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A little Mock-SimSig Fun!

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A little Mock-SimSig Fun! 07/09/2022 at 19:20 #147868
Steamer
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Looks good, but I've got a few notes...

Euxton Jn has been remodelled twice during the life of Preston PSB. Originally, there was a conventional double track junction towards Chorley from the Fast lines, with a ladder crossing (essentially as you've shown) allowing access to the Slows. At some later point (I don't know when), the double junction was removed and turned into a fully single-lead junction, which meant that simultaneous moves on and off the Chorley line weren't possible. Around the time of the WCML upgrade in the early 2000s, the junction was re-modelled again to the layout you've used in all eras.

The Chorley line has never had 4-aspect signals, it's 3 aspect all the way.

The long passing loop at Darwen was installed in 2015; prior to that there was just a short passing loop within the station itself.

The Padiham and Deepdale branches have been OOU for a long time; I don't know the dates but definitely since 2013, and I'm pretty sure they haven't had regular traffic this century.

The facing crossover at Lancaster, and the main aspect signal at the south end of P3 is a relatively recent addition, I think around the early 2010s. At the same time, a crossover which allowed access from the Up Main and P4 to the UGL was removed.

There have been a lot of changes since the original opening- a substantial number of ground frames were in the original installation, and the line from Farrington Curve Jn to Midge Hall used to be double track- this is the reason behind the weird transition from TCB to token working at Midge Hall.

"Don't stress/ relax/ let life roll off your backs./ Except for death and paying taxes/ everything in life.../ is only for now." (Avenue Q)
Last edited: 07/09/2022 at 19:25 by Steamer
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A little Mock-SimSig Fun! 07/09/2022 at 19:49 #147869
elltrain3
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Steamer in post 147868 said:
Looks good, but I've got a few notes...

Euxton Jn has been remodelled twice during the life of Preston PSB. Originally, there was a conventional double track junction towards Chorley from the Fast lines, with a ladder crossing (essentially as you've shown) allowing access to the Slows. At some later point (I don't know when), the double junction was removed and turned into a fully single-lead junction, which meant that simultaneous moves on and off the Chorley line weren't possible. Around the time of the WCML upgrade in the early 2000s, the junction was re-modelled again to the layout you've used in all eras.

The Chorley line has never had 4-aspect signals, it's 3 aspect all the way.

The long passing loop at Darwen was installed in 2015; prior to that there was just a short passing loop within the station itself.

The Padiham and Deepdale branches have been OOU for a long time; I don't know the dates but definitely since 2013, and I'm pretty sure they haven't had regular traffic this century.

The facing crossover at Lancaster, and the main aspect signal at the south end of P3 is a relatively recent addition, I think around the early 2010s. At the same time, a crossover which allowed access from the Up Main and P4 to the UGL was removed.

There have been a lot of changes since the original opening- a substantial number of ground frames were in the original installation, and the line from Farrington Curve Jn to Midge Hall used to be double track- this is the reason behind the weird transition from TCB to token working at Midge Hall.
I'll add these to the list for correction! I'd guessed with a power box as large as Preston is, that i'd miss quite a few changes!

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A little Mock-SimSig Fun! 07/09/2022 at 19:50 #147870
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Steamer in post 147868 said:
Looks good, but I've got a few notes...

Euxton Jn has been remodelled twice during the life of Preston PSB. Originally, there was a conventional double track junction towards Chorley from the Fast lines, with a ladder crossing (essentially as you've shown) allowing access to the Slows. At some later point (I don't know when), the double junction was removed and turned into a fully single-lead junction, which meant that simultaneous moves on and off the Chorley line weren't possible. Around the time of the WCML upgrade in the early 2000s, the junction was re-modelled again to the layout you've used in all eras.

The Chorley line has never had 4-aspect signals, it's 3 aspect all the way.

The long passing loop at Darwen was installed in 2015; prior to that there was just a short passing loop within the station itself.

The Padiham and Deepdale branches have been OOU for a long time; I don't know the dates but definitely since 2013, and I'm pretty sure they haven't had regular traffic this century.

The facing crossover at Lancaster, and the main aspect signal at the south end of P3 is a relatively recent addition, I think around the early 2010s. At the same time, a crossover which allowed access from the Up Main and P4 to the UGL was removed.

