How does an e stop work?

I understand that if a train doesn't clear a block the next train will not enter the same block because of the computers programming.. What I'm not sure of is how the estop works? Does it stop the train at the previous block when it reaches that point or is it possible under any circumstances to halt the train right then and there? Basicily, if there is a train that has vallied ahead and the computer or ride op notices.. Will the train behind the one that has vallied continue down the track (as if in normal ride operation) until it reaches the mcbr?

A train cannot stop until it hits a break run area, such as a MCBR. However the computer will not allow a train past a certain point until the train ahead of it has cleared. For example, if there are two trains on Gatekeeper (I know it has 3), one is running the course but has not made is past the MCBR yet and another train has been dispatched from the station. The computer will not let the train over the top of the lift hill until the train ahead has passed through the MCBR. It will just stop at the top of the lift hill until it does.

When I was younger I always used to have blocking issues on RCT3. It took me awhile to figure out how to successfully be able to create tracks with proper blocking. I know, I know, RCT isn't the most realistic, and even when I started using NoLimits I needed some practice on blocking. Playing these games and simulators gave me a good concept of blocking, since many of my coaster would stop at the top of the lift hill until the train in front of it cleared the next block brakes, or even worse, a train would stop while on the MCBR. It's just like what Picklesthedrummer said above.

Actually RCT is a great way to get your head around blocking.

Adding on to pickles, if the train were to valley after the MCBR but before the final break run, the computer would stop the 2nd train at the MCBR since the first train has not crossed through the final break run.

Most rides also have timers or sensors in place, essentially making it difficult or at least hard to dispatch a train too soon. For example, on Magnum, the desired interval point with three trains was when the previous train was at the top of the 2nd hill. This allows sufficient time for the train to complete the course and clear the brakes outside the third tunnel before the next one reaches the top of the lift. It was possible to dispatch it a couple seconds before that, but not much. If you had an empty train and a really windy day, the second train you sent could make it all the way to the top of the lift and be stopped before the previous one cleared the brakes outside the third tunnel. This was called a B-Set.

The more common type of "set up" on Magnum was a C-Set - when you are too slow getting a train out and there was still a train in the block behind the station, so the third train stops right outside the third tunnel.

In an e-Stop, which was almost never done intentionally, all brakes close and the trains stop as soon as they reach the next set of block brakes. No, there is no way to stop a train on its own before it hits a block.

liebevision said:
Actually RCT is a great way to get your head around blocking.

Haha yeah. Now I'm really glad I played it so much since it gave me a greater understanding about a lot of stuff.

Raptor because of its position, on windy days we had to make sure that we had a full train to make it through the MCBR. Even then we had to keep our hand on the "Ride Stop" basically E-Stop but doesn't cut central power, and if we saw that the train stopped because of the wind or started going backwards we hit Ride Stop to cut the compressed air to the brakes holding them open, making them close and hold the train, thankfully that never happened. Another incident had a Trouble Light which caused the brakes to close, but my train was going through the Cobra Roll, train slammed normal speed into MCBR and stopped on a dime.