Can someone please advise me on the following. This concerns the area between Matlock Bath and Matlock. Once past Matlock Bath you come to the home signal for the box at Matlock. If this signal is cleared is it said that the starter signal should be cleared as well. I have created a scenario with a freight train departing Ambergate with a DMU running a stopping service in front of the freight, which started from the next station. Once past Matlock Bath the home signal for Matlock shows a clear aspect, which should say that the next signal should be clear as well, but it’s not, it is at danger. There is not enough distance between the two signals for the freight to come to a stop before reaching the starter. Am I reading the signals wrong, or is something missing in the game. Regards, Terry
With UK semaphore signals, a single distant may be warning of a series of upcoming main signals, not just the next one. Any of those main signals might be at danger, even if preceding ones are clear.
It's an unfortunate fact at present that in TSW, the Distant signals - which are arguably the most important signals in the system - are not displayed in the HUD. You must look out for them yourself. What's more, on this route some of the signals (including Distant signals) are on the right-hand side of the line and are difficult to see from the left-hand side of a steam locomotive. It may be worth driving the route from a DMU, or using the '3' external camera on the front buffer beam of a steam loco, and simply making a note of where all the Distant signals are. On subsequent runs, you then know where to look, including when to switch the view to the right-hand side to mimic assistance from your Fireman.