There have been a lot of changes since the original opening- a substantial number of ground frames were in the original installation, and the line from Farrington Curve Jn to Midge Hall used to be double track- this is the reason behind the weird transition from TCB to token working at Midge Hall.
I do hold quite a lot of info regarding Preston PSB 2010 onwards this was all been used 'When Preston was in development'
The area in control has changed quite a lot over the years as mentioned.

More Info:
Post 2010 to 2013
Deepdale line points were removed and plain lined on the UTL.

Post 2013 onwards
Lancaster South Junction was put in place during Easter of 2014, to access platforms 4 & 5. During that time Platform 4 was put into Bi-Directional.
Leyland B Leyland & Blackburn King St Northern Depot was in place 2017/18 onwards.
Balshaw Lane Jn was remodelled to allow trains to go onto and off the Slow Lines at full line speed of 75mph in July of 2014.
Line Speeds were adjusted once the Electrification of the Fylde Lines was complete.
Preston Croft Street became a depot during 2017 and 2018 for the Blackpool Electrification and still is for TP/NT.
Preston South Jn and Skew Bridge had new signalling equipment installed replacing old equipment been ongoing from 2016.
Platform 7 at Preston become a UDGL, at this moment its been decided to put back into Platform use pending on HS2 this also includes RES.

Aaron (AJRO) | Timetable Writer
Last edited: 07/09/2022 at 19:56 by HST125Scorton
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A little Mock-SimSig Fun! 07/09/2022 at 20:31 #147871
bill_gensheet
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Not sure about which years (or all) but the AC limit at Farington Jn needs to include the sidings etc - so you can change AC to steam on charters to S&C

(trivia - "Stabaling" siding at preston)

Bill

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A little Mock-SimSig Fun! 27/09/2022 at 11:27 #148168
elltrain3
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Thank you all for the Preston Updates and they are being changed slowly!

But in the meantime, it's time for another mock!
This time it's March, Spanning from the fringes of Peterborough to the outskirts of Ely Nth Jn. Compromising 4 eras from 1970 through to the present day!

The Eras:
1970s
The first era is the 1970s and we start at Kings Dyke ('K/KD'.),
Opened in 1899 the box is a remarkable survivor and the crossing here is that reason. The box still has some distant (repeaters) due to the density of traffic from Peterborough, it contains a 19 lever 'dutton' frame, the last one on Network Rail

Whittlesea ('W'.) is another small block post, with a gated crossing released from the box and closed by a localised keeper the mass of sidings surviving is a reminder of the amount of freight these small stations often had.

Three Horse Shoes ('THS'.) is a fun name for a box, though the layout is very basic, just few signals each way as all the adjacent crossings are now AHBs.

Now we reach March, a small town once compromising 5 boxes!
The first is March West ('MW'.) opened in 1886, the box was in charge of the west corner of a triangle of lines and had an Up Goods loop, often useful for looping trains bound for whitemoor, the box also had 2 crossings worked by keepers, and released by the box.

Until 1975 there was a box at March North to which this box and East worked too, hence the '1970s' era as it's more like post-1975

Whitemoor Junction ('J'.) is by far the largest of the boxes in the sim (and area) having 147 Levers and was a sight to behold!
In the 1970s Rationalisation was underway, however, the Dn goods yard and Up stowage roads had already been reduced to a few sidings and the Wisbech line singled. the GN/GE joint line to Spalding was still open and whitemoor Marshalling yard was very much in use, so a complex panel albeit not one you'd get bored of!

Next is March East ('ME'.) Opened in 1886 with 56 levers, the box was still an impressive structure working AB in 3 directions and having a complex and tight layout to play with.

March South ('MS'.) was not geographically accurate as it was also an 'east end' box and formerly was a junction for the St Ives branch as well as being the 2nd to have a crossing in the March area, it had an impressive array of semephores plus backing arms for shunting on the up main, the box also saw the start/end of goods loops to East, a useful tool in the days of heavy freights to whitemoor.

Horsemoor ('H'.) was a simple box just protecting the crossing

The next 5 boxes were all very straightforward layouts, with refuge sidings for shunting trains out o the way or for dropping off goods for the local towns.

