Small Stations

Schemas
NumberDescriptionNumberDescription
Total8
1.1Small unloading station, connected to two-line way1.2Small loading station, connected to two-line way
1.3Connecting to circular way1.4Connecting to two one-line ways
1.5Connecting to three-line way1.6Small unloading station, connected to two line-way. Alternative
1.7Wide small unloading station1.8Wide small unloading stations. Alternative
It's the station of the "catching" type. That means, that any train, that comes enough close to the station, will not go away from it until would be unloaded. That means, that new trains can arrive to the station without problems. As a buffer, that allows "catching" trains, three depots (marked as E, F, G on the schema 1.1) are used.
Schema 1.1
A train comes from the one of the ways A (we'll assume, that it would be the left one) and comes to T-junction. In case line C to station is busy, it tries to use D line if no train comes to the station using right line (It's impossible to determinate the direction of the train on the second way, so it's suggested the worst - it goes to the station). This will close a way through tunnel B by fixing combo-signals to red. Then the train would wait until his way C will become free. Other case, it will go to D way using the tunnel B. In case situation will change suddenly, it will wait for better situation in the depot I. Normal way, it will go to the way D.
When the train comes to the way to station C or D, it will not come out until it would be unloaded. First of all, it will come to depot E (or F, if it came from the D way). It's made because of two reasons
  1. if train's destination is not the station, but some depot, it would become the station;
  2. if it's time service soon, it will put it off.
After that train have no choice, but to go to the station or to depot G. When it came to depot G, it can go to the both lines of the station. If they both are busy, train will go to the depot E or F again. It will do it until it will come to some line of platforms. The fact, that it was in the depot not for a long time ago, makes the chance of the breakdown less.
After the train was unloaded, it comes to pre-signals at the exit from the station. The pre-signal is green if train's way A is free or the second way of A and the tunnel B is free. It can happen, that situation will change after the train left the pre-signal. This case it will wait in the depot I.
Such a schema (1.1) can be also used for loading trains or unloading and loading at the same time. But there should be no trains that have a "full load" option for this station.
Schema 1.2
Schema 1.2 can be used for loading trains that have "full load" option for this station. But in this case it can happen, that a full loaded train returns back to the depots for some reason (For example, the service time came while train was loading). Then the train will have problems with leaving the station, because new trains will block it while loading. That's why an additional way from depot G to way A is required. That is the J way also called "Reverser". It allows such a train to start on a journey without passing the station.
Schema 1.3
Small stations can be used in a directed routing also (For example with circular). This case, the enter and exit of the station (parts A and B) are build some other way (separated).
The in-way A and out-way L are separated. Their way changers B and K work in fixed direction only.
This case loading and unloading stations schemas (1.3) are the same, because "Reversers" do not work in this case (train will go far from the station). That's why such a construction can be only used with the industry with a high production level. Small stations are used in this case in the group (For example: a grain loading station and a livestock loading station). Instead of "Reversers", it would be not bad to connect the last depots G of the stations to fix the selection of a wrong station by the train in case of heading to depots or other cases.
Schema 1.4
It's also possible to use small unloading station with directed one-line ways (if there are not many trains, that use it). This case in-way A ends with pre-signal, that is green if any of station's ways in C or D is free. Other way, train will wait until a free way appears. It can be followed by traffic jams, so this schema (1.4) cannot be used with a big number of trains.
Using pre- and exit-signals on the way-out L is optional, they can be replaced by normal one-way signals. Situation with "Reversers" is the same as in case of connecting to circular (schema 1.3).
Schema 1.5
Small stations can also be connected to three (or more) line ways (schema 1.5), but it's necessary to remember, that many-line ways can allow arriving of more trains a time, than two-line ways, so you can get traffic jams.
This case trains can arrive from ways H or A and can go out using ways L and H. When train comes from H, it can use only way D. Train, that comes from A (main in-way), can use C or D depends on what one is free (changer B).
A train, that comes out the station from the left platform, uses the L way and if it's in use, it checks the way H. If it's free, it uses it. If both of them are in use, it waits (changer K). A train, that comes out from the right platform, behaves the same way, but if both of the ways it blocks the H way and waits for the way L clearing (changer K). It's made to make it more easy for trains from right platform to come out than from left one, because L is the main way-out.
Three-line way is a circular-like way, that's why "Reverser" work bad in this case (train can go far from the station). Therefore "Reverser" is not represented at the schema 1.5.
Schema 1.6
Small stations can be build some other way. If there is no space near the station on one side (because of land objects or competitors), it's possible to build the station as represented at the schema 1.6. The only problem deals with "Reverser", because it's difficult to find place for it near G depot.
The difference with standard building schema (1.1) for small stations is that before the train comes out from the right platform of the station, it goes to the bridge L, that is also a buffer. The train can wait on it until the A way-out appears, and at the same time next train can use this platform for unloading.
Schema 1.7
But the name small does not mean the number of platforms. It means the number of independent platforms. It's possible to increase the number of platforms (but not the number of independent platforms) simply. Schema 1.7 shows possible solution.
The same way the number of platforms can be increased to maximum. But only two are guaranteed. That means, that two breakdowns can block ALL platforms. Stations with a higher capacity should be used instead.
Schema 1.8
Wide variant can be build in the alternative way just the same like a wide variant is build from the standard variant (Schema 1.8).
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