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A little Mock-SimSig Fun!

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A little Mock-SimSig Fun! 13/10/2021 at 15:02 #141852
elltrain3
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So, as I said prior here is Slough IECC! Stretching from Hayes & Harlington & Heathrow Airport to the Buffers at London Paddington!
(Depicted from 1995-2011) (After Old Oak PSB Closed But Prior to the first XR/IET Changes)

Hayes Panel
We have a nice big TD from Southall before heading into Hayes,
At the airport we have the lovely Bi-Di airport lines continuing to the flyover at hayes which was since been added to again!
We continue to pass all the sidings at Southall including the WCRC depot, and plenty of shunting to do making it far from boring!

Acton
Probably the smallest but certainly busy Acton area, supervising the connection to the Greenford branch, as well as the sidings and various goods lines in Acton which would be busy with freight all hours of the day! as well as managing the fast and semi-fast expresses on the mainline!

Greenford
Simply added for inclusion this is Greenford East SB still retaining a Lever frame and semaphores in London, and even better is they are the last Lower Quadrant semaphores in London! and also the last ones on ex-GW territory until either Liskeard, Pembrey or Worcester all of which are hours away!
It is a quiet panel but a nice regular service.

Acton RD/Old Oak TMD
These 2 smaller panels (which are annoyingly placed) are simple extras, the Old oak Depot is purely for moves into/out of the depot and would probably be signalled by the old oak signaller, though it would still be a tricky panel in the peaks and easy to get Mexican stand-offs too1

Finally the Big one...Old Oak Common panel
This is not a panel for the faint-hearted! with Old oak HEX TMD plus all the HST/TMD roads converging and starting the 6 track approach into London Paddington which would be a panel that is way too easy to get Mexican standoffs at with all 6 lines being fully Bi-Di, making this a very flexible ablet stressful panel!

With this, through Mocks & Real sims we now have a full picture of Paddington - Penzance & Worcester via all routes! Unless anyone can think of anywhere I've missed?

ARS would be 100% needed for this sim should it ever appear as it's on the real IECC (Now TVSC) i just didn't include the sub-areas
Hope you Enjoy it it did take a while! xD

Making a Modern (2011-2021 would require a complete re-design with North Pole/ Old Oak XR plus all the XR enhancements made so I may make one but not anytime soon :(


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A little Mock-SimSig Fun! 13/10/2021 at 20:39 #141854
Guts
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elltrain3 in post 141852 said:
So, as I said prior here is Slough IECC! Stretching from Hayes & Harlington & Heathrow Airport to the Buffers at London Paddington!
(Depicted from 1995-2011) (After Old Oak PSB Closed But Prior to the first XR/IET Changes)

Hayes Panel
We have a nice big TD from Southall before heading into Hayes,
At the airport we have the lovely Bi-Di airport lines continuing to the flyover at hayes which was since been added to again!
We continue to pass all the sidings at Southall including the WCRC depot, and plenty of shunting to do making it far from boring!

Acton
Probably the smallest but certainly busy Acton area, supervising the connection to the Greenford branch, as well as the sidings and various goods lines in Acton which would be busy with freight all hours of the day! as well as managing the fast and semi-fast expresses on the mainline!

Greenford
Simply added for inclusion this is Greenford East SB still retaining a Lever frame and semaphores in London, and even better is they are the last Lower Quadrant semaphores in London! and also the last ones on ex-GW territory until either Liskeard, Pembrey or Worcester all of which are hours away!
It is a quiet panel but a nice regular service.

Acton RD/Old Oak TMD
These 2 smaller panels (which are annoyingly placed) are simple extras, the Old oak Depot is purely for moves into/out of the depot and would probably be signalled by the old oak signaller, though it would still be a tricky panel in the peaks and easy to get Mexican stand-offs too1

Finally the Big one...Old Oak Common panel
This is not a panel for the faint-hearted! with Old oak HEX TMD plus all the HST/TMD roads converging and starting the 6 track approach into London Paddington which would be a panel that is way too easy to get Mexican standoffs at with all 6 lines being fully Bi-Di, making this a very flexible ablet stressful panel!

