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Hands-on β‘‘ Double-track turnaroundLv.2

Railway Operation Simulator

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Playing Guide / Your First Custom Map / Hands-on β‘  / Hands-on β‘‘ Double-track turnaround

πŸ” Goal and finished image

In Hands-on β‘‘, you'll build a map where a train turns around at a double-track station (two lines, inbound and outbound). It's a 2-platform / 3-track station with a "center track" for turnarounds in the middle. A train arriving from the down direction enters the center track, reverses direction, and departs in the up direction β€” that's the kind of operation you'll be able to set up.

A train arriving on the center track (track 2)
A train arriving from the down direction reaches the turnaround center track (track 2).
The train reversing and departing from the center track in the up direction
The same train reverses direction and departs from the center track in the up direction.

What you'll learn that's new in this tutorial

  • Creating a custom train class (specifying name and color code)
  • Building a double-track station with a center track (2 platforms / 3 tracks) and a single crossover
  • Setting up through trains
  • Advanced signal logic: AND conditions and two-aspect signals
  • Turnaround operations (linking two path groups, "Create and register next operation")
Prerequisite: This page continues from Hands-on β‘  (single-track passing). The basics of map creation (the Company β†’ Wiring β†’ Equipment β†’ Operations flow, and how to place levers, routes, and signals) are explained in Hands-on β‘ , so here we'll keep the repetition brief and explain the new parts in detail.

✏️ Design (2 platforms / 3 tracks, turnaround on the center track)

This station has a center track for turnarounds between the two main lines (double track) of the up and down directions. From top to bottom, the tracks are track 1 (down main line), track 2 (center track), and track 3 (up main line).

Turnaround Down line Up line Track 1 (down main) Track 2 (center / turnaround) Track 3 (up main)
2 platforms / 3 tracks. A train that branches off the down line into the center track (track 2) reverses direction (turns around) and exits onto the up line. Tracks 1 and 3 are main lines for passing through or stopping.
Route rules (this time): Down trains (heading right) go to track 1 or the center track; up trains (heading left) go to track 3. The center track (track 2) is a dead end, dedicated to entering from the down line β†’ turning around β†’ exiting onto the up line. This gives you 6 routes in total: 3 arrival and 3 departure.

🏒 STEP1γ€€Company (create a custom train class)

Create a new map (e.g. map name Turnaround Station, scenario Day) and start from the Company category. The basics are the same as Hands-on β‘ , so here we'll focus on the new topic of "creating a custom train class".

1-1. Create your own train class (color code)

Beyond just picking from the default bank, you can create a class by specifying its name and colors yourself. This time we'll prepare Through Local for the turning-around train and Local for the through train. Colors use a 6-digit color code, and you can specify three: background color, text color, and diagram color.

ColorRecommendedExample
Text colorWhite unless you have a preferenceFFFFFF
Background colorDark (makes the badge easy to read)Dark green 006400
Diagram colorSomewhat bright (easy to see on the diagram)Lime 00FF00
If you leave the diagram color empty: the background color is used for the diagram color as is. On the diagram, a slightly brighter color makes the line easier to follow, so it's best to specify it separately.
Screen for creating a custom train class (name + color code)
You can create a train class with your own name and colors (background, text, diagram).

1-2. Prepare two train types

Create two vehicles to run (the procedure is the same as Hands-on β‘ ).

  • Type 10: 10-car formation, 200m, light blue
  • Type 11: 8-car formation, 160m, yellow-green

β†’ For details, see the Company editing guide

πŸ›€ STEP2γ€€Wiring (double track + center track, single crossover)

Drawing from the middle of the station is the same as Hands-on β‘ . This time the key points are that there are more tracks and the single crossover.

2-1. Draw the station's three tracks

Draw the track circuits for track 1, track 2 (center track), and track 3.

Leave 6 cells between tracks that have a platform: later, the track-number labels ("Track 1", "Track 2", etc.) sit inside the platforms. If the spacing between tracks is too narrow, the labels overlap and become hard to read, so it's safest to leave about 6 cells where there are platforms (4 cells is fine where there's no platform).

2-2. Build the single crossover (combining single switches)

To connect the center track to the up and down main lines, you need a single crossover. A single crossover is made by combining two single switches (picture a straight side and a diverging side, two of each).

To achieve both "entering the center track from the down line" and "exiting onto the up line from the center track," you combine at least three single switches (when making the middle a Y shape), or sometimes four (when making a Z shape).

A structure combining three single switches to connect to the center track
A single crossover is a combination of single switches. Combine 3 or 4 so the center track can be accessed from both the down and up lines.

2-3. Track circuits outside the station (three sections each for up and down)

Outside the station (the double-track section), place three track circuits each for the up and down lines. Splitting into sections makes it easier to see a train gradually approaching, and also prevents approach locking from suddenly kicking in.

Preview with only the track circuits placed
Outside the station, three sections each for the up and down lines. Once the tracks are drawn, check in the preview.

