Difference between revisions of "Junctions"

Revision as of 23:49, 18 September 2020

This section contains a selection of basic junctions that can be used in a railway network in Mashinky. These junctions vary in complexity and utility. The intention of this is to provide fundamental ideas, which can be built upon to create more complex track configurations with higher train capacity.

All the examples below have the basic signaling shown on the images, better signalling positions can improve their performance.

Y-Junctions

Y-Junctions act as a convergence or divergence points between two routes on a railway line. Simple solutions work well, but tend to have significant drawbacks when used at high capacity.

Image	Name	Information	Signalling Complexity	No. of Points	No. of Crossings
	Single Track Junction	The most basic junction possible in the game	Low	1	0
	Single Track Junction with passing loop	A more advanced junction with space to allow trains to pass.	Medium	3	0
	Branchline with Ladder Junction	A basic junction from double track to a two-way single track line. Only one train can use the Branchline	Low	3	1
	Branchline with double track entrance	An advanced junction from double track to a two-way single track line. Multiple trains can use the branchline.	Low	3	1
	Mainline Split	A basic junction for splitting a double track mainline into two directions. Flow is restricted to one train across the junction even if two trains accessing the junction do not cross each others paths.	Low	2	1
	Mainline Continuous Flow Junction	An advanced mainline junction which poses no restriction on the flow of trains.	Low	2	0

T-Junctions

These Junctions differ from Y-Junctions as they allow trains from any of the 3 directions to split into either of the 2 other outbound tracks.

Image	Name	Information	Signalling Complexity	No. of Points	No. of Crossings
	3-Way Junction with free Mainline	A big mainline junction that can handle a lot of trains. PRO: No restriction on the flow of trains on the mainline. Trains can exit to every direction. CON: Tricky tunnel construction.	Low	3	0
	Small 4 Line to 2 Line Junction	Big 3-Way Junction for use on 4 Mainlines. This junction that can handle lots of trains. PRO: No restriction on the flow of trains on the mainline. Trains can exit to every direction. CON: Tricky tunnel construction. Big junction.	Medium	6	0
	Big 4 Line to 2 Line Junction	Big 3-Way Junction for use on 4 Mainlines. This junction that can handle lots of trains. PRO: Doubble Bridges on Mainline. Seems to be complicated. CON: Tricky tunnel construction. Big junction. It is complicated.	Medium	8	0
	Big 4 Line 3-Way Junction	Big 3-Way Junction for use with 4 Mainlines. This junction that can handle a huge amount of trains. PRO: Easy to build 4 Line Junction. Not too Big. CON: Tricky tunnel construction. Long tunnels lead to 6 field long signal block.	Medium	8	0

X-Crossings

These are for locations on the tracks where two lines must cross over each other, with no tracked connection between the two.

Image	Name	Information	Signalling Complexity	No. of Points	No. of Crossings
	Crossing on the Level	A simple method for two mainlines to cross. Flow is restricted to one train across the junction even if two trains accessing the junction do not cross each others paths.	Low	0	4
	Overpass	Using bridges to cross other tracks, top line must be perpendicular to the grid, lower lines can be in any orientation. Minimum hight difference of 3 between the two lines.	None	0	0
	Underpass	Using Tunnels to cross under other tracks, bottom line must be perpendicular to the grid, top lines may be in any orientation. Minimum hight difference of 3 between the two lines.	None	0	0

X-Junctions

These are for locations on the tracks where lines cross over and trains can switch between both lines. These junctions are usually complex to build and take a lot of space.

Image	Name	Information	Signalling Complexity	No. of Points	No. of Crossings
	Clover Leaf Interchange	A Line that allows a continuous flow of trains over it. Trains can exit the junction in all 4 directions. This junction takes up a lot of space, reducing its feasibility to large flat maps with long distances between train destinations.	Med	16	0
	Jewel	A continuous flow junction, which allows trains to exit in all 4 directions. This junction is more compact than the Clover Leaf, however it incorporates more gradients and curves which limits train speeds through the junction.	Low	8	0
	Diamond Crossing	This junction is useful for placing in stations at the end of the line. This junction can be combined with the Main Terminus to prevent train blockages when operating with more trains than the number of available platforms.	High	4	1
	Box Junction	Again a continuous flow junction, which allows trains to exit in all directions. PRO: The track splits before being merged to avoid double use of individual sections. CON: The two long bridges, which each results in a 7-field wide Signal block.	Medium	16	0
	Windmill Junction	Enhanced Version of the Box Junction. PRO: Tracks Split before Merge and shorter bridges to cut the max Block size to a 5-field wide Signal block. CON: Every Train that turns left or crosses the juntion has to climb 2 slopes.	Medium	16	0
	Big Windmill Junction	4 Line Version of the Windmill Junction. PRO: Tracks Split before Merge. Easy to Bild. Can handle a hugh ammount of Trains. CON: A realy big Junction. Long tunnels lead to 6 field long signal block.	Medium	12	0

Terminus Junctions

These are a selection of junctions that go at the end of a railway line, these are designed for both high capacity and the ability to turn the trains around to prevent the locomotives from reversing on their return journey. The maximum number of trains refers the number of trains can use the station without a risk of causing a blockage. All stations below can have their capacity increased by placing block signals.

Image	Name	Information	Signalling Complexity	Max No. of trains	No. of Points	No. of Crossings
	Return Loop	A simple method of turning around trains at the end of the line.	Low	2	1	0
	Turning Triangle	An alternative method of turning around trains at the end of the line.	Medium	2	3	0
	Roundabout	An advanced version of the return loop, this version allows multiple lines to feed into a single station. One-way signals must be used to allow for continuous flow.	High	n	3 x n	0
	Main Terminus	A high capacity railway station that works with a continuous supply of trains. There are no reversing facilities, therefore best used when reversing trains are disabled. Further signalling and platforms can be added to increase the capacity of the Station beyond a 3-train limit.	Medium	3	7	2
	Main Terminus with Turning Triangle	A variation of the Terminus station with reversing facilities. Further signalling and platforms can be added to increase the capacity of the Station beyond a 3-train limit.	High	3	8	2

Line Balancers

These junctions allow for trains choosing different lanes on parallel tracking. They are designed not only to balance trains between lanes but also to let other nearby junctions to merge trains to or split from only one side of the parallel tracks, which may lead to simpler versions of those junctions.

The maximum number of trains refers to the number of trains which can simultaneously use the balancer without much risk of having a train stopped inside. Depending on other aspects of the network, the no-crossing versions may easily handle tracks with dozens to a couple hundred trains.

Ideally, only one balancer should be placed, in each direction, between each pair of other junctions. Having more than one consecutive balancer on the same track may lead to trains trying to change lanes too often and blocking one lane while waiting on the sideway paths' signals for the other lane to clear.

Image	Name	Information	Signalling Complexity	Max No. of trains	No. of Points	No. of Crossings
	Diamond Balancer	The simplest balancer possible. Ideal for very low traffic tracks.	Medium	1-2	2	1
	Underpass Balancer v1	Having no level crossings, this is ideal for medium to high traffic tracks. Use this version if the lower lane has more incoming trains than the upper one.	High	3-4	2	0
	Underpass Balancer v2	Same as above, but to be used if the upper lane has more incoming trains than the lower one.	High	3-4	2	0