With this, through Mocks & Real sims we now have a full picture of Paddington - Penzance & Worcester via all routes! Unless anyone can think of anywhere I've missed?

ARS would be 100% needed for this sim should it ever appear as it's on the real IECC (Now TVSC) i just didn't include the sub-areas
Hope you Enjoy it it did take a while! xD

Making a Modern (2011-2021 would require a complete re-design with North Pole/ Old Oak XR plus all the XR enhancements made so I may make one but not anytime soon :(

Looks good. I noticed a signal missing from Plat 4 at Paddington.

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A little Mock-SimSig Fun! 14/10/2021 at 14:50 #141859
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Looks really good. Your hard work pays off. The Greenford area depicted occupies a brief period of time between 2007 when colour light signal GE51 was commissioned and before the catch points (19/20) from the Bay Platform were plain lined. IIRC the two sets of up sidings from the main line were already out of use by this stage, although the positioning would make it difficult to display the London-end connection. That said the connection at the country end was still shown on the diagram after the removal of the London-end, although not sure how long it had been since they'd been used. Signal GE13 should sit to the bottom right of stop signal GE50. GE4 is the acceptance lever from Marylebone (ME70C), rather than to offer.

PS - there's a typo on Coronation Sidings.


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A little Mock-SimSig Fun! 14/10/2021 at 16:09 #141860
elltrain3
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wellgroomed in post 141859 said:
Looks really good. Your hard work pays off. The Greenford area depicted occupies a brief period of time between 2007 when colour light signal GE51 was commissioned and before the catch points (19/20) from the Bay Platform were plain lined. IIRC the two sets of up sidings from the main line were already out of use by this stage, although the positioning would make it difficult to display the London-end connection. That said the connection at the country end was still shown on the diagram after the removal of the London-end, although not sure how long it had been since they'd been used. Signal GE13 should sit to the bottom right of stop signal GE50. GE4 is the acceptance lever from Marylebone (ME70C), rather than to offer.

PS - there's a typo on Coronation Sidings.

Yeah, I had to check myself when the 2 separate semaphores were removed and combined into GE51, and interesting to know about the catch points.
and yeah the Up sidings (former Up Main) were OOU I just added them to allow trains to enter there and allow a broad range of eras to be included
where was the London End Connection? i wasn't aware the up sidings had one!
and yep i'll get GE50/13 fixed
And oops yep i'll get that done too!

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A little Mock-SimSig Fun! 15/10/2021 at 14:58 #141869
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London-end connection of the sidings and the Up Main.


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A little Mock-SimSig Fun! 27/10/2021 at 15:09 #142049
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Hello again, it's been a while since I posted a new mock and for a good reason!

Today's Release is the mighty Ashford IECC (the entire thing)
If a sim of Ashford is ever made I'd guess it'd be split into 2 sims (1+2, 3+4?) but I just popped them together to get a bigger picture.
(The sim would also have ARS like the real signalling centre I suspect too)

We start in the top left while still being in suburban London at Chislehurst and the fringe to London Bridge PSB, and we pass the various spurs to Victoria PSB (SE) Before arriving at the marvellous 8 platforms of Orpington! which would be a busy panel to work!
We then leave and head onto 2 uni-directional Main lines towards the next panel Sevenoaks!

Sevenoaks would be rather quiet in comparison with just 4 platforms and a Reversing siding to control! We also see our 2nd connection from Victoria SE join us here. Also starting here is the start of Basic Bi-Di working which would be very difficult to use while still maintaining a full Timetable.

Next, we go back to another busy Panel, Tonbridge! Here 4 tracks re-appear again with loops and full Bi-Di plus we have the line from redhill joining, AND the Line to/From Hastings leaving too!
Tonbridge also has plenty of C.S. and freight yards which would provide a good bit of variety. The Royal Mail Platform is also shown allowing older TT's to be used.

Next is another quiet simple panel, at Paddock wood which simply signal's trains through platforms and fasts and can even AUTO the route for the platforms! we also see the slots for Wateringbury S.B. and an unusual Auto signal with slots.

Next another of the same really, Headcorn! again Bi-di in its simple form and bi-di loops and plenty of auto buttons. This would be a panel left on ARS most of the time.

