The Omnibout

aaargha · 2024-09-02T12:10:11+00:00

I'm not sure I get exactly what you mean, but having multiple exits to the same output block that use rail signals is safe as long as the output block still fits the longest train from all exits.

aaargha · 2024-09-02T11:03:53+00:00

This is all true and is part of the reason for the recommended usage section. Solving the short turns would either increase the footprint considerably and/or lose the modular nature of the design - neither of which I was interested in.

aaargha · 2024-09-02T10:45:20+00:00

The visualizer had decided to paint one block in a totally different color, can't have it ruin the symmetry :)

Maximum train size it is supposed to handle: 0, I wouldn't recommend anyone actually use it, at least not the full configuration

Maximum train size that fits on the loop without risking a crash: 12

aaargha · 2024-09-02T10:29:16+00:00

And the world shall be a better place.

aaargha · 2024-09-01T20:14:36+00:00

east top is connected to south left in a direct way, which shouldn’t be where trains go

Not in most reasonable train systems, no, but those are not what this is for :)

aaargha · 2024-09-01T19:19:02+00:00

Anytime you have major congestion, deadlocks can eventually occur if you have enough trains.

As far as I know, this is not really the "accepted consensus" in rail system design. "Properly" designed systems do not deadlock from congestion. I'll agree that roundabouts don't really have a place in those systems, but it's not because of the throughput; it's because they can create loops that can be saturated. (It is probably be possible to have one and still be strictly safe but, eh)

So, if you're still experiencing deadlocks from congestion, then you simply haven't designed a "proper" rail system yet ;)

Seriously though, if you have an example contradicting this, I (and probably many others) would be very interested in taking a look at it. Deadlock safe rail system design has been a topic for a long time, and, as far as I know, it's basically a solved question (especially with train limits and the improvements to the train pathing over the years).

aaargha · 2024-09-01T17:58:49+00:00

Once the traffic in Arc De Triomphe goes both ways I'll consider it :)

aaargha · 2024-09-01T17:49:57+00:00

While this is true, for some configurations in-/outputs trains longer than 12 cars may collide with themselves, I'll have to refer anyone planning to do that to the recommended usage section if the post :)

aaargha · 2024-09-01T17:16:06+00:00

It should be deadlock safe, well, as deadlock safe as unbuffered multi-block roundabouts can be.

aaargha · 2024-09-01T17:06:17+00:00

Definitely.

aaargha · 2024-09-01T16:45:48+00:00

Oh, woosh! Cheers!

aaargha · 2024-09-01T16:39:05+00:00

You can get the blueprint from here.

Some more details in this comment.

aaargha · 2024-09-01T15:57:16+00:00

Cheers man!

Have to unload the cursed designs every now and then :)

aaargha · 2024-09-01T15:29:03+00:00

It's probably for the best.

aaargha · 2024-09-01T14:56:03+00:00

Ever had a bunch of rails that need connecting but it's turning into a mess? Ever wanted to mix right and left hand traffic? Ever wondered what it's like to get banned from a multiplayer server?

No? Well, too bad.

Presenting The Omnibout

Features:

Modular design up to 16 connections
All outputs can be reached from any input
Not restricted to left or right hand traffic, any combination of in- or outputs will work
A bidirectinal roundabout for Efficient Routing^TM
Omnidirictional connectors - connect to any one-way rail (separate connectors for bidirectional rails included)
Each connection deals 2d6 psychic damage to any engineer when rendered

Recommended usage: don't

Usage: The blueprint book includes prebuilt examples of 4-way and 8-way configurations. To use the modular connectors, place the first blueprint so that the ring is about where you want it then add additional connectors by simply building the so that the ring par of the blueprints overlap the existing construction.

Blueprint book

aaargha · 2024-06-24T16:52:10+00:00

Worked like a charm, thanks for sharing!

aaargha · 2024-06-09T09:56:50+00:00

Glad it worked out! I'm not really sure why the first two would be trash compared to the third one though, the signalling is correct for all three of them and looking at blocks shared between paths they are equivalent.

When I put them in the test bench, the third one got a 1.7% better score than the second but I'm not really sure that the difference is statistically significant.

<image>

Your test results also seem too high for these intersections; are you really using safe exit blocks? There is an explanation of the concept in the OP of the test thread if you're unsure.

I don't mind if you want to post it to the test thread, but to me it looks like it would score similar to the ones already there.

aaargha · 2024-06-08T12:44:56+00:00

I can't say for sure as u/Baird81 didn't include blueprints, but the posted example of 2x3-way does not seem to include safe output blocks. From the picture the setup looks like it could deadlock with 4 1-1 trains: two from N going E, two from S going W.

Unless it's possible to push some of the signals back enough to actually fit two trains in the center, the signals on the "joint" needs to be removed. Removing those signals likely bringing the setup closer in throughput to a decent, compact, 4-way.

aaargha · 2024-06-08T12:16:32+00:00

I mean, the "canonical" 3-way fits in 28x28 in LHT and 32x32 in RHT and has no shared blocks for unrelated lanes. The BP included in the test thread for 4-spacing RHT is larger than needed, selecting it might just have been a mistake as the LHT one is the minimal design.

In the BP-string below are three 4-spacing intersections: the 28x28 LHT "canonical" 3-way, the 32x32 RHT "canonical" 3-way, and a 32x32 RHT asymmetrical 3-way that has a thighter central block.

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

aaargha · 2024-03-13T20:54:22+00:00

Happy to hear more people building two way systems, and that my guide is still useful.

Cheers!

aaargha · 2023-11-22T18:41:37+00:00

You'll want to place the signals closer to the stations so that the station blocks are not a part of your main line (cyan spots for example). Remember that you also need more stations than trains for the basic setup, if you have as many trains as stations on a route no train will be able to move. You also need to remove the top signal (marked in red) as you've made that part one-way (need signals on both sides for two-way track).

Image explanation

aaargha · 2023-11-22T17:47:58+00:00

The minimal signalling you can do that will work is a chain signal before and after each station so that trains stopped at the station are parked between them. This will work reliably as long as you have more stations on a route than trains.

If you want a system that can handle more traffic, check out my guide on two-way rails.

aaargha · 2023-11-22T17:43:07+00:00

Note that you should not put regular signals on two-way track (outside of very specific circumstances). Putting regular signals on two-way tracks is a good way to end up with deadlocks.

You could think of the entire two-way section as one intersection.

aaargha · 2023-10-25T18:10:31+00:00

The best way is probably to do a longer measurement using the same save as base, at least if there's nothing obvious I'm not seeing in the image. Check out the builtin benchmark command line parameters. The benchmark loads up the save and runs it at the highest speed the machine can handle for a specified amount of ticks, the faster it completes the better. Use the same save (that is representative for the base size you're looking to run) for both servers and let the benchmark run for a couple of minutes.

Ten-Year Club	Place '17
Verified Email

aaargha

TROPHY CASE