Coupling To A Consist - Is The Formation Required

Running a Scenario I downloaded I have to start the loco then couple to the train.
And it tells me to attach 22 wagons all of which have different numbers so as not to have a conflict.

But is that necessary - could the instruction be "couple to consist on track 3"?
I want to swap the wagons but the numbers won't match and I don't fancy going thru the list to change them

Peter

 

There's a reason it is that way.

 

If there is no way round it I might have to amend the scenario so the loco is already coupled.

 

Just set the instruction to couple with the first vehicle's number in the box...it'll work.

 

or...when editing the instruction hold down shift and double click a single vehicle to put all the numbers in the box--there's never been a need to manually add vehicle numbers.

About 1 min 40 secs into this...

 

It can lead to derailments as the dispatcher is using an internal list of how the consist is made up after coupling/uncoupling instructions. Therefore it is important to give all affected stock IDs in the instruction (which therefore locks these cars from deletion).

If you only give the first car, dispatcher thinks you're running a two car consist and may set switches too early in case of following or crossing AI traffic. Best example is the JT Autoballaster scenario.

So for modifying stock that is locked due to coupling instructions, first empty the stock list in the instructions, then swap your stock, then update the coupling instructions.

LocoSwap is not advised. If stock you're swapping in is longer you may get a dispatcher "OOM", as your consist will have a different length, hitting buffers or being invalid for following instructions requiring a minimum amount of shunting space.

 

Unlike TS Tools LocoSwap tells you the length of the vehicles that are in the consist and those you are replacing them with.

 

That's fine, but to stay on the safe side load the scenario into the editor after swapping stock and see if it's giving its "OK".