1980s
10 years later and we review the changes, as BR push rationalization

Kings Dyke now fringes with Peterborough PSB via TCB, the first place on the line to gain TCB Working, as well as losing all its semaphores.

Three Horse-shoes and March west have the boundaries altered and the first automatic signals start appearing, and colour lights replace all semaphores.

Whitemoor Yard is starting to slim out, with the loss of the Hump Sidings and goods yard the layout Is looking rather bare, The chord to March west is singled and made into TCB working, as well as the Spalding line closing for good leaving whitemoor jn as barley more than a shunting frame.

March East has also seen the semaphores on the Whitemoor lines removed as well as the goods avoided.

Stonea's original box has been demolished a small portacabin and IFS switch panel replacing the frame.

Furlong drove box has closed, with Manea and Black Bank's boundaries altered to suit and TCB working implemented.

1990s
getting closer to modern day now,

March West and Whitemoor Junction have now both closed. March East has expanded it's working area to meet Three Horse shoes. the line into whitemoor has been singled in all directions and only a single line now gives access to what remains of the yard and MPD, the Wisbech branch also survies.

Horsemoor has closed and March South has expanded to include the new AHB There, The mainline semephores have now switched to colour lights with the exception of Up Home 25, TCB Working has now been implemented to Stonea.

Black Bank has now also closed and Chettisham ('CH'.) has taken over the area and signalling rationalised ready for the expansion of Cambridge PSB

2000s - Present
The final era...
Kings Dyke is still going strong though the advent of a road bridge being built in place of the crossing means it's days are numbered.

Whittlesea is still as charming as ever, seemingly little changed from the 1960s with a Gated crossing and sidings galore, although the sidings are now OOU they are still connected.

Three Horse shoes also haven't changed since the 1970s

March East with its new bigger layout lost the yard portion in the late 1990s though in 2013 Whitemoor was re-opened for construction and rail materials and so was re-signalled again to what we see here, and somehow the Wisbech branch despite being mothballed remains connected, meaning despite MAJOR rationalisation the branch survived all 4 era's! The other major change was the loss of AB working to March South instead opting for Slots on each other's home signals though bells are retained for train descriptions.

As a result of the above March south lost it's last Main semaphore with just the 5 smaller arms being left now.

Chettisham also closed leaving Manea to become the fringe to Cambridge PSB.

So overall the area was rationalised beyond recognition, though Whittlesea and Manea still retain mainline semaphores, with both March Boxes retaining shunting semaphores, Whitemoor yard is in daily use, and for the short-term, the line is safe from major re-signalling.
Kings dyke closing would mean TCB extended to Whittlesea meaning we would possible lose semaphores there and the end-goal is ETRMS Signalling for the entire line!

Another fun mock linking 2 bigger sims and would prove to be a good sim for regulation with constant passenger traffic and freight alike! even moreso in the older era's.






(Peterborough is spelt wrong and has been changed on the actual mock)

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Last edited: 27/09/2022 at 11:44 by elltrain3
Reason: (Peterborough is spelt wrong and has been changed on the actual mock)

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A little Mock-SimSig Fun! 10/10/2022 at 19:27 #148317
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My interpretation of The East Lancashire Railway.

The ELR is a heritage railway in the north west of England, around 10 miles north of central Manchester. A full history of the line (and the original lines prior to closure) are beyond the scope of a Forum post, however suffice it to say that by 1980 the last BR services ran on the route and control passed to the ELR. The ELR re-opened the line between Bury and Ramsbottom in 1987, with an extension northwards to Rawtenstall in 1991. The line to Heywood and Castleton followed in 1993, though it took a further 10 years for that section to re-open to passengers in 2003; at least one reason for the long gap was the Bury South signalling project.

The mock-up has been put together from my own observations as a passenger, photos and the L&YR Society book covering signalboxes north and west of Manchester on former Lancashire & Yorkshire routes.

Starting at the left hand side of the diagram, Hopwood Junction marks the boundary between Network Rail and the ELR; beyond Hopwood, the line continues to Castleton on the Manchester North simulation. The half a mile of track between here and Heywood station is used only by visiting railtours, stock moves and very occasional passenger trains on gala days. A long-term aspiration is to extend the line to a dedicated platform at Castleton.

