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Moss Vale NSW Manual

Dedication

To our great friend Peter Kitcher (a.k.a. Lever Puller). You always dreamed of an Australian sim so here it is. Without you, this group would never have come together and this sim would not have happened. We are forever grateful.

R.I.P.

Introduction

Welcome to signalling in southern New South Wales, Australia! Home of long slow trains, vast distances, and not a lot of options to re-order traffic. Correct regulation is crucial in this slow sim and players will need to be mindful of the long-term effect of their decisions.

Colour light signalling of the New South Wales ‘Single Light Colour Light’ system is present in this area. More information about SLCL can be found at: http://trainman.id.au/signals.html

This manual covers topics new players should be aware of. You are encouraged to ask questions on the SimSig Forum by starting a new thread in the Moss Vale Simulation area.

Area Description

The Moss Vale simulation covers 420 route kilometres (250 miles), all of which is fully remotely controlled from ARTC Network Control Centre South, located in Junee, NSW.

General Signalling Notes

White plain track and green route lines are a product of the ‘Phoenix’ computer control system used in this area. Players still use the ‘entrance-exit’ style of route setting. Additional functions include:

• Yard Limit Boards: Denote the limit of signaller authority. In this sim they are provided for cosmetic value only and have no effect on your gameplay. Within yard limits the signaller is permitted to verbally authorise unsignalled movements as required. Outside yard limits there are a number of restrictions. For further reading, see ‘ANTR 418 Yard Limits’ at

  https://www.artc.com.au/customers/operations/rules-procedures/nsw/train-working/ .

• Train Order Working: Many of your fringe controllers operate single line territory which have no fixed signals. The system of safeworking is called Train Order Working, a manual authority which is compiled and issued by the controller in charge of that area.
• Trains in your area will request a Train Order from the next controller some distance before leaving your area. You do not need to prompt drivers to do this.
• Drivers are not permitted to depart your Yard Limits unless they are in possession of a Train Order.
• A message will appear on your panel once a Train Order has been granted.
• Long Routes: Allows players to clear multiple main running signals with a single entrance-exit command. Clicking a valid controlled signal will highlight numerous exit options. Selecting a valid exit signal will call the pre-programmed ‘preferred’ route between those two signals. If you would like to arrange a path which differs from the pre-programmed routes, you will need to set a combination of shorter routes as desired.
• Route Stacking: If a route is currently unavailable, attempting to set that signal will ‘stack’ the route. Once the route becomes available it will set automatically with no further input required from the player. A signal with a stacked route stored will display a flashing green triangle next to the entrance signal, and a flashing red triangle next to the exit signal.
• To cancel a stacked route, right-click the signal and select ‘Cancel Stacked Route’. Alternatively, click the ‘Show’ menu → Stacked Routes to view all currently stored routes, and the order in which the system will attempt to set them, per interlocking.
• Shunt/calling-on routes cannot be stacked. You cannot stack routes from a starting signal into Train Order territory.
• If a signal with a stacked route is returned to stop, the stacked route is not deleted. This is true to real life.
• Set Shunt Route: Yellow ‘exit’ triangles are provided for players to set shunt routes from valid main running signals. Left-click the desired signal you wish to clear, then click on the appropriate yellow triangle (instead of the next signal) to call a shunt route instead of the main route.
• Limit of Shunt Boards in right running direction: Drivers will ignore Limit of Shunt boards in their direction of travel when proceeding on authority of a main route. If you would like a driver to stop at a Limit of Shunt board, set a shunt route towards it by first left clicking on the entrance signal, then left clicking on the board itself.
• Auto working: Valid for every main route, but the signal must be showing a proceed indication before auto working can be enabled. Auto working is known as ‘Fleeting’ on the Phoenix control system in use, but this is not replicated in the simulation.
• Ground Frames: There is occasionally a timeout after the release is given, before the frame can be operated. A checkbox labelled ‘Annett Key’ or similar may also need to be clicked to simulate inserting the key into the frame. Beyond that, the frames operate as per the SimSig standard:

  https://www.simsig.co.uk/Wiki/Show?page=usertrack:ssrun:lever_frames

Workstation Notes

Main South ‘A’

Controls the double track Main South Line from Tahmoor to Joppa Junction, plus the single line from Unanderra to Moss Vale.

It is recommended that players consult the F4 Timetable window to help determine when trains will enter from sidings. The real-life controller uses a train control graph to plan their movements well ahead of time. You, as the player, will also need to do some forward thinking to get your moves right and avoid delays.