2-4. Set length and speed limit in bulk

LocationLengthSpeed limit
Station main lines (tracks 1 & 3)200m80km/h
Center track (track 2, dead end)200m45km/h
Switch (shorter side)20m45km/h
Switch (longer side)40m80km/h
Diagonal track circuit just before entering the station40m (optional)80km/h (optional)
Since the center track is a dead end, keep its speed slow (45km/h). Making the diagonal switch sections short and fast so trains slip through quickly looks "the part," but you don't have to be strict about it here.

2-5. Register the station and platforms (all three tracks)

Select the track circuits, register a station name (e.g. Station with a turnaround center track), assign track 1, track 2, and track 3 from top to bottom, and update. Then place the platforms too (the procedure is the same as Hands-on β‘ ).

Tip for station names: you don't need to include "Station" in the station name field (e.g. Turnaround center track). The display side tidies it up automatically.

β†’ For details, see the Wiring editing guide

🚦 STEP3γ€€Equipment (6 routes, advanced signal logic)

3-1. The six routes and levers you need

There are 3 arrival and 3 departure routes. As in Hands-on β‘ , manage levers with start levers as numbers (right-heading = 1 digit / left-heading = 2 digits) and end levers as letters.

RouteMeaningStartEnd
1ADown β†’ arrive on track 11A (track 1)
1BDown β†’ arrive on track 2 (center track)1B (track 2)
11CUp β†’ arrive on track 311C (track 3)
2DTrack 1 β†’ depart to the down line2D (down main line)
12ETrack 2 (center track) β†’ depart to the up line (turnaround)12E (up main line)
13ETrack 3 β†’ depart to the up line13E (up main line)
Routes and approach locking (recap): Register a route as "start lever β†’ end lever β†’ track circuits it passes through." The pass-through list does not include the start lever's track circuit; it starts from the next one up to the end lever. Approach locking specifies the start lever's track circuit. For details, see the Glossary, "Approach locking".
Levers and all six routes set up
Set up the levers and routes for all 6 routes: 3 arrival and 3 departure.

3-2. Place the signals (home, starting, block)

Home and starting signals are paired with routes. Place them all on the left side of the direction of travel for consistency. Since 1A and 1B are routes that use the same start lever "1," it's clearer to place them stacked vertically on screen (track 1 on the left, track 2 on the right from the driver's view).

For protection between stations, also place block signals. For a block signal, specify the track circuit you want to protect with Shift+left-click and place it just before that circuit.

Watch the direction of block signals: specify the track circuit on the direction-of-travel side (for right-heading, the track circuit to the right of the signal). If you do it the other way around, you won't protect the section you intend to. Also, don't overlap with the range a starting signal already protects (being aware of "which track circuit each signal is responsible for" helps you avoid overlap).
Leave yellow conditions for later: setting the yellow (caution) condition requires the "next signal," so it goes smoothly to place all the signals first and then set the yellow conditions.

3-3. (Lv2 key point β‘ ) AND condition β€” just before two conflicting routes

1A (arrive on track 1) and 1B (arrive on track 2) are conflicting routes that branch from the same down main line. Consider the yellow condition of the signal just before these two.

This is AND. 1A and 1B can't be opened at the same time (one is always red). If you set "1A is red OR 1B is red," then one is always red, so the signal before it stays yellow forever.
The correct setting is "1A is red AND 1B is red" β€” make the preceding signal yellow only when both are red.
Screen setting the yellow condition with 1A and 1B as an AND condition
Just before two conflicting routes, use AND. Make it yellow only when both are red.

3-4. (Lv2 key point β‘‘) Two-aspect signal β€” the dead-end center track

The home signal for 1B (arrive on track 2 = center track) has no next signal (because the center track is a dead end). If you do nothing, it turns green the moment the route is opened.

On real railways, when there is no next signal (the way ahead is blocked), a train enters on yellow. To reproduce this, use the two-aspect signal checkbox, which limits the maximum aspect to yellow (it won't go green and stops at yellow = enter with caution).

If this is too difficult, leaving it green causes no operational problem (only a difference in realism from reality). Set it up only if it bothers you.
Screen setting the 1B signal as a two-aspect signal
Make 1B, which enters the dead-end center track, a two-aspect signal. It's limited to a yellow aspect at most.
Preview with all signals placed
The state with all signals placed.

3-5. Departure buttons

Place a departure button on each of tracks 1 through 3 (the procedure is the same as Hands-on β‘ ).

β†’ For details, see the Equipment editing guide

πŸ“‹ STEP4γ€€Operations (through and turnaround)

There are more patterns in operations. We'll proceed in order: β‘  a recap of arrival/departure β†’ β‘‘ through trains β†’ β‘’ turnaround.

