Collar

Collars are used to stop controls being operated. To collar a control button, first left-click the Reminder button in the menu (it will appear depressed), then left-click the LC button you wish to collar. A yellow collar will appear around it, and the Reminder button will return to normal height. To remove the collar, left-click the Reminder button, then right-click the collared button. The collar will disappear. With the exception of points and ground frames, controls can be right-clicked with a collar applied (since right-clicking generally returns a control to it's safest state), however controls cannot be left-clicked. The click will have no effect, and you will also see the message "Control has reminder applied" in the Messages window.

Signals

Collaring a signal prevents a route being set to/from that signal. There are two collars available, 'Reminder' (cyan highlight) and 'Isolation' (pink highlight). Reminder should be used where no trains should be routed to/from the signal, Isolation where only certain trains (eg Electric trains) are to be blocked. Collars can also be selected by right-clicking the signal.

It can be used under many cases such as:

An infrastructure defect would delay a train if signalled that route.
The route must not be called to that signal, i.e during maintainance works.
To remind the signaller not to call a route from the signal i.e if a train is in a siding and must not be routed for some time.

Buttons associated with signals

You can also collar buttons associated with certain signals. For example:

Collaring an auto button, to prevent its use.
Collaring an
Emergency Replacement Switch , which, once activated, will prevent it from being deactivated.

Points

Points can also be collared, but much rarer than signal collaring. Points can be collared under the following scenarios:

The collared point has failed and must not be moved.
To cordon off parts of the track, i.e maintenance works.
An infrastructure defect would delay a train if routed over that point.
Collaring points in their current position, after keying them, due to a
Track Circuit Failure over them.

Level Crossings

Level crossings (abbreviated to "LCs") themselves cannot be collared, but the buttons and indications to do with them often can be. For example:

Collaring the group of indications ("RAI"; "WKG"; "FAI") at an AHB crossing.
Collaring the "TEL" text at a UWC crossing, to remind you when you've authorised a user to cross.
Collaring one particular or each individual button at an MCB or CCTV crossing, which will prevent the button from being 'clickable'.

Other controls

The following controls can be collared:

Slots
Ground Frames (F button)
ARS subareas

Example

Here is an example of the Auto (AUT) button collared, taken from the Stoke Canon LC in the Exeter Sim:

:usertrack:glossary:collar_stoke_canon_auto.png

Before collaring, the Auto (AUT) button may be in one of two states; ON (solid, the default) or OFF (hollow), depending on how you set it. After collaring, the Auto button may still be turned OFF (right click) but it cannot be turned ON again (left click) until the collar is removed.

Once collared, the remaining buttons (which can only be left-clicked), Lower (LWR), Raise (RSE) and Clear (CLR) remain locked in their current states until the collar is removed, for safety reasons.