Unanderra – Moss Vale line: This slow, steep single line must be carefully and deliberately regulated. The first 20 km out of Unanderra is near-continuous 1 in 30 rising. It is recommended that players know the lengths of their trains and refer the Loop Lengths guide at the end of this manual, as not all trains will fit in every loop, and some trains booked to traverse the line will not fit in any loop.

The fringe signaller towards Unanderra is the South Panel at Wollongong Signal Box. Both Up and Down Unanderra lines are signalled bi-directionally. To send a train towards Unanderra on the Down line, first cancel the ‘DM Accept’ by right-clicking the red button. Then, phone Wollongong Box and request permission. The status of granted permissions is denoted by the red labels UM CONTROL and DM CONTROL which appear when you have permission to send a train on that line, and disappear when you do not. You do not need to ask permission for each train, just phone when you want to change the arrangement.

Tahmoor Colliery: A simple balloon loop. Coal trains booked to exit the loop and head towards Moss Vale are marshalled in a ‘push-pull’ configuration with locomotives at both ends of the rake, so you do not need to do any special shunting.

Yerrinbool to Burradoo section: This area is ‘dark territory’. Trains proceed on authority of automatic signals and you are unable to monitor their progress. There is a checkbox at startup which allows the player to view the approximate position of the train by the location of its headcode.

Berrima Junction: Boral Sidings is a privately owned branch line and you are required to phone ahead to advise of an incoming train.

Moss Vale: Many passenger trains terminate and shunt here. The south end of the Up Refuge and Frame D are worked with minimal help from fixed signals. Frame D is operated by a local member of staff to allow access to and from the Up Sidings. Trains reversing at the country end of Moss Vale may use shunt signal MV 74, or ‘HS1’ handsignal reversing point.

Trains entering the sim from the Up Sidings should be worked as follows:

1) Manually set and lock 149 points reverse (refuge to up main) by right clicking the points themselves.

2) Left-click the green buttons above Moss Vale station to release ‘Frame D’ and ‘Hand Signals’. Observe the buttons flash white.

3) In the Ground Frames menu, open ‘Moss Vale Frame D’ and also ‘Moss Vale Handsignals’

4) In the window for Frame D, insert the Annett Key into the frame by clicking ‘Annett Key’ checkbox. The flashing white button now turns steady white.

5) In the window for Moss Vale Handsignals, click ‘Show CP Handsignals’. The flashing white button now turns steady white.

6) In the window for Frame D, reverse lever 1, then lever 2.

7) Give right-away to the driver by clicking checkbox ‘Hsig from Sidings’. The train will depart the Up Sidings towards the Up Main.

8) Once the train is clear behind HS1, manually set 149 points normal by left clicking on the points to free them, then left clicking again to set normal.

9) In the handsignals window, click HS1. The train is now authorised to proceed into Platform 1 at Moss Vale and will depart shortly.

10) Once the train is in the platform, restore Frame D and uncheck all boxes in the Handsignals window. Don’t forget to take back your releases on the panel by right-clicking the white flashing buttons above Moss Vale station.

You can skip the Handsignals steps by also setting 158 points reverse at step 1. The train will head over to the Down Main behind signal MV 74 and can then be signalled into platform 1.

Trains shunting from Platform 2 to the Up Sidings should be worked as follows:

Before you do anything, telephone ‘Station Manager Moss Vale’ and tell them you have a train coming for the South end of the yard. Once you have permission:

1) Signal the train from Platform 2 behind shunt signal MV 74, by setting a main route from MV 69 to MV 79.

2) Release Frame D by left clicking the green button above Moss Vale station. Observe the green button now flashes white.

3) Open the ‘Moss Vale Frame D’ window in the Ground Frames menu.

4) Insert the Annett Key into the frame by clicking the checkbox labelled ‘Annett Key’. The flashing white button on the panel now shows steady white.

5) Reverse lever 1, followed by lever 2.

6) Click ‘Up Refuge Hsig’ to instruct the ground frame operator to flag the approaching train into the sidings.

7) Set a route from shunt signal MV 74 to main signal MV 62 as if you were trying to put the train into the Up Refuge. The train will depart for the sidings and exit the sim.

8) Once the train is clear, restore Frame D by normalising Lever 2, followed by Lever 1, and unchecking the checkboxes you have clicked. Don’t forget to take the release back by right-clicking the white flashing button above Moss Vale station.

While a train is reversing at MV 74, clearing the down main starting signal MV 79 will trigger Yarrawa Street pedestrian crossing (due to occupancy of the trigger track circuit). As a result, local instructions require you to keep MV 79 at stop unless you are sending a train into the section.

Medway Junction: Diverges to a privately owned single line. You need to phone ahead in order for the siding operator to issue a Train Order to approaching traffic. Trains entering the sim at Boral Marulan can take upwards of 20 minutes to reach the junction, and you should plan accordingly.