We Now Enter Ashford West, and the layout expands quickly! We have the Depot at the bottom and the line from Mainstone and all it's loops/Reliefs diverging but the most important line to join is the CTRL or Channel Tunnel Rail Link (HS1) where 373/374s would fly off HS1 and join Ashford IECC to pick up the station.

Ashford East is very much the busier side of the station with again all 6 platforms and Fasts coming in from West and then we see 4 routes diverge here, First towards Rye, and Hastings including the Single line to Dungeness and the Nuclear P.S. There, the 2nd branch heads off onwards towards Dollands Moor, The 3rd is the CTRL East chords used exclusively by CTRL services, and the 4th being The lines to Canterbury via Wye and in addition to all of that, we have plenty of C.S., Yards and shunting to do!
Also Commencing here is the More Advanced Bi-Di which looks a lot better and is very much more flexible.

We now run alongside HS1 and pass numerous stations before we reach the equally impressive Dollands Moor! Here we see the "conventional" lines head off through Folkstone's stations (West, Central & East) which must be unique in that they are all in a line!, then the 2nd line are the "main" lines where we leave DC Behind and start the transition to 25Kv OLE and head directly into the Tunnel, Then finally we have the route into Dollands Moor's 8 Roads where with 4 Necks shunting would never be boring! we also have the Freight connection to the CTRL requiring slots galore!

Finally, all the lines converge for the passage over to the Euro Tunnel Signalling Control Centre and we see trains vanish off towards France and Europe!

This took a LONG time to make and finish and the blank spaces do annoy me but it was still fun to make and would be a very excellent and busy sim should it ever get released!

(as ever constructive criticism is always welcome i have probably made a few mistakes being the size!)

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Last edited: 27/10/2021 at 15:10 by elltrain3
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A little Mock-SimSig Fun! 28/10/2021 at 09:09 #142064
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Wow! Quite a job... well done.

Hope you don't mind a bit of pedantic proofreading.

At Chiselhurst Junction I suspect you've transposed 1 & 2 (the down & up Tonbridge Slow Loops).

I think you'll find it's Penshurst.

Tonbridge Box is still in use, but only controlling the Hastings line. I think the fringe is pretty much where you've put it. Tonbridge then fringes to Robertsbridge country side of the tunnel south of Wadhurst.

Did you mean to say 'Ashford West CTRL Slots' on the buttons above Ashford C Junction?

I imagine the blue triangles are the TVM 'Repère' boards? With white triangles for the violet 'shunt Repère'? (I'm not quite sure what the English rule book terminology is for those.) I've never had the privilege of seeing British signalling diagrams for TVM (or ETCS) lines, but I do know SNCF use triangles to represent repères on their signalling diagrams; in their case, as befits a speed-signalled railway, the triangles carry a figure showing the maximum speed TVM can authorise at that repère. Interestingly, though, their plans for Fréthun included part of the Tunnel, but in the ET-owned section repères were shown as representations of an actual repère.

Thank you for this; for all the nitpicking it's a brilliant piece of work and a real joy to look at.

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A little Mock-SimSig Fun! 28/10/2021 at 13:54 #142078
elltrain3
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Well thank You

and yep I'll get those changed quick!

and yeah I realised the Mistake that it fringes to Tonbridge not long after I hit upload oops!

and yeah well I thought I'd try and do better than the traditional "stop board" for HS1 so I used as you say Blue for "Repere" boards and Pink for "Shunt" versions and I used video 125s "Eurostar" to get rough placement but it's not hugely vital being we don't control it it's just to show a TD for approaching trains.

I also still think the AC/DC Limit at Dollands moor is very hard to show as they overlap so much! and should the sim ever get released I'm sure misrouting trains onto the wrong traction line would be waaay to easy xD

Yeah, Nitpicking really allows you to study it which means o can make it even more perfect!