Heywood station is a basic single platform with run-round loop; the loop has a hand point at the far end and a GF at the Bury end. A water column is at the Green Lane end of the platform. The line between Hopwood and Bury is worked by staff, released from Bury South box. Movements from NR require the staff to be taken to Hopwood by road, and the staffs for both the NR and ELR sides of the single line are required to unlock Hopwood GF. The line travels east to west towards Bury, before swinging round to the north on a tight curve outside Bury South signal box. Just before reaching Bury, the line crosses the Metrolink light rail line to Bury Interchange. Construction of the bridge over this line (which was only built in 1980, when BR services were diverted from Bolton Street) required a 1-in-42 gradient from Heywood, and an even steeper 1-in-36 at the Bury South end. No complaints from enthusiasts though! To assist drivers, signal 15R can show Y, YY or G, giving plenty of notice as to whether or not they need to prepare to stop on the 'ski jump'. Signal 17 can show a green aspect if the line is clear through to Ramsbottom, though only for the routes through P3 or P2 via the Up Main.

Bury South is one of the most complex signalling installations on a heritage railway, and the installation is as much electrical as it is mechanical. The box formally re-opened on 28/06/2004 to support regular running to Heywood, with the bulk of the layout being commissioned shortly afterwards. The most recent major change was in 2013, when signals 37, 38 & 45 were commissioned. More minor work continues; the most recent being the addition of lockouts for P2/3 and P4. Some levers have been shown as half white. In reality, the levers are painted fully in the lower colour (e.g. lever 4 is fully red). I've drawn them this way as they don't actually control anything at the moment. My assumption is that the two crossovers in the sidings adjacent to the box will become signalled in due course. TRTS is provided on all platforms in both directions, and watering facilities are available at the north ends of P3 and P4. A real oddity is signal 53, a ground-mounted semaphore crammed against the wall of the short tunnel at the north end of the station, and yes, it is paired with a colour light subsidiary! A banner repeater for the signal is mounted to the same bracket as signal 53.

The line between Bury and Ramsbottom is controlled under the 'Direction levers with track circuits' system. Trains are described by bell, with the direction lever at the receiving end being reversed to allow the sending end signaller to clear their section signal. SPAD indicators are provided, mounted to the rear of each box's home signal. The section will soon be converted to full TCB working; to enable this, the section signals will be motor-worked, allowing the acceptance levers to directly replace the other box's section signal.

Ramsbottom box was re-opened with the Rawtenstall extension. Surprisingly little has changed since; a couple of alterations to the level crossing locking (still manually worked gates from a wheel in the box) and the addition of a co-acting arm on signal 17. Behind the scenes, there were some changes to accommodate the direction lever working when it replaced the original token system. The station is almost fully bi-directional: the only move not possible is an arrival from Bury to P1; a reverse into P1 at discs 13/14 is possible though. The track circuit covering the siding end of crossover 37 is only operational when the crossover is reversed. A water column is at the north end of platform 2, as is TRTS (though that can also be accomplished by a friendly wave to the signaller!)

Townsend Fold gate box controls a level crossing; the gates here are worked by hand. Again, the box opened with the Rawtenstall extension, the only change since being the re-positioning of signal 5 to the right hand side to aid sighting. Two levers are painted yellow in the box, though the Down distant remains fixed and the Up is a distant arm bolted to a white board at present.

Until 2016, Rawtenstall controlled no signals. The level crossing had hand-worked gates, with the signaller using flags to authorise trains to pass. In September 2016, the signalling depicted here was commissioned, with the crossing converted to barriers and protecting signals 3 and 18 provided. Access to the run-round loop and Bay platform is via ground frame, released by the Ramsbottom-Rawtenstall token, with hand points at the buffer end of the main platform. Facilities exist to 'shut in' a train on the bay platform line to allow a second to use the main line, however this is very rarely done. A water column sits between the two platform lines at the south end, and TRTS is provided for both platforms.

