TORR should be on by default

Honestly, of all the things affecting difficulty, I find TORR to be a pretty minor one. It only takes a moment to cancel routes (particularly if you have right-click configured to cancel routes by default, as I do, using shift to access the menu). If you forget to cancel routes, well, nothing happens. It’s not like a second train will accidentally follow a route it shouldn’t; stick locking prevents this. It’s probably not ideal procedure, but one could probably just leave all the routes set and then cancel them as needed immediately before setting a route, rather than cancelling them behind a passing train, which means you don’t add any cognitive load—you’re already in the area, looking at exactly the same signals, you basically just have to right-click before left-clicking (slightly harder for layouts that simulate mechanical lever frames where you can’t set a route up to a prior set route, but you get the idea).

If I could ask for one thing to make simulations easier than real life as a “beginner” option, it wouldn’t be to enable TORR. It would probably be to convert some manual level crossings into AHBs.

Yes, you’re right. Lack of TORR does make auto-raise kind of useless.

Hmm, so that presumably means the interlocking doesn't include routes being set over it or something? Is it possible to raise the level crossing if the route is set but the signal at danger for some other reason than a train having passed?

Honestly, of all the things affecting difficulty, I find TORR to be a pretty minor one. It only takes a moment to cancel routes (particularly if you have right-click configured to cancel routes by default, as I do, using shift to access the menu). If you forget to cancel routes, well, nothing happens. It’s not like a second train will accidentally follow a route it shouldn’t; stick locking prevents this. It’s probably not ideal procedure, but one could probably just leave all the routes set and then cancel them as needed immediately before setting a route, rather than cancelling them behind a passing train, which means you don’t add any cognitive load—you’re already in the area, looking at exactly the same signals, you basically just have to right-click before left-clicking (slightly harder for layouts that simulate mechanical lever frames where you can’t set a route up to a prior set route, but you get the idea).

If I could ask for one thing to make simulations easier than real life as a “beginner” option, it wouldn’t be to enable TORR. It would probably be to convert some manual level crossings into AHBs.

Karl adopted a similar concept in Shrewsbury whereby there is an option to turn the crossings off - they are drawn on the sim but have no functionality.

Just a simple question. TORR isn't rocket science, nor it is new technology. Why don't all signal boxes with VDU panels have TORR?

Interestingly Matt, the Western panels with both turn-push and push-push have flashing lights to signify a route that has been used but remained set, so there would be an easy way to tell if the route had been used and still left in, or cancelled and restroked.

I do not know of any other system that does anything similar though, and there is certainly a risk of confusion between a signal that needs to be restroked and a signal that has been restroked but yet to clear because the conditions have not been met.

Unlike many other sims, TORR in Derby is unchecked by default, at least at Beginner standard.

Since TORR makes all sims easier to play, there should be some consistency about this. I suggest TORR be ON by default at least at beginner and Standard level of all sims that contain this feature, otherwise if will be easy to overlook by beginner players, especially those unfamiliar with TORR.

As far as I know there is no way to turn TORR on once a sim has begun - the only way is to start a new sim.

On the subject of bugs, I note that one has the option of commencing the default TT at 0445. If one does this and sets Save Timetable to 10 mins, the first save (at 0450) does not occur. The first automatic save takes place at 0500, after which saves occur normally every 10 mins.

Right-click cancels Route


If enabled, when right-clicking on a signal that has a route set, this route is cancelled.

If disabled, when right clicking on a signal a menu appears showing the following options.

Note: Holding down the 'Shift' key while right clicking will invert this selection, i.e. if the box is ticked, a normal right click will cancel the route, Shift+right click displays the menu.

However, this is buried deep within and not likely to be easily discovered by newbies. Bear in mind also that in many single and multiplayer scenarios, the reality is that people play short staffed, looking after a number of panels.

The Wiki should make the various right click options, and their implications, much more obvious for new players than at present.