(Re-built version now added with Tonbridge (PE) Now Included)

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A little Mock-SimSig Fun! 29/10/2021 at 08:07 #142100
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Imagine if that Ashford were to come to the Sim. Its awesome
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A little Mock-SimSig Fun! 29/10/2021 at 11:10 #142101
elltrain3
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Agreed! It'd be a lovely one for Variety too! Plenty of local passengers on the branches and at Orpington plus express on long-distance trains plus all the freight associated with Tonbridge and Dollands Moor!
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A little Mock-SimSig Fun! 29/10/2021 at 16:25 #142108
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After a quick session today I have yet another new mock, following on from Ashford here is Folkstone/Dover

Covering a Total of 5(6.5) signal boxes:

First, we have Folkstone East (Prefixed "YE")
A small box but plenty to look at, The Folkstone Harbour Branch is Prominent and in this era could still signal trains via a siding.
Also of note are the cliff alarms which I guess wouldn't be included in a real sim as just like many airport tripwires if they sound then it's put the kettle on time.
We reach Dover which I've made a separate panel though is controlled by Folkstone East S.B., though an emergency panel does exist in the old signal box at Dover Priory, in terms of the panel it's a nice one with a couple of sidings 3 platforms full Bi-Di working and a Junction so a nice little panel.

Next, we branch off at Buckland Jn and reach Shepardswell a small quaint block post working AB to Cantebury East and TCB to Folkstone, with a nice mix of semaphores and colour lights plus the connection to the East Kent Railway (Not simulated)
Heading north we then reach Cantebury East which again isn't overly interesting just an Up Siding and a few X-overs and shunts and fringes to Faversham PSB.

Both of these boxes were abolished in 2011 along with most of the smaller PSBs with control passing to the East Kent Signalling centre.

Going back to Buckland jn we now head on the "main" lines and head to Deal (Prefixed "EBZ"), a small signal box with levers bells and a nice simple layout (with some heavy pulls on the outer homes).

Next, we pass the long switched out and closed box at Bettshanger Colliery (closed 1988) before reaching the tasty town of Sandwich! the box here though is just a small panel with 2 signals on the Up and 1 on the down, though plenty of crossings to watch though! then we pass another long closed (and burnt out) box at RichBorough Sidings who's signal still remain (even still Prefixed "EBQ"just permanently showing a proceeded aspect and block working extended to Minster.

another simple little sim that would a nice solo one! also the line name (and direction) changed a few times! first in Harbour tunnel from the "MAIN" to the "Chatham" lines, then at Buckland trains towards Faversham become "up" trains whereas trains bound for deal and minster remain as "DOWN" trains!

Might make a "modern" (post 2011 re-signalling scheme) version before following the "main" lines towards Minster!

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A little Mock-SimSig Fun! 29/10/2021 at 20:01 #142113
UKTrainMan
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Hi elltrain3,

Firstly some great mock-ups indeed you have been producing, so a massive hat tip to you for your efforts - some seriously impressive stuff you've produced; almost copacetic! :)

Just 'a few' things I've noticed with your two recent Kent mock-ups; I have separated this list between the two mock-ups (where applicable for a minor typo, I've merely marked any missing or incorrect letters)...

Chislehurst

Penshurst

Staplehurst

Tillery UWC (double L, not i L i (I've used specific letter casing here for clarity)); also are you possibly missing Ashleys Crossing at 65 miles and 03 chains, "Caldicott LC (open)" at 71M 02Ch, and "Lydd Town LC (TMO)" at 71M 51Ch. Curiously, Kent Sectional Appendix September 2021 (page 112) lists almost all of the crossings you've shown as "[...] LC (open)"(?) rather than UWCs except for Brooklands which is apparently an AOCL.

Kent Sectional Appendix September 2021 lists "Newtown Berthing Sidings" as "Up Berthing Sidings', and "East C.S." as "Works Sidings".

Westenhanger

Folkestone West / Folkestone Central

=

Folkestone Harbour

Shakespeare Tunnel(s) - as to how this is both named and drawn on the panel versus how it looks on the Sectional Appendix is possibly beyond me. On the SA it is described as "Shakespeare Tunnel" and drawn as one single bore tunnel, rather than your mock-up which I am aware is how it is in real life anyway (at least as seen from Samphire Hoe during a visit there).