I'm unsure what Rawtenstall's formal status is at the moment; I've erred on the side of it being a gate box on this diagram. Another change to the signalling, involving the transfer of the south end points to the box, is planned for the first half of next year. Long term, the plan is to fully signal the layout, with the ground frame at the south end being moved to control the loco release crossover at the buffers. The section to Ramsbottom will also be converted to TCB. As at Bury, the half-white levers are actually painted the lower colour in the real box, with the exception of the gold levers which are blue and gold- I assume 30 will release the GF, but I don't know what 1 is intended to do.


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A little Mock-SimSig Fun! 25/10/2022 at 11:19 #148460
elltrain3
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Hello All, been a while since I posted a mock, and following a conversation I gave in and produced...Yoker IECC

The sim is quite long though relatively simple really.
2 eras have been made, 1986 - 2010 representing the original era of the IECC,
then 2016 - Present, representing all the upgrades the area saw at Anniesland & Bathgate

The IECC opened in 1989, and only started with the left side of the sim before expanding to it's full range by 1990 and taking over from the many smaller panels/lever frames that were controlling the area. The sim's main traffic flow is the intensive Scotrail Glasgow suburban network as well as traffic to/from the West Highland Lines to Fort William, Mallaig & Oban

Starting on the left we see Helensburgh Central for the Main Scotrail electric services. With Helensburgh Upper for the West highland services, unusually Yoker has to 'offer' trains to Banavie RETB SC through a BELL! The slotting shown only applies in the Up direction.

Continuing through the only 2 CCTV crossings on the layout we reach Dalmuir, where a turnback siding exists for trains terminating here, then taking the yoker lines we reach Yoker the main CSD, where most suburban stock is stored overnight. On the Hyndland lines were joined by the Milngavie lines and head through Westerton where the chord to central Scotland and Glasgow QS H.L. leaves us, this is where the West highland services come from.

Then is Anniesland, in the old era is just a through station, though post-2016 had a new chord added in to allow trains to move between the lines from Glasgow onto the suburban lines forming a triangle.
Now we pass Hyndland and the Junction for the lines towards Rutherglen and then enter the underground portion through the heart of Glasgow, before the lines from Shield jn (and TMD) join.

Then at Bellgrove the lines to Springburn leave and head for Springburn, which is shown as a TD as it's under Central Scotland's control.

The final line heads through Shettleston and Coatbridge (Sunnyside) before reaching Airdrie and Drumgelloch, once the terminus after it was closed as a cost-cutting measure, though in 2010 the line was extended through to Bathgate and subsequently Edinburgh (visible in its pre-2010 form on the Edinburgh sim).


Only a small sim and very much guesswork TC-wise as I have been unsuccessful in finding a single interior photo of the IECC, so apologies for those errors!
again this is just a 'visualisation' of what a Yoker sim MAY look like should it ever be produced, though it'd be a very repetitive sim it'd keep you busy in times of disruption with most services being inclusive to the sim.

Any errors, mistakes (spelling or trackwork!) just shout and I'll get those changed.




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A little Mock-SimSig Fun! 25/10/2022 at 15:53 #148469
GeoffM
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elltrain3 in post 148460 said:
Yoker IECC
It's upside down :)

Our very own Mr Ives has a couple of videos:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kFNn8XieXus
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XCrXQoemvsw

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A little Mock-SimSig Fun! 25/10/2022 at 16:05 #148470
Dick
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elltrain3 in post 148168 said:

2000s - Present
The final era...
Kings Dyke is still going strong though the advent of a road bridge being built in place of the crossing means it's days are numbered.

Kings Dyke crossing is no more, the bridge opened on the 11th July.

Whittlesea is incorrectly spelt as Whittelsea in the sim. In common with other dubious railway spellings, the town is spelt as Whittlesey in any case.

Last edited: 25/10/2022 at 16:11 by Dick
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A little Mock-SimSig Fun! 25/10/2022 at 16:19 #148471
elltrain3
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GeoffM in post 148469 said:
elltrain3 in post 148460 said:
Yoker IECC
It's upside down :)

Our very own Mr Ives has a couple of videos:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kFNn8XieXus
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XCrXQoemvsw
Oops! xD Thanks Geoff, I'll do some tweaking to see if I can flip it!
and I always forget to search youtube for shots of boxes, it can be a very useful resource as these videos prove!

