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Wigan Wallgate

Official Files

Title	Version	Released
Simulation (Payware)	1.2	22/06/2022
15/10/2009 WTT (Midnight & 0445 starts included)	1.0	05/07/2021
08/04/2015 WTT (Midnight, 0400 & 1400 starts included)	5.1	27/11/2021
09/01/2019 WTT (Midnight, 0400 & 1400 starts included)	5.0	05/07/2021

Additional user-written timetables are available to download here .

Introduction

This simulation covers the area controlled by Wigan Wallgate PSB plus Rainford Junction, Parbold and Burscough Bridge Junction signalboxes. It is a relatively small simulation, but the traffic levels will keep you busy.

You are in control of the Southport to Manchester line which sees a mixture of local, regional, and regional express services. This includes the area around Wigan Wallgate station, with various sidings which are used to stable trains overnight and during the day. You are also in control of the line between Wigan and Kirkby which sees a local stopping service, as well as freight services to Knowsley freight terminal.

Start-Up Options

Scenarios

No scenarios are currently provided

Eras

The simulation is set in the modern day, roughly 2013 onwards with the commissioning of the new panel in Burscough Bridge Junction signalbox. Four Lane Ends crossing is simulated in it's MCB-OD form. That said, little changed in the area within the 2000s. The older ground frames controlled by Parbold have also been simulated so there is potential for older timetables to run.

Other Options

Scale of problems: Select the probability of failures and late running.

Absolute Block: Select whether or not Absolute Block is turned on between workstations.

Features

TORR

Train Operated Route Release is provided as a start up option. Running with TORR disabled is the most accurate setting.

Absolute Block

Absolute block is included in the simulation where it is present in real life. It can be disabled as part of the simulation start up options. Please see the Absolute Block manual page for operating instructions.

Panel Notes

Wigan Wallgate

• In order for Warrington PSBs signal towards you to clear you will need to grant slot WW100 by setting the route from the signal. If you replace WW100 slot to danger it can cause an adverse change of aspect as far back as the Crow Nest Workstation in Manchester Piccadilly PSB.
• In order for WW104 to clear (routes can be set at any time), Warrington PSB will need to grant you the slot on WN32. You have an indication as to whether Warrington have set a route towards Crow Nest or to Wigan South Junction. Drivers will phone you if they are offered an incorrect route. If this happens, you should cancel the route having spoken with the driver, then check you have the correct headcode before resetting the route.
• Trains which are booked to reverse at Wigan Station Junction and return to Wigan Wallgate can take the route to either Crow Nest Junction, or to to Wigan South Junction.
• Warrington PSB will grant the slot based on the approaching headcode, and when played stand alone, the route having been set from WW104 towards Warrington, the simulation automatically transmits the appropriate headcode to Warrington but you should take care to ensure you are describing trains correctly. Not doing so may lead to wrong routes.
• When chained, if a wrong route is offered you will need to liaise with the signaller on Warrington simulation's North panel to correct the error.
• Wigan Wallgate panel has preferred overlaps and will attempt to normalise facing points in the overlap if that overlap is free, even if the current lie of points is a valid overlap.
• The person in charge of the Up Carriage Sidings (UCS) will phone you for permission for trains to approach WW142. You should not grant permission if you have authorised a conflicting movement.
• Trains signalled towards the UCS which are timetabled to go there will exit the sim. Other trains will travel along the Up Through Siding to WW141.
• The Down Carriage Siding (DCS) is not an exit location so trains will remain in the sim here.
• For trains which terminate at Wigan Wallgate and need to shunt to platform 2, care should be taken when selecting the reversing signal to ensure the train can access platform 2 from it.
• The Wigan Wallgate SB timing point is behind WW206, WW210, WW106, WW144
• WW100 Slot will TORR irrespective of the startup option selected. This is due to the complexities in the off sim logic with the fringe to Warrington.
• WWSB1 is a stop board and drivers will phone you for permission to pass it. You should not authorise this if you have signaled or authorised a conflicting move.
• A derailer is provided on the exit from the bay platform in lieu of a trap point. This is shown as an upward facing arrow.
• There is an edge case condition where the overlap track for WW100 slot will show a train approaching when the train is actually heading from Wigan into Warrington.
• Take care when shunting trains around Wallgate- the layout is not as flexible as it may appear at first glance. It is possible to get a 'Mexican stand-off' in certain circumstances.