Snowdown

Canterbury East

It looks to me like you've got Selling Tunnel on the wrong side of Selling Station? Following 'Line 1' on the Sectional Appendix and in order it goes: Caterbury East Station - Chartham Hatch LC (AHBC) - Selling Tunnel - Selling Station - and then onwards towards Faversham.

Any views and / or opinions expressed by myself are from me personally and do not represent those of any company I either work for or am a consultant for.
Last edited: 29/10/2021 at 21:52 by UKTrainMan
Reason: tpyos, ironically! xD

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A little Mock-SimSig Fun! 29/10/2021 at 22:19 #142116
elltrain3
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Here we go all those changes made! I learn so much from making these mocks all the local knowledge and little quirks that I miss! (though I think I've missed the "r" in Canterbury every single time I've mentioned it xD)

and I'll get Ashleys & Caldcott in soon gotta re-edit the design and make some new crossings for that so I'll get that done asap

but fornow here are the 2 fixed sims!




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A little Mock-SimSig Fun! 03/11/2021 at 22:11 #142175
elltrain3
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Been away these past few days, but here is another to add to the southeastern theme I seemed to have developed!

This time it's Ramsgate!

We now cover 3 small (but by no means quiet) signal boxes at Minster, Ramsgate & Margate!

Starting at Minster, (Prefixed "EBE" Under the southern's prefix scheme which I can't help but admire!) a large mechanical lever frame still open in 2021, and a 3-way junction with absolute block and a heavy flow of traffic over all routes!
the layout has plenty of crossings and would never be a boring panel!

Next, we go to another 2011 closure (2011 seemed to be a bad year for the southeastern signal boxes) at Ramsgate! (Prefixed "HE")
This box would have been a truly busy complex and manic box to work with a full set of Carriage sidings, 4 platforms and shunting galore this was a truly breathtaking box all still worked from a lever frame (prior to 2011).

Finally, we reach Margate (also a 2011 Closure) (Prefixed "GE", A good example of how the southern prefix system worked), and the last true signal box trains see before their long journey into London!
Layout wise it's very simple just 4 bi-di platforms and a down siding, though has a VERY long approach from Faversham.

Then Below that is the Post 2011 signalling layout with control of Ramsgate & Margate having passed to the East Kent SCC (signals plated "EK")
The layout was vastly simplified at both locations as can be seen!

Another quick one, now to finish the signal box bit of the south-east with WYE ASC!




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A little Mock-SimSig Fun! 05/11/2021 at 15:53 #142203
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Now for the conclusion to mechanical signalling in Kent, Wye ASC

Ths sim encompases 3 boxes:

Firstly we have (Canterbury) Wye ASC (Signals Plated "EBT", The former code of WYE Signal box) Located ironically right beside the box it works too! But it controls the double-track line from Ashford through some lovely countryside, en-route it passes first WYE MCG, A 2 lever gate box which has slots on the 2 protecting signals, then we continue into Chilham with a pair of CCTV crossings to watch over, before we reach Chartham, another gate box, though housed in the former signal box which ceased to be a block post with the opening of the ASC in 2008.

We then reach the magnificent Canterbury West (Signals Plated "EBH"), a suspended box with 72 Levers, with a pair of CCTV crossings either side of the station, and plenty of sidings (which are used regularly), plus a fair few semaphore discs (3 of which are of the more rarer yellow type!)

We finally head onto Sturry (unusually plated "ST" due to it being a gate box from 1964 - 2008, so the code was a new NR one, though it originally was plated EBG Prior to 1964), the box is a simple block post fringing to Minster.

The sim really does show the Southern signal code's well!
With Deal back near Dover as "EBZ"
Sandwich Being formerly "EBP"
Richborough Sdgs being "EBQ"
Jumping to Minster as "EBE" (showing how many boxes there once were!)
Chislet Colliery as "EBF" (Closed 2003)
Sturry (Pre 1964) as "EBG"
Canterbury West as "EDH" (not sure why it switches to ED here and not EB?)
and then the Former Wye SB Code as "EBT"
Confusing but it was good fun making them and learning about the unique system!

I've done Wye & Ramsgate as 2 sims but I've also added a version where I combined the 2 as they are both rather small and could be combined easily.



