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[NJTFAN1235!]

Ohhh.

[NJTFAN1235!]

Wait, a motorman beacon? But, it's just a light, where in LA can you find them?

Crossing condition signal, called the Motorman Beacon
Screenshot_2025-05-23-09-42-34-670.jpg
It's at all crossings on one or two crossing signals except the few that aren't owned by LA Metro, in which would be a standalone signal within the light rail's private RoW. In the example above, it's on that one signal which is bidirectional. If it's on two separate crossing signals, it's usually unidirectional, one per direction.

Would this one fit the Simulator too? If so, where can this, beacon be used?

[Sgt_DeBones]

You literally just quoted your answer.... It's just another form of the ATS, just the American version.

And before you question the function as a single light, I'll explain it once. If the crossing isn't activated by a train, the light stays dark. Once the crossing is activated, the light emits. After all the gates are lowered, the light starts flashing until the crossing begins to reset after the train passes which is when the light goes back to being dark.
Most light rail systems, including NJT, have this except the flashing and solid phases are reversed outside of LA Metro's system. LA Metro is unique as they have their own take on how signals are structured.

[NJTFAN1235!]

You literally just quoted your answer.... It's just another form of the ATS, just the American version.

... Yup, I am kinda a idiot. I gotta learn more signals, goodnight.

[Sgt_DeBones]

... Yup, I am kinda a idiot.

You live and learn. You're pretty young. I was like you when I first joined the community over a decade ago. You're not an idiot. You can learn from ignorance, just not stupidity. So, I'll guide you the right way where I see fits.

To add on to the explanation, here's my actual example in video form.
https://youtu.be/WDKLfrH7FvQ?si=e-7fve-yq9PTbPY6

(I think the YouTube embedded code broke)

Also note: Unlike the ATS where it's track specific based, the Motorman Beacon activates in sync with the crossing signals regardless of what track activates the crossing. The signal governs all Metro tracks.

The conventional mainline trains doesn't follow the Motorman Beacons at crossings where the continental tracks shares the corridor with the light rail system. Their separate relay bungalows for the crossings have their own light to show the the crossing is at least powered, featured all across North America. This is simply because of the American railroading culture of having mile+ long trains that can't stop short of a mile. And because the relays a separate, this is why you don't see crossing signals flash in sync at jointly owned railroad crossings around the continent.

[NJTFAN1235!]

Okay, so this may work. That's true. I mostly thought they were different, cus Rotterdam, or the Netherlands do things differently than what Philadelphia does or USA in total.

[Sgt_DeBones]

Ehh, Netherlands and the North American continent as a whole aren't too different in the rapid transit realm. Most wayside equipment does the same functions across the ocean, just reskins of each other. Most light rail rapid transit systems in the US run on ATP/ATB when railroading.

[NJTFAN1235!]

Eh. That makes sense.

[brozma]

Back in the days you had first person character mode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SKytKtzjbM0

Well Michiel, I think there are still some leftovers from that first person mode in Beta 3.18. If you actually press the "8" key (the one above main keyboard, not the one from num pad), your view gets locked up and you can't move at all. And in previous Beta 3 versions (I think up to Beta 3.9, but I ain't sure right now), I remember, pressing the "8" key would bring you camera down to person's eye level and let it sway up and down, like a POV of somebody, who ran out of breath.
But NGL, First person character mode would be a good addition to Metrosim. That way I can pretend, I'm "walking up" to the train/tram to drive it, more realisticaly. Or take a role of a passenger and take a ride in multiple trains/trams.

[Sgt_DeBones]

Hoping for the return of first person mode in Beta 4 at any point in its development.