Tutorial: Test Your Track - Part 2

This is part two of my tutorial on how to test stretches of track with the help of an "automated" train.
Part one of this tutorial can be found here.

In the first part I have shown you how to set up the scenario and how to add waypoints.
The second part will now deal with a problem that could affect you:

What happens if the train path leaves the line you want to test, although the waypoints are selected correctly?

Because of the way the RW/TS "Dispatcher" calculates train paths, this is a likely problem. As you can see in the following screenshots, it indeed also occured during my own testing.

 

I want to test the southbound line, but here the "dispatcher" reroutes the test train's path over a switch to the northbound line for several miles. The next picture gives a better overview of the situation.

The left arrow marks the southbound and the right the northbound line. The automatic "dispatcher" has chosen the northbound line because it is the shortest way between two of my waypoints. To avoid this, you need to set another waypoint.

10 - Search and select the Destination Marker.  

Note: Markers placed in the scenario editor are only for the respective scenario and do not affect the route itself. They will not appear in other scenarios.

11 - Place the Marker onto the track your test train should run on. The location should be shortly after the switch over which the "dispatcher" wrongly reroutes your train.

12 - Give the marker a new name in the right flyout (doubleclick on the marker pole). This helps you to easily find it in timetable view.

13 - Back in timetable view, add the newly placed marker as waypoint. Make sure that the sequence of waypoints from start point to final destination remains correct. You will notice that the test train path now runs on the desired line (shown by the arrow in my example).

Always check if the test train path is set correctly. If you have ironed out all the "dispatcher's" false reroutes, your 2D map should look somewhat like this. The train path always follows the line you want to test.

14 - You can now close the timetable view.

15 - Click on the Drive button and save the scenario.
The scenario will now load and the test train will automatically begin to travel the line. You can now watch it or do something else. If there is a major fault in your trackwork, the train will derail there.

If you want to accompany your little test train, the following tip might interest you:

In the RW/TS Launcher, enable the EnableAsyncKeys function in your Settings before starting the game. If you now run a scenario, you can accelerate the time by pressing Ctrl and 1 - 5. 1 is normal time speed, 5 the normal time speed multiplied by five - the scenario runs five times faster.

I hope that this two part tutorial was enjoyable to read, understandable and helpful. If there are any questions, please drop me a comment.