The other trains would also sometimes reverse direction at the signals, so everything is out of whack now.

I realize that I could simply build another, separate station to pick up the steel, but this approach should save construction costs (if money is tight), and also illustrates what you can and cannot do with signals.

Thanks for your help. -Scott

Put two platforms in on using directional signals, not the uni directionals that allow reversible working or have two terminating platforms with one through road, what is happening is because you have created a situation where the train cannot process into the third block.

The set of uni directional signals you have put in past the station mean that block can be occupied and thus prevent any train from passing that point.