Goulburn: All passenger trains must use Platform 1 unless exceptional circumstances exist, due to the lack of lifts or any other assisted access to the other platforms.

When routing a down train into Goulburn Yard, ensure the train is correctly routed by operating No.1 lever to the correct position in the ‘Goulburn Down Yard’ ground frame screen.

Main South ‘B’

Controls the Main South Line from the ‘country side’ of Joppa Junction to the end of the simulation. Traffic is sparse in this large area, but your decisions will play out over hours of sim time.

Yass Jn: It is preferred that passenger trains use platform 1 at Yass Junction, for passenger access purposes.

Bowning: This is ‘dark territory’ identical to the Mittagong area on Main South ‘A’. Track circuit occupancy is not reported. Automatic signals protect rail traffic.

Cootamundra: Only Platform 1 is in use. Ensure all passenger trains use the Platform Road. Bi-directional working between Jindalee crossovers and Cootamundra affords the player significant scope for re-ordering of traffic.

Stockinbingal: Take care with your regulation on this single line. Traffic may be light but you can still easily end up with two trains facing one another if you are not careful. Anticipate arrival times for trains entering using the F4 Timetable window to avoid lengthy delays.

Signal Number Plan

https://www.simsig.co.uk/Media/Wiki/%2Fsimulations%2Fmossvale%2Fmoss-vale-signal-number-plan.pdf

Siding and Loop Lengths

Summit Tank	Loop	725m
Mt Murray	Loop	780m
Robertson	Loop	660m
	Sdg	217m
Calwalla	Loop	690m
Tahmoor	Colliery	1555m
Berrima Jn	Up Arrival Rd	495m
Moss Vale	Inspection Rd	604m
	North Fork	461m
	Inspection Rd + North Fork	1038m
	Down Loop	260m
	Inspection Rd + Down Loop	1094m
	Down Refuge	591m
	Down Loop + Refuge	1060m
	Branch Sdg Thru Rd	670m
	Inspection Rd + Down Loop + Refuge	1894m
	Up Refuge	380m
	Up Refuge + Dead End	440m
Bundanoon	Up Siding	420m
Wingello	Up Goods Sdg	130m
	Down Refuge	390m
Marulan	Down Sdg	317m
Towrang	Down Sdg	230m
Goulburn	Down Yard Thru Sdg G66 <-> Frame R	530m
	Down Yard Thru Sdg Frame R <-> Frame N	320m
	Down Yard Thru Sdg G66 <-> Frame N	900m
	Main lines G56/58 <-> G45/47	650
	Down Main G58 <-> G43	659m
	Up Refuge G38 <-> G33	220m
	Up Refuge G33 <-> G31	700m
	Up Refuge G30 <-> G29	150m
	Up Refuge G38 <-> G29	1070m
Jerrawa	Down Refuge Sdg	490m
Yass	Main lines YJ8/10 <-> YJ11/15	2778m
Cunningar	Up Main LOS <-> clear pts	900m
Harden	Down Main clear 105pts to HN29	3132m
	Up Main/Goods HN20/22 <-> HN25/27	627m
	Up Main HN20 <-> HN31	2065m
Wallendbeen	Up Main clear Frame B pts <-> LOS	200m
Galong	Down Sdg	385m
Jindalee	Down Main LOS <-> CA03	1130m
Cootamundra	Down Refuge	686m
	Down Main	606m
	Up Main (clr 133pts)	734m
	Platform Road CA44 <-> CA45	128m
	Platform Road CA46 <-> CA69	531m
	Platform Road CA44 <-> CA69	773m
	Up Main CA74 <-> LOS	499m
Stockinbingal	Main line SL14 <-> SL15	81m
	Goods Sdg	400m
	Grain Sdg	415m
	Neck (clear Frame E pts)	40m

Hotkeys

Shift + (letter)	Location
C	Cootamundra/Stockinbingal
D	Dombarton
G	Goulburn (North end)
H	Harden/Yass
J	Joppa Jn & Goulburn south end
L	Lynwood/Medway Jn
M	Moss Vale

Acknowledgements

The Developers would like to thank Geoff for allowing us this amazing opportunity and for his support and guidance throughout this journey. Thank you to the UK developers and timetablers, especially Karl, John and Clive for helping us through this very steep learning curve and to all of the other "devs" who assisted us along the way. Your input, no matter how big or small, is truly appreciated.

Lastly, thanks go to the Australian crew for your time and patience writing timetables, providing working knowledge and testing to point of having a coronary! Thank you one and all.

An older version of this manual is available here

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Last edited by Sparky on 06/07/2020 at 10:04