Method 1
When a train has crossed over another line on a crossing, the point leading to that crossing needs to be put back to the "straight ahead" position. This is because power to the crossing is fed by the position of the point and it needs to be ready for a train running on the "straight" path through the crossing.
All my rolling stock now has resistor wheelsets. This means that when the track section running through the crossing ceases to be occupied by a train, the point can be set back to "normal" position. This is quite easy to do.
- Go into "edit" mode.
- Double click on the contact indicator for the track sensor after the crossing.
- Select the "operations" tab.
- Select operating state to be "off" (i.e. dark red, unlit)
- Select "system operations", "delay" then press "add", and choose 10 seconds
- Select "turnouts", choose the right one then press "add", and double click on the turnout to select the "straight ahead" direction.
This approach is generally OK. However it sometimes fails if a very slow train takes it time completing its way through the next block, and the track behind stays reserved; in that case, the point is still part of a reserved route and doesn't change.
Method 2
This method adds the point into a route running through the "straight" path of the crossing. This way, Traincontroller deliberately activates the point for both "straight" and "crossing" paths through the diamond crossing.
To use this method, add the relevant point (turnout) as an operation of the route. You can edit route settings from the block diagram window; choose the "routes" tab at the bottom of the list at the left. With "lock" selected, another schedule won't change the state of that point while the route through the crossing is reserved. However, you can still operate it manually from the switchboard: I assumed that wouldn't be possible when locked. The point can still be used "straight through" by another schedule: it just can't change.
This method seems to work and the point is driven by Traincontroller's "deliberate" operations, so we aren't dependent on a time to hope tha trains will have reached a safe position after that time. It does only happen after the previous route was released, which can be some time after the train passed; it would be less intrusive if the track were released sooner after the train had passed. I'll need to look into that.