4-1. Recap: a path group that arrives and departs on track 1

Operations β†’ Path group. Set the appearance TC (the track circuit where the train appears) and the appearance offset (how many seconds before the station stop it appears), and register the steps in the order route 1A β†’ station stop (Shift+left-click) β†’ route 2D (same as Hands-on β‘ ). The departure board can be set to "auto" for a single line. Create the track-3 arrival/departure the same way.

4-2. Create a through train

For a train you want to pass through rather than stop, just change the stop step to "Pass".

  1. Create a new path group (e.g. Track 1 through, direction "right")
  2. The steps are the same as arrival/departure (1A β†’ station β†’ 2D)
  3. Press the "Stop" button on the middle station step and change it to "Pass"
  4. Register the through train in the train list (e.g. out-of-service train 9001, with an appearance offset shorter than a stop, such as 60 seconds). Be sure to press the "Update" button after editing
Screen with the station stop step changed to through
For a through train, just switch the station step from "Stop" to "Pass".

4-3. (Lv2 key point β‘’) Turnaround operation β€” linking two path groups

For a train that turns around on the center track (track 2), create two path groups, "for arrival" and "for departure," and link them.

β‘  The arrival path group

  1. Path group ID (e.g. Track 2 arrival), direction "right"
  2. The appearance TC is the leftmost track circuit. Since the center track is slow at 45km/h, set the appearance offset longer than the track-1 arrival (e.g. 105 seconds)
  3. Steps: route 1B β†’ stop on the track-2 track circuit. At this point, change the stop to "Turnaround (with service)"
Screen setting the station stop step to turnaround (passenger stop)
Set the station step of the arrival group to "Turnaround." This is the switch for the turnaround action.

β‘‘ The departure path group

  1. Path group ID (e.g. Track 2 departure), with the opposite direction "left"
  2. The appearance TC is the track-2 track circuit (inheriting the place where the previous operation = arrival ended)
  3. Leave the appearance offset blank (don't specify it for a turnaround inherited from the previous operation)
  4. Steps: stop on the track-2 track circuit (this one can stay a normal "Stop (with service)") β†’ depart on route 12E
Screen setting up the departure path group (direction left, appearance TC on the center track, appearance offset blank)
The departure group. The key is to set the appearance TC to the center track and leave the appearance offset blank.
How they link: the arrival group enters on 1B and performs a "Turnaround" at the station step β†’ at that moment it switches to the departure group β†’ it stays stopped until the departure button is pressed β†’ it departs on 12E. The two key points are "make the arrival-side step a turnaround" and "on the departure side, set the appearance TC to the previous operation's location and leave the appearance offset blank."

4-4. Register the train and "Create and register next operation"

  1. Create a train in the train list (e.g. 5001, Type 11, Through Local, path group Track 2 arrival, arrival 10:04)
  2. For a train whose path group ends with a turnaround, a "Create and register next operation" button appears. Press it
  3. A train with train number 5001_2 is created automatically, and the train type is inherited too. Specify the train class and the path group (Track 2 departure), and enter the departure time (e.g. 10:05)
  4. Tidy up the times on the arrival side (5001) too, as in "arrive 10:04 / depart 10:05"
Where the 'Create and register next operation' button is
For a train that ends with a turnaround, a "Create and register next operation" button appears. This links arrival β†’ turnaround departure into one continuous train.

4-5. Diagram and verification

Since the diagram is for a double track, register the rows in this order: two on the left end for up and down, tracks 1–3 of the station, and two on the right end for up and down (Hands-on β‘  was single track with one row on the left end, but this time it's two each).

Screen setting the left-end diagram rows for a double track (up and down)
Since it's a double track, register two rows each on the left and right ends for up and down.
Diagram preview
Through trains and arrivals/departures are drawn on the diagram.

Save and preview. You succeed if a turnaround line is drawn on the diagram, and the departure board shows the class (Through Local) and train number as up (left) direction.

Screen showing the diagram with the turnaround and the departure board side by side
A turnaround line on the diagram, and the up-direction turnaround train shown on the departure board.

πŸŽ‰ Done! On to the next level

Nice work. At a double-track station, you can now set up three operation patterns: through, arrival/departure, and turnaround. In particular, the idea of linking two path groups to turn around, plus AND conditions and two-aspect signals, are the high points of Lv2.

If it doesn't work

  • The preceding signal stays yellow: is the yellow condition for the two conflicting routes set to OR? (β†’ change it to AND)
  • The signal into the center track stays green: did you make the dead-end-side signal two-aspect?
  • It doesn't turn around / the departure side doesn't appear: did you set the arrival-side step to "Turnaround," set the departure side's appearance TC to track 2, and leave the appearance offset blank?
  • Error when saving: did you forget to press the "Update" button after editing the path group?
Next is Hands-on β‘’ Shunting with a pull-out track (turnaround): you'll take on a turnaround with an operation change using a pull-out track. You'll build one step more advanced: arrive as a local train β†’ change to out-of-service and go to the pull-out track β†’ return to the main line.

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