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A little Mock-SimSig Fun! 06/11/2021 at 08:31 #142206
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Personally I like the combo mockup but that is just personal preference.
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A little Mock-SimSig Fun! 06/11/2021 at 12:33 #142208
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elltrain3 in post 142203 said:
Now for the conclusion to mechanical signalling in Kent, Wye ASC

Ths sim encompases 3 boxes:

Firstly we have (Canterbury) Wye ASC (Signals Plated "EBT", The former code of WYE Signal box) Located ironically right beside the box it works too! But it controls the double-track line from Ashford through some lovely countryside, en-route it passes first WYE MCG, A 2 lever gate box which has slots on the 2 protecting signals, then we continue into Chilham with a pair of CCTV crossings to watch over, before we reach Chartham, another gate box, though housed in the former signal box which ceased to be a block post with the opening of the ASC in 2008.

We then reach the magnificent Canterbury West (Signals Plated "EBH"), a suspended box with 72 Levers, with a pair of CCTV crossings either side of the station, and plenty of sidings (which are used regularly), plus a fair few semaphore discs (3 of which are of the more rarer yellow type!)

We finally head onto Sturry (unusually plated "ST" due to it being a gate box from 1964 - 2008, so the code was a new NR one, though it originally was plated EBG Prior to 1964), the box is a simple block post fringing to Minster.

The sim really does show the Southern signal code's well!
With Deal back near Dover as "EBZ"
Sandwich Being formerly "EBP"
Richborough Sdgs being "EBQ"
Jumping to Minster as "EBE" (showing how many boxes there once were!)
Chislet Colliery as "EBF" (Closed 2003)
Sturry (Pre 1964) as "EBG"
Canterbury West as "EDH" (not sure why it switches to ED here and not EB?)
and then the Former Wye SB Code as "EBT"
Confusing but it was good fun making them and learning about the unique system!

I've done Wye & Ramsgate as 2 sims but I've also added a version where I combined the 2 as they are both rather small and could be combined easily.


Nice job. I have often thought it would be nice if SimSig covered a bit more of Kent than it currently does: I know we have Maidstone East and Bromley North stations (I think the latter is in Kent: not sure - never been there) but Ashford, North Kent and Wye ASC would be great additions.

Dave

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A little Mock-SimSig Fun! 08/11/2021 at 00:24 #142230
elltrain3
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Hey all, so time to continue the Southern theme and those of you on Discord will have seen the teaser for this one! It's time for West Coastway! Stretching From The fringe to Havant right through to Billingshurst & Lancing!

This Era (pre-2008) has 10 Panels and 9 signal boxes simulated!

As usual, we start at the left-hand end with Chichester! (Plated "CC" though not sure if this was the southern's code for it or if it was given this as the box escaped the southern's prefix scheme by becoming the sole box in Chichester in 1973), The panel is a long one and not quiet either PLENTY of crossings both automatic and manual this is one panel where you have to stay alert!

Next, we move onto Barnham Junction (Plated "BH" Though was originally "CBY" under the southern's codes) the box is an original southern box dating from 1911 and fitted with 75 levers, It controlled the junction for the busy branch to Bognor and was always a hive of activity even still retaining semaphores on the branch! the box's area incorporated the area of 2 former boxes at Woodgate & Yapton to which both closed in 1985 their crossings being added to the role of Barnham (An EXCELLENT Simulation of the boxes at Barnham, Yapton & Ford are available for Blockpost software which are worth a try in demo mode if you like the old fashioned style of signalling), The box here closed in 2008 and control was passed to a "signal box" in the old goods yard and fitted with a panel though the absolute block to Bognor was weirdly kept!

Now we move to Bognor Regis (Prefixed "BR" another non-southern code that not many signals carried until recently), a remarkable survivor still signalling trains under semaphores, Absolute block and a 66 lever frame and until 2008 had a strange IB signal with the repeater sited beneath the starter which was still a semaphore! a very odd arrangement which I think (happy to be corrected) is now gone from Network rail with Belasis lane in the NE being the latest to surcome to modernisation.

