How do the semaphores work? | Building and management Mashinky Guide

Semaphores are simple devices that can help in creating a vast railroads network. Without them only one train can use a single track. Correct understanding how do the semaphores work and how the trains behave can help you in creating a large and complicated connection. Signalization is mandatory if you want more than one train to use a single track.

• Two-direction semaphores
• One-direction semaphores
• Semaphores and block division

Two-direction semaphores

The basic signalization type. It can stop and let in locomotives from both sides. However, it can sometimes cause situations when two trains are stopping, faced towards each other, because they want to ride in opposite direction. You should use these semaphores only with simple connections, on some crossroads, sections of the railroad or station entrances.

One-direction semaphores

The most frequently used signalization type. It enables the locomotives to ride only in one direction. The train will plan its track so that it won't ride in opposite direction. Perfect when creating bypass points, tracks consisting of a few lines, entrances and exits from stations.

Semaphores and block division

The game counts each track with no semaphores as a single block. Only one train can move in such area. No other train will be allowed to live the depot because it won't be safe for the locomotive that is already in motion. Semaphores enable the player to divide already existing tracks into larger number of blocks, allowing more trains to move across a track.

Addition of two semaphores will create two blocks. These blocks will be considered as separate tracks. However, this is still not enough to let another train run on the track.

Imagine yourself that you created a loop that connects two stations and a depot. If you place one semaphore in any place, it won't split the loop into two blocks, although it will create a point that will cut the place. A train will stop at that semaphore because the signalization will count the back of that train as another object and will stop it here. If you place another semaphore, you will cut the whole track into two blocks. Thanks to that, when a train will ride in one block, another train will be let into the second one.

Creating five blocks will speed up the trains. Now you can easily add another train to the loop.

Addition of more semaphores will create more blocks. Thanks to that each train will be waiting less time for the next area to be freed. You should add more semaphores when you have larger and longer tracks, where there are many trains. If you're not sure where to place a semaphore, you should always place one before and behind the station. Additionally, construction of one-direction semaphores will save you from traffic jams.

As long as there is no train on the crossroad (central block), everyone has a green light (1). However, when a train reaches the central block, each access road switches to red light (2).

If you want to create a functional crossroad, you must place semaphores at each entrance/exit. This will create five blocks: four access roads and one in the middle, among the semaphores. Thanks to that not a single train will be let in as long as there is another train inside. It is useful for intertwining two lines, when constructing a bridge is expensive and connecting the lines is unwanted.

Passing loops make it easier for two trains to work. When the first train is in the passing loop, it has a red light (1). The second train is leaving the station, but it has green light for the second track (2). Only once it leaves the block between the station and the passing loop (3), the first train is able to ride into the station (4).

Semaphores can be used for creating passing loops. If you create a single track, combine it with the second, parallel track, and then you place 4 one-direction semaphores at each entrance and exit, you will create 4 blocks. One block will be before and behind the passing loop and two more will be inside it. Thanks to that, when one train will enter the passing loop, it will wait until the second one will free the path on the main track.

The block on the left side (the brown one) has a single two-directional light. Because this route isn't part of the main loop, the train will wait for a green light that will allow it to enter the next block (orange one).

Entrance to the station with a two-directional semaphore will enable the train to enter the station and then leave it once the track becomes free. Tracks connected to this station should have one-direction semaphores so that unnecessary jams can be avoided. More about how to use signals to construct connections and stations can be found in next chapters.

A frequent mistake is to add tracks with no new semaphores. On the upper screen you can see a lack of signal (1) in the connection with the second line. Because of that the middle block consists of two lines instead of one (2). A train that is in there blocks both tracks and the semaphores at the back have red light (3). After adding the semaphore (4), the middle block is divided into two -upper and lower one (5). Thanks to that the bottom part is completely free of train traffic (6).

Remember! Avoid placing signals on each field when creating semaphores. This isn't only time consuming, but very ineffective as well. The train will keep starting to move and stopping. You will waste valuable time and slow down other trains. It is best to set semaphores every few fields - the number of fields should equal the size of moving trains. Another mistake is creating tracks with semaphores and then adding crossroads and additional tracks. Although the train on the route never uses the intertwining line, the game counts it as a single block. This could block many signals and paralyze the whole line. If you don't need to, don't cross existing lines - or at least place additional semaphores or bridges/tunnels.