Hi Derek,
I've seen that no one has commented on your problem.
As I don't drive epochs myself, I can only try to find a solution together with you, if you haven't already found the solution to the problem.
It is important that your trains (locomotives and wagons) are assigned to an era. Then the routes must also only be created or enabled for this era.
Have you done this?
At least that's how I understand the explanation in the manual.
If I'm not right, hopefully someone who also runs by era will correct my statement :-)
Kind regards,
Willi