Next is Arundel (Originally Plated "CBV" under the southern scheme but was changed to "AR" when Arundel Junction closed and Arundel took over the entire area through an NX Panel, though prior to this there was a further box at Ford (Plated "CBW".) which worked Ford & L'hton junctions that closed in 1979) The layout is simple but certainly busy with 4 junctions to watch plus 3 CCTV crossings so not a quiet panel!

Next, we return to a layout similar to Bognor at Littlehampton (Plated "LH" again non-southern presumably as prior to this code being made the layout didn't need signal plates), Here we see semaphores return and a nice set of CS and small siding with a VERY cramped layout with the semaphores setting routeS
directly onto Arundel's signals!

Next we hop onto the Horsham Branch to Pick up 3 boxes that closed in 2014 control passing to Three Bridges ROC
Amberley (Plated "AY", A modern code as being it was a "station frame" it never really needed lever plates)
Pulborough (Plated "PH" for the same reason as above) In reality this box was more of a garden and must have been a lovely place to work!
and finally Billingshurst (Plated "BT" Again see above) Another small box fringing to Horsham SB (Plated "CBP".) (and Then 3Bridges ROC from 2005)Thankfully the box was preserved and moved to the Amberley railway I believe!

We now hop back to the Mainline At Arundel Jn to reach Lancing (Plated "CCD" Up Until 1988 when the New panel was fitted and it became "LG".) The box is relatively new being built in 1963, the box supervises a total of 10 CCTV crossings so is similar to Chichester in that although simple it makes up for that in the amount of watching you have to do!

For those interested the crossing boxes Lancing Replaced were:
- Angmering (Plated "AG" and was the original from 1877 making it 111 years old at closure!)
- Roundgate seems to have been a VERY early closure presumably Angmering took over its control
- Ferring seems to be the same as above
- Goring-By-Sea (Plated GG) was a later opening only opening in 1900 and closing in 1988 making it only 88 years old at closure.
- West Worthing did have a signal box still in 1985 though no code is evidence so presumably it closed with the rest in 1988.
- Worthing (Plated "WR".) Was formerly Worthing B though became plain Worthing in 1975, It opened with Angmering in 1877 and also lasted 111 years.
- Lancing Prior to 1988 Contained Levers and semaphores, and carried either no code or "LG".
- Shoreham, Like Worthing, had 2 boxes for the crossings at either end of the station and both survived right to the end!
-- First, it's Shoreham "B" (Plated "CCE".)fitted with 30 Levers and opened in 1877 with most of the original boxes on the route
-- Second It's Shoreham "A" (Plated "CCG".) Also having 30 Levers though it opened a little later in 1907 and closed in 1988
- Finally, It's Portslade (Plated,Funnily enough, "CCF".) fitted with 23 levers it was another original from 1877 though by 1985 was fringing to Three Bridges as the box at Hove (Well The 2nd one at Hove the first, Hove "B" Plated "CCL" Closed in 1973 and Hove "A" Took over changing codes from "CCM" To "HV".) Which closed in 1985.

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Last edited: 08/11/2021 at 00:30 by elltrain3
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A little Mock-SimSig Fun! 08/11/2021 at 04:12 #142232
AlexRail575
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elltrain3 in post 141026 said:
Been a while since I've posted here but self-isolation is tough so I decided to make another!
This time it's the south-west and its the line from the fringe to Southampton at Totton to Weymouth

On the end is Yeovil Pen Mill, the quaint box working Tokens in all 3 directions to Dorchester West, Westbury Through Slots and to Yeovil Junc also through tokens!

And now, a more modest addition, for fans of mechanical boxes, I add the signal box that would have gone between Yeovil P. M. and the Dorchester panel (at least, according to both the panel and the YPM signal box diagram).

The layout is circa. 1986-1987, with a siding on the up line which appears to have since been removed (the signal box was closed in 1988 source), at which point what I assume is the "no signalman token with remote loops" system mentioned in the current sectional appendix [SW175 Castle Cary to Dorchester Junction] was also implemented, first to replace MN, and recently it appears at YPM too)).

The diagram is as best as I could deduce from this low-res video (which has the occasional close-up), and from the mechanical locking table from SRS (here), as well as from the pictures and historical details here. Distants are fixed. I obviously based myself on the Hunts Cross layout for the levers. The single colour-light signal (no. 18, the down starter) is as on the diagram (although the Dorchester panel, picture above, has it (mis-)labelled as MN 3).

