[R H Steele]

http://www.elvastowe...on-explanation/

Someone should spike Rob's reply, this question has been asked before and this is the most comprehensive answer I've seen to date (there may be others?). Everyone who uses Open Rails encounters this and wonders what it all means. Below is a copy if his answer.

Hmm, I though there was a document which describes this somewhere, but I can't find it.
But, here is some info in a nutshell :

Train : Internal train number, with P=Passenger and F=Freight.

Travelled : distance travelled.
Gives a indication if all is well. If a train started an hour ago and 'travelled' is still 0.0, something's clearly wrong.

Speed : present speed.

Max : max. allowed speed.

AI Mode : gives an indication of what the train is 'doing'.
Possible states :
INI : train is initializing. Normally you would not see this.
STP : train is stopped other than in a station. The reason for the stop is shown in "Authority".
BRK : train is preparing to stop. Does not mean it is actually braking, but it 'knows' it has to stop, or at least reduce speed, soon.
Reason, and distance to the related position, are shown in "Authority" and "Distance".
ACC : train is accelerating, either away from a stop or because of a raise in allowed speed.
RUN : train is running at allowed speed.
FOL : train is following another train in the same signal section.
Its speed is now derived from the speed of the train ahead.
STA : train is stopped in station.
WTP : train is stopped at waiting point.
EOP : train is approaching end of path.


AI data : shows throttle and brake positions when train is running, but shows departure time (booked) when train is stopped at station or waiting point.

Mode : SIGN (signal) or NODE - same as for player train.

Auth : End of "authorization" info - that is, the reason why the train is preparing to stop or slow down.
Possible reasons are :
SPDL : speed limit imposed by speedsign.
SIGL : speed limit imposed by signal.
STOP : signal set at state "STOP".
REST : signal set at state "RESTRICTED" (train is to reduce speed at approaching this signal).
EOA : end of authority - generally only occurs in non-signalled routes or area, where authority is based on NODE mode and not SIGNAL mode.
STAT : station or waiting point.
TRAH : train ahead.
EOR : end of train's route, or subroute in case the train approaches a reversal point.


Distance : distance to the authority location.

Signal : aspect of next signal (if any).

Distance : distance to this signal.
Note that if signal state is STOP, and it is the next authority limit, there is a difference of about 30m. between authority and signal distance. This is the 'safety margin' that AI trains keep to avoid accidently passing a singal at danger.

Consist : the first bit of the train's consist name.

Path : the state of the train's path.
The figure left of the "=" sign is the train's present subpath counter : a train's path is split into subpaths when its path contains reversal or waiting points.
The details between { and } are the actual path.
Following the final } can be x<N>, this indicates that at the end of this path the train will move on to the subpath as indicated.

Path details :
The path shows all trackcircuit sections which build this train's path. Trackcircuit sections are bounded by nodes, signals or cross-overs, or end-of-track.
Each section is indicated by its type :
- is plain train section.
> is switch (no distinction is made for facing or trailing switch).
+ is crossover.
[ is end-of-track.

Following each section is the section state. Numbers in this state refer to the train numbers as shown at the start of each row.
Below, <n> indicates a such a number.
<n> section is occupied by train <n>.
(<n>) section is reserved for train <n>.
# (either with <n> or on its own) section is claimed by a train which is waiting for a signal.
& (always in combination with <n>) section is occupied by more than one train.
deadlock info (always linked to a switch node) :
* pssible deadlock location - start of a single track section shared with a train running in opposite direction.
^ active deadlock - train from opposite direction is occupying or has reserved at least part of the common single track section.
Train will be stopped at this location - generally at the last signal ahead of this node.
~ active deadlock at that location for other train - can be significant as this other train can block this train's path.



When you know how to interpret the information which is shown here, it can help a great deal in sorting out AI problems.
Note that when changes are introduced to AI train control, this info can also change.

Hope this helps,
Rob Roeterdink