RR U-Turns

[spokelips 21]

I know there is a question here on this subject, because I already replied to it - but, I'll be d*mned if I can find it.

 

Basically it was asked about the reversing of the direction for trains.  Some said "Impossible", others said "Maybe" and yet others said we need a new MOD.  Well, I do it a simple way and I'm sure many of you already do it too.  It's just that I've never seen a pic of it.

 

Below is how I do it every 1/2-1.0 mile of track"

 

 

 

I know it's probably not the best solution, but it works !!

I found out that you must keep trees or high buildings from anywhere around the switches or else you can't see them to change them.  In the bottom pic, you can see a tree near the left side switch.  If left there (it's since been removed) , you won't be able to see the switch because of the tree's shadow.

Also, don't make the loop too small or the switches will overlap a bit and make it nearly impossible to switch.  One or two straight track segments will do.

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

As good a solution as any for UDI aficionados.

 

I don't use UDI at all, so it is interesting to see someone solve this.

[mrsmartman 200]

An innovative solution. Perhaps you can build a city hall / south ferry style terminal.

 

[Shark7 118]

Too bad SC4 doesn't work like the real world where every train has multiple engines at both ends and reversing is as simple as swapping which train is the 'lead' train.

 

This is definately an innovative solution for those that want to do the UDI missions.

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

I hardly ever see trains with locomotives at both ends.  Very expensive rolling stock is usually not used in this way unless there is a very good reason for it.

[Compdude787 916]

I hardly ever see trains with locomotives at both ends.  Very expensive rolling stock is usually not used in this way unless there is a very good reason for it.

Really? I frequently see trains that have engines on both ends in real life.

[Ganaram Inukshuk 906]

Ages ago, I got around the U-turn problem by using these things: 

 

I don't see it as having any sort of negative impact towards any sort of rail transit (since practically all rail is bidirectional, there's no way traffic would ever use these), especially if you just use it for a siding track. It's particularly useful for dense cities.

[Turjan 1,048]

I hardly ever see trains with locomotives at both ends.  Very expensive rolling stock is usually not used in this way unless there is a very good reason for it.

 

Most modern high-speed passenger trains are built like that, or at least have been built like that for many decades. Many larger old cities have terminus stations as their main station, which means that intercity trains have to change direction in each of these stations. Having locomotives at both ends cuts down the necessary stopover time to five minutes or so. Technically, you could achieve that with a control car, but at the speed of modern trains, they are a bit too light at the front. Very modern trains often have engines in all cars, so it doesn't matter that much anymore.

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

Around here there is no passenger service and all we see is freight.  Believe me, they don't waste expensive rolling stock on local freight service to spurs going in and out of farm co-ops.

[Shark7 118]

Around here there is no passenger service and all we see is freight.  Believe me, they don't waste expensive rolling stock on local freight service to spurs going in and out of farm co-ops.

 

Around here, we have freight trains with 2 locomotives on each end.  And oddly enough, they always seem to be loaded with a large amount of shipping containers.  And they are very long, some may be a mile long or more.

 

I have a feeling it depends on where the trains go to.  I believe the ones I see originate from a port on the coast and head to a major rail hub north of where I live...so they are loaded both ways.  In that case, it makes sense to be able to simply go the other direction by using a pusher-puller locomotive configuration.  Probably hauling loaded shipping containers from the port to the transit hub, and empty containers are taken back to the port.

[Msprintz 25]

Around here there is no passenger service and all we see is freight. Believe me, they don't waste expensive rolling stock on local freight service to spurs going in and out of farm co-ops.

Around here, we have freight trains with 2 locomotives on each end. And oddly enough, they always seem to be loaded with a large amount of shipping containers. And they are very long, some may be a mile long or more.

I have a feeling it depends on where the trains go to. I believe the ones I see originate from a port on the coast and head to a major rail hub north of where I live...so they are loaded both ways. In that case, it makes sense to be able to simply go the other direction by using a pusher-puller locomotive configuration. Probably hauling loaded shipping containers from the port to the transit hub, and empty containers are taken back to the port. Those would be helper locomotives usually added to the rear of a train to make it up a fairly steep grade. Thanks to modern technology these locomotives may be run through a computer DPU, and thus unmanned. You'll primarily see this in California for trains traversing the Tehachapi pass ( primary access point to the port of Los Angeles ), and Appalachia on the heavy coal drags. Some short lines may use two locomotives as well to save time on switching maneuvers.

[hey zeus 6]

Also they may sometimes 'deadhead' locos between different yards for maintenance or otherwise.  There's a short line railroad up here in Oregon that has two separate lines on opposite ends of town.  When moving locos between lines they'll often times be transported as 'freight' along the Union Pacific mainline.  Pretty cool operation they have, very friendly to rail enthusiasts too.

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

If you think about it, it is 'horses for  courses'.  The area around here is flat and grades are low to non-existent.  On the west coast you have several mountain ranges, foothills, etc.

[RipRap 4,400]

There was a policy a few years ago where CP and CN tried to have locomotives on both ends. Its still in practice here, but only for the most major lines and also for shunting stuff at the yards.

[spokelips 21]

For anyone interested...as far as I know, the ''u-turn'' options I put up will also work on Maxis overhead trams, mono-rail, etc.

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For some reason, my links for the pics are down. I'll get it fixed as soon as I can.