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A little Mock-SimSig Fun! 25/10/2022 at 19:06 #148477
TUT
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Our very own Peter Bennet has more than a couple of pictures!

https://www.flickr.com/photos/95643843@N07/albums/72157636554467685

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A little Mock-SimSig Fun! 27/10/2022 at 13:06 #148498
bugali
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Some really good work hear elltrain3. Out of interest what software do you use to make these mock ups? I've been using notepad with the Simsigv2 font for years, obviously notepad has it's limitations with a maximum number of horizontal characters and not being able to do colour. I would love to colourize some of my Mocks like the one attached, witch is a Mock up of the future Old Oak Station in the Link 0/1 arear of TVSC.


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A little Mock-SimSig Fun! 27/10/2022 at 14:48 #148502
elltrain3
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bugali in post 148498 said:
Some really good work hear elltrain3. Out of interest what software do you use to make these mock ups? I've been using notepad with the Simsigv2 font for years, obviously notepad has it's limitations with a maximum number of horizontal characters and not being able to do colour. I would love to colourize some of my Mocks like the one attached, witch is a Mock up of the future Old Oak Station in the Link 0/1 arear of TVSC.

That is impressive! I use a piece of software sadly no longer available called "S-BOX", though essentially does the same job as notepad, just has all the symbols in a menu.
I colour the mocks entirely 'by hand' so to speak in MS Paint hence why some of these mocks take quite some time to research, make, colour and then finalize!

So the best way is copy the mock into MS Paint and either 'fill' or use the pencil tool to add colour to the individual parts!
Looks better than my TVSC Paddington, which I must get around to re-making...

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A little Mock-SimSig Fun! 09/01/2023 at 17:10 #150092
elltrain3
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Been quite some time since I posted a Mock, with Christmas, New Year and other engagements I've not had much time!

Though, today I have finally completed Eastleigh PSB!
Covering the stretch of line from Romsey and just outside Brockenhurst through Southampton, Eastleigh, Fareham and Winchester to Basingstoke and Portsmouth!

Also included are Marchwood Box, and Eastleigh East Yard GF

The Box here opened in 1981, replacing all mechanical boxes between Brockenhurst and Basingstoke, starting in the west we pass the still 'manual' panel box at Brockenhurst and head towards Totton, here were joined by the branch from Marchwood which would be an interesting panel in older TTs, but in the modern day the Oil Terminal and MOD Depots are largely Out of use with the box closed, though the box will vanish soon enough with the new passenger line through Marchwood proposed.

Back on the Mainline, we pass Totton and the CCTV Crossing before reaching Redbridge Jn, the Line from Salisbury is also largely simple, with a few GFs at Romsey and the link to Eastleigh, as we hit Redbridge we see the large siding and yard complexes appear associated with Southampton's export...containers!

The area has since been re-modelled and I may make an updated version should enough changes occur elsewhere, we pass Southampton & Millbrook FLTs before we pass to 4 tracks for the approach to Southampton Central, then pass through the Bi-Di tunnel we reach St Denys where the branch from Eastern Docks joins and we see the sidings associated with Northam TMD, we then pass St Denys and take the branch to Fareham, a simple branch with a few GFs for the local industries, before reaching the panel's Heart, Fareham. The layout here is a shadow of its former self the former through platform now a Bay, and a basic yard is all that suffices, the former 'B' box's (FH) name survives though in the form of a GF.

We now re-join the main line on the Eastleigh Panel and reach the complex area that is Eastleigh, with the depot entrance and line from Fareham joining bottom left, the works, and depot exit all converge for Eastleigh station and subsequently leave either on the branch to Salisbury or into the mighty Eastleigh Yard worked from the East Yard GF.

The GF is included to help with understanding the area and with a complex slotting arrangement with Eastleigh Panel, the GF is a complex affair!

heading East we pass the entry into the Yard and we see the start of Basic BiDi Through Shawford, and Winchester as far as Micheldever where we revert back to Uni-Directional signalling for the transfer to Basingstoke ASC.

