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Passing trains from manual to automatic control
The key is the block marked with an “A”. It marks the interface between the manual
and the automatic part of the layout. If trains leaving the manual part of the layout shall
be passed to automatic control without further interaction a train detection device is
needed here (see section 5.5, “Train Detection and Train Tracking”). Such a device is
able to detect which train is about to enter the automatic part of the layout. If block “A”
is associated with the train detection device according to Diagram 85, then TrainController
will perform the assignment of each detected train to block “A” automatically.
Additionally, you can assign a schedule of the Dispatcher as operation to a flagman indicator,
which is triggered, when block “A” is reserved. If this is done, then the manually
operated train passing the train detection device is not only detected and assigned to
block “A”, but a schedule of the Dispatcher is also started, that runs the train automatically
to a free block in the hidden yard.
In this way the train is passed from manual to automatic control without further interaction.
In many cases, the manual part of the layout is not even known to TrainController.
Indeed it is not necessary to include the parts of the layout, that are not operated by the
computer, into the block diagram. Only the automatic part of the layout including all
engines and trains, that are to be operated by the computer, must be known to the Visual
Dispatcher. Control of each engine can be assigned to the digital system (see section
3.11, “Passing control between Computer and Digital System”). When an engine passes
block “A” on its way from the manual to the automatic part of the layout and a schedule
is started with this engine at block “A”, then the software will gain control of the engine
automatically. When the schedule is finished, control is given back to the digital
system and the engine can then be controlled manually.
Passing trains from automatic to manual control
With the features outlined above the automatic pass of engines from manual to automatic
control is supported.
There is a special option for the opposite direction as well. This option is called Release
Last Block and should be set as a property of all automatic schedules ending in block
“A”. Normally – if this option is not set – each engine finishing a schedule in block “A”
will keep this block reserved permanently - even after the engine has been taken over
by manual control. As long as this block remains reserved no other engine will be able
to perform another schedule ending in this block. To prevent you from being forced to
release such blocks manually set this option for all automatic schedules ending in