Swindon is on the high speed line from Paddington to Bristol, South Wales, and the Cotswolds. Originally SimSig Swindon covered the entire area that Swindon covers - some 60 route miles - and a separate Swindon B sim (more commonly called Didcot) covered the Didcot area. In 2008 in conjunction with the introduction of the Scrolly SimSig the decision was taken to combine the two Swindon Sims into one.
Sharing the tracks with high speed trains are coal trains between Avonmouth and Didcot, stone trains between the Mendip stone terminals and Wootton Bassett and others, freightliners from and to various parts of the country, and local passenger services.
Entry from Reading is via either the Main or relief lines and you have quite a bit of notice of approaching trains.
From the North you have Oxford station represented, again giving you more advance notice than the real box. Down from Didcot most of the track is bi-directional twin tracks, allowing for flexibility during engineering works. The Thingley Junction to Bradford Junction single line is included (8½ miles), as is the single Kemble line (12½ miles) before it re-doubles again - a serious bottleneck when delays occur.
Around Didcot you have the Freight terminal which has a number of entrances/exits. Arriving trains may be sent any of the entrances but departing trains will be presented at one other entrance as set in the timetable.
The trackwork around Swindon station is quite complex, with tracks leading to and from various depots, yards, and sidings. The station platforms are offset to one side of the through lines, meaning that down trains have to cross the Up Through line to get to a platform - which can be quite restrictive at times. With just two through platforms and one short bay, it pays to plan ahead before platforming a late- or early-running train to ensure it conflicts with as little as possible.
This sim combines Swindon A and Swindon B Didcot into one sim; it fringes with Oxford, Reading, Westbury, Bristol and Gloucester boxes and is coded to chain with those boxes where Sims are available.
Geoff Mayo and Mike Miles built the original Sims.
Peter Bennet combined the sims.
Clive Feather and Kurt Sickelmore assisted with data and code programming.
Daan Krantz, Andy Brown, Howard Potter, Tony Hutchins, James Roberts, Darren Towler, Darren Goble, Jamie Warwick, Chris Law and Chris Lord for endless testing of the Sim.
Management and Staff in both boxes.
Swindon V2.6.3 by Postal
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