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Last edited: 08/11/2021 at 04:19 by AlexRail575
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A little Mock-SimSig Fun! 09/11/2021 at 06:00 #142234
JWNoctis
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elltrain3 in post 142230 said:

Next, we move onto Barnham Junction (Plated "BH" Though was originally "CBY" under the southern's codes) the box is an original southern box dating from 1911 and fitted with 75 levers, It controlled the junction for the busy branch to Bognor and was always a hive of activity even still retaining semaphores on the branch! the box's area incorporated the area of 2 former boxes at Woodgate & Yapton to which both closed in 1985 their crossings being added to the role of Barnham (An EXCELLENT Simulation of the boxes at Barnham, Yapton & Ford are available for Blockpost software which are worth a try in demo mode if you like the old fashioned style of signalling), The box here closed in 2008 and control was passed to a "signal box" in the old goods yard and fitted with a panel though the absolute block to Bognor was weirdly kept!

Nice diagrams - I think someone did a mockup for the current layout a long while ago, but not nearly as detailed as yours.

When was that Up Main - Down Main crossover on the Down side of the loop to main points (labeled 67 on John Hinson's diagram for Barnham dated 1999) put in, though? It wasn't there in the 60's as depicted in the competitor sim, nor is it on the aforementioned diagram.

Also that box itself apparently had a somewhat interesting life after retirement, having been purchased by a local model train society and moved whole to a playground in Woodgate, refurbished, then damaged by an arsonist which made news, and again repaired for it is still standing in the latest satellite image I could find - Ship of Theseus notwithstanding, the roof looked different from that pictured by archive photos.

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A little Mock-SimSig Fun! 09/11/2021 at 11:19 #142235
DriverCurran
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If the crossover is the one I think it is, then it was put in as part of the resignalling. One of the last trains from the Chichester direction (certainly pre Covid) was booked direct into the loop and berth

Paul

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A little Mock-SimSig Fun! 09/11/2021 at 14:44 #142241
elltrain3
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DriverCurran in post 142235 said:
If the crossover is the one I think it is, then it was put in as part of the resignalling. One of the last trains from the Chichester direction (certainly pre Covid) was booked direct into the loop and berth

Paul
At Barnham? yeah, I saw it on the diagram though I wasn't sure how recent it was, as it allows full flexibility and the mechanical box had control over it for the latter period of its life at least. Good to know!

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A little Mock-SimSig Fun! 09/11/2021 at 21:05 #142245
elltrain3
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As an almost conclusion to the Southern network, we return to the isle of wight to cover the new and updated version of the line, The Key changes are:
- Brading has had its loop re-inserted, so it now has a pair of home/starting signals!
- the 2nd change is the loss of the 2nd platform at Ryde Esplanade/Pierhead with a co-acting signal installed at Esplanade to help in seeing the signal from the new class 484 units.

Somehow, Ryde St Johns Road Signal Box (Plated "WFP" Under the southern's scheme and weidly is the first (and last!) box to carry a signal plate on the island!) and all its semaphores have survived and continue to do what they have always done!

There (may) be 1 or 2 more mocks from the south but we will have to wait and see!


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A little Mock-SimSig Fun! 10/11/2021 at 13:10 #142246
Trainman525
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Just one interesting point to mention, at West Worthing crossing, the signallers have an additional button (Not sure if that was there in 2008) that controls the road traffic lights and sets them to red before the crossing is lowered. It certainly is a unique feature.

Hopefully one day a West Coastway sim will exist. We can only hope though. Thanks for making the dream visual.

Last edited: 10/11/2021 at 13:12 by Trainman525
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A little Mock-SimSig Fun! 10/11/2021 at 14:06 #142248
elltrain3
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Does it? that certainly is unusual! wonder why it was only provided at west worthing? something to do with the road layout?

and yeah as a sim it has great chaining capability, and would be a good sim solo or chained!
yeah, I like being able to visualise them even if it's slightly different to what they would look like when released it shows what good sims they would be!

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