Another fun mock to make, and with the recent release of Woking I thought I'd continue the SW theme! the traffic would make for some good gameplay, with express services to Weymouth, and local services around Fareham, Eastleigh and Salisbury plus the addition of plenty of Both container and other freight traffic via eastleigh yard would make a fun sim!

Enjoy! :)

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Last edited: 09/01/2023 at 17:13 by elltrain3
Reason: spelling

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A little Mock-SimSig Fun! 10/01/2023 at 09:12 #150098
kbarber
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Nice one!

Couple of thoughts (I won't mention the typos, honest).

The Brockenhurst fringe shows what used to be the norm at fringes: all TCs and signals were shown for trains approaching the box, from the last controlled signal of the box in rear. You can just-about see it here (Marylebone, with up line TCs indicated, slightly unusual in that the berth and overlap tracks for D23 are also indicated but that is presumably because of the tunnels). The Brockenhurst fringe presumably dates back to the Bournemouth electrification of 1967 when I imagine the next box up would have been at Totton or thereabouts (and most likely the Fawley branch junction was somewhat differently configured).

Curious that there's an auto button for the up slow at Shawford, but not for the up fast.

Another curiosity: the SIMBIDS doesn't allow bang-road moves into the loops at Wallers Ash (something I'd suspected from my journeys down that way). Which must have quite an impact on how useful it can be at times of disruption.

Talking of Shawford... one memory and one story I heard from someone who used to work down there long before my time.

Around 1980/81 there was an occasion when I'd visited my parents, who live/d at Botley. I got an up Weymouth from Soton Central. In those days there wasn't a trolley service as we now know it, but if the buffet workload allowed it someone would come round selling coffee. Quite the old fashioned way... steward in a white tunic with a couple of pots for coffee and milk. This was about Eastleigh and I duly indulged myself. Then we hit the rough patch country side of Shawford!... suffice it to say I didn't get to drink much of that coffee :-(

Going back before the 1967 resignalling, Eastleigh had two up platforms and it was common for a stopper and an express to be timed to depart simultaneously (with a race between them, until the stopper had to give way at Shawford... with the slipping propensities of the Bulleids, the result was far from a foregone conclusion). There was a shift when the signalmen at Eastleigh A and Shawford were both bellringers. So Train Entering Section was often given simultaneously, but in the form "ding dong, ding dong" rather than the officially assumed (but nowhere laid down) "ding ding, dong dong". Much to the annoyance, I was told, of the District Inspector.


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A little Mock-SimSig Fun! 10/01/2023 at 09:33 #150099
elltrain3
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kbarber in post 150098 said:
Nice one!

Couple of thoughts (I won't mention the typos, honest).

The Brockenhurst fringe shows what used to be the norm at fringes: all TCs and signals were shown for trains approaching the box, from the last controlled signal of the box in rear. You can just-about see it here (Marylebone, with up line TCs indicated, slightly unusual in that the berth and overlap tracks for D23 are also indicated but that is presumably because of the tunnels). The Brockenhurst fringe presumably dates back to the Bournemouth electrification of 1967 when I imagine the next box up would have been at Totton or thereabouts (and most likely the Fawley branch junction was somewhat differently configured).

Curious that there's an auto button for the up slow at Shawford, but not for the up fast.

Another curiosity: the SIMBIDS doesn't allow bang-road moves into the loops at Wallers Ash (something I'd suspected from my journeys down that way). Which must have quite an impact on how useful it can be at times of disruption.

Talking of Shawford... one memory and one story I heard from someone who used to work down there long before my time.

Around 1980/81 there was an occasion when I'd visited my parents, who live/d at Botley. I got an up Weymouth from Soton Central. In those days there wasn't a trolley service as we now know it, but if the buffet workload allowed it someone would come round selling coffee. Quite the old fashioned way... steward in a white tunic with a couple of pots for coffee and milk. This was about Eastleigh and I duly indulged myself. Then we hit the rough patch country side of Shawford!... suffice it to say I didn't get to drink much of that coffee :-(

Going back before the 1967 resignalling, Eastleigh had two up platforms and it was common for a stopper and an express to be timed to depart simultaneously (with a race between them, until the stopper had to give way at Shawford... with the slipping propensities of the Bulleids, the result was far from a foregone conclusion). There was a shift when the signalmen at Eastleigh A and Shawford were both bellringers. So Train Entering Section was often given simultaneously, but in the form "ding dong, ding dong" rather than the officially assumed (but nowhere laid down) "ding ding, dong dong". Much to the annoyance, I was told, of the District Inspector.

