Welcome to Wimbledon ASC. As the name suggests, this signal box is located in the Wimbledon area - and actually has a good view of the tracks it controls. The original signal box opened in 1990 in stages and had four panels (signaller positions) sat at desks with a large back panel. A fifth panel, completely separate from, and also a different design, to the main panel opened later, controlling the Barnes area. This fifth panel is not simulated in the Wimbledon simulation and is included in the Feltham simulation.
All of Wimbledon's interlockings were originally free-wired (BRS SW67 freewired) which is a little unusual for the area - adjacent Victoria, for example, used GEC Geographical interlockings (think of geographical interlockings as modular Lego blocks). Even though Wimbledon is much later than Victoria, geographical interlockings were still being installed at that point - and are still in use today in many places around the UK. These days, the Latchmere Junction area is SSI.
Wimbledon is the only panel application of an ARS installation. However, ARS is only enabled in certain areas in real life. The simulation lets you choose between three ARS modes - off, as per real life, and full ARS. The TD berths on the real panel have four indicator lights that show if the train is running to ARS or not.
Another feature of Wimbledon that is not believed to be in operation anywhere else is the provision of platform berths. These are two character TD berths which populate as Up trains approach, showing the booked destination platform at Waterloo or Waterloo International for the train. These are located at key locations on the panel, including the immediate approaches to Waterloo.
Wimbledon is designed for four or five players (depending on whether Clapham Yard is run as an independent panel - it can be absorbed into panel 1 without causing the panel 1 signaller too much stress). However, with full ARS switched on and level crossings switched off, it is perfectly possible for one person to supervise the whole area, despite 60+ trains during rush hour!
Last edited by GeoffM on 15/09/2016 at 03:00