TrainController Gold and Silver - Freiwald Software

Graphical problems like these are solved with the help of nodes. These are additional
elements in the block diagram, that can help to reduce the complexity of a block diagram
and that can be used to create a clear structure. Nodes can be used in all cases,
where multiple blocks are to be connected with each other.
Nodes are used like blocks with regard to drawing in the block diagram. They are
represented by small rectangles and look like “small blocks”. Like blocks they can be
linked to multiple elements on both sides. This is shown in the following diagram:
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Diagram 159: Multiple Routes with Nodes
The node shown in Diagram 159 connects to 4 routes on both sides. The resulting structure
is very clear now and it can be clearly seen, which routes connect which two
blocks. The node additionally helped here to reduce the number of necessary routes
from 16 to 8. This was possible by splitting each route into two parts.
There is an important difference between blocks and nodes with regard to operation,
though: nodes are ignored during operation, i.e. they are just used to reduce the number
of necessary routes in the block diagram, but they have no counterpart on the real
layout and cannot be reserved by trains. Concurrent trains may “share” or “pass” the
same node simultaneously. Interlocking of concurrent trains must be done on the basis
of the reservation of blocks and routes. In the example above this means that concurrent
routes on the same side of the node must not be activated at the same time. This can be
achieved for instance by including common track elements into concurrent routes.