Haha somehow they always escape me

Yeah, I suspect it does date from the electrification, though is very useful for dropping Totton LC

Yes the Auto's around Eastleigh are very odd, I searched long and hard to see if my copy of the panel was wrong in only the Up Slow having Auto's but no it appears that's the case, I wondered whether its so you don't auto the fast and a stopping train misses its stop? I I'm only speculating, I'd need someone who actually works/maintains the panel to clarify is there is a reason but either was it's an unuaul one as it's also one of the only Auto's in the area anyway!

Yes, now the fact the loops aren't BiDi but the main is, is something I've seen on other sims (Ashford Has one at Headcorn IIRC), but as you say it means they are heavily restricted in their use.

and love those stories, the Bell between 'A' and Shawford is an intriguing tale, and I no doubt suspect was used in many busy places where TES was sent simultaneously!

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A little Mock-SimSig Fun! 10/01/2023 at 15:25 #150106
bugsy
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That's a great mock sim. If this area ever becomes a simulation I'll definitely buy it
Everything that you make will be useful - providing it's made of chocolate.
Last edited: 10/01/2023 at 15:26 by bugsy
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A little Mock-SimSig Fun! 11/01/2023 at 09:25 #150116
kbarber
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elltrain3 in post 150099 said:

Yes the Auto's around Eastleigh are very odd, I searched long and hard to see if my copy of the panel was wrong in only the Up Slow having Auto's but no it appears that's the case, I wondered whether its so you don't auto the fast and a stopping train misses its stop? I I'm only speculating, I'd need someone who actually works/maintains the panel to clarify is there is a reason but either was it's an unuaul one as it's also one of the only Auto's in the area anyway!
Sadly my father is no longer with us. He was an Area Movements Inspector covering Eastleigh at the time the present panel replaced the 1966 original, and knew something of the thinking that went in to the design (though had little influence over it, he was indignant that the intention was not to have a 'back row' when the new panel was built). It's a bit sobering that even some of these second-generation PSBs are rapidly becoming historic installations!

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A little Mock-SimSig Fun! Middlesbrough 12/01/2023 at 20:06 #150135
mask44
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My neck of the woods as i have lived in Saltburn and now Marske. I started on the P Way at Saltburn in !986, There was also Gangs at South Bank, Middlesbrough, 2 Gangs in Tees Yard and 1 at Thornaby. Plus 4 Gang's on the Whitby Branch based at Battersby, Castleton, Grosmont and Whitby.
I really hope that is a Sim one day esp the 1980's era as it was really busy.

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A little Mock-SimSig Fun! 25/02/2023 at 16:26 #150672
elltrain3
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Hello all! Having had a long break I've decided to spruce up one of my old mocks, at Stourbridge this time including all 3 era's

firstly 1990 - 1993
The railway is rather run-down, the former GW Main Line from Moor street to Worcester is cut back at coopers metals, and all traffic using Birmingham NS, the mechanical boxes linger on though, in a shabby state, the other GWR line to besot is largely unused with a few daily workings to/from round oak keeping it open.

1995 - 2012
The better years of the line now, in 1995 services resumed from the newly re-opened snow hill station and the double track to Smethwick. The mechanical boxes had gone and Strurbridge's panel now oversaw the entire area! the former Bescot line had now closed as a through route, with only the Kingswinford Jn box surviving, though after an Arson attack in 2001 a new 'ground frame' was installed to control what remained, with signal 7 being the sole surviving bit of kit from GWR days.

2012 - Present
In 2012 the entire area was re-controlled to the WMSC at Saltley, and Stourbridge's panel changed little, though Kingswinford Jn, Churchhill & Blakedown, Kidderminster (Jn) & Hartlebury closed with the fringe now extending to Droitwich Spa.

A small sim, but would provide inclusivity for the CT/LM services with Saltley & New Street!

Enjoy :)






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