Rainford Junction

• The line to Kirkby is worked by token. For trains travelling to and from Kirkby station the token is issued in order to clear RJ8 signal; you can then replace it when the train returns to Rainford.
• For trains travelling to Knowsley freight terminal, the token can be returned once the train has locked inside Dale Lane Ground Frame.
• For trains travelling from Knowsley freight terminal, the token can be released, which then allows Dale Lane Ground Frame to be released for the train to leave.
• Right Click on the "Release Token" control to release the token, Left Click to restore the token.
• All signals on this workstation are semaphore signals and are therefore only capable of showing two aspects.
• The points operated from Dale Lane Ground Frame are power operated. As such there is a short delay between pressing the relevant control and obtaining the detection in the desired position. The detection light will show yellow when appropriate detection is obtained.

Parbold

• I.C.I and Wimpey Waste ground frames can be released either with a train stood on the mainline at the ground frame, or with the block at line clear. When a train locks inside you will need to cancel the train off to Wigan Wallgate.
• The crossover at Parbold requires the level crossing down to move it reverse; the crossing is held down by the points reverse.
• You have non-stop controls for Parbold and Hoscar stations in the down direction which affect the strike in for Four Lanes End OD crossing. These only need to be selected if a train is not stopping at the relevant station. This should be done in good time so as not to cause delay. These controls do not interact with Parbold level crossing which must be operated in both directions as normal. Once you have committed to the control, it is not possible to change the selection without a train sweeping the section.
• Chapel Lane is a gate box with its own signals. While the signals are simulated, use of the crossing is not.
• An annunciator will sound when a down train passes Appley Bridge. Use simulation message 1 to assign a sound to this.
• The replacement switch for PD20A distant signal will also replace PD20B distant to caution.
• Some signals on this workstation are semaphore signals and are therefore only capable of showing two aspects.
• Each ground frame is provided with a lamp indicator to advise the ground frame operator if a train is stood foul of the pointwork. This will light red when the point work is fouled.

Burscough Bridge Junction

• You have a non-stop control for Hoscar in the up direction. This interacts with Dean Lane AHB and should be set in good time so as not to cause delay. Once you have committed to the control, it is not possible to change the selection without a train sweeping the section. It is not possible to operate this control if a train is between BB103 signal and BB101 signal.
• You also have a non-stop control for Burscough Bridge in the up direction. This interacts with Four Lane Ends OD crossing and should be set in good time so as not to cause delay. Once you have committed to the control, it is not possible to change the selection without a train sweeping the section.
• Four Lanes End crossing is simulated as an MCB-OD with no indications to you. BB102 and BB103 will clear when a train hits the relevant strike in point.
• BB101, BB102, BB103 are not "block signals". BB2 is the section signal on the up and BB1 is the home signal on the down. The extra signals are purely provided to protect the level crossings. If playing with AB turned on, then to set a route from BB2 you must have a line clear on the block indicator toward Parbold, if playing with AB turned off the line must be clear upto the clearing point beyond PD4 signal in order for BB2 to clear.
• BB101 is an automatic signal with replacement facility but it is not plated as an automatic signal.
• A phonecall is available to Sandhills IECC to ask the Northern workstation to maintain their last signal at danger to assist you with allowing unusual loads at the AHB crossings. When chained you should liaise directly with the signaller on the Sandhills Northern workstation.
• BB103 will clear when an up train has hit the appropriate strike in point for Four Lane Ends MCB-OD. This changes based on the use of the Up Main non-stop control for Burscough Bridge.
• BB101 will clear either with the Up Main non-stop control for Hoscar selected, or with a minimum of 28 seconds operation after a train passes the end of the platform at Hoscar.

Timetable Notes

2015 04 08 SX

An additional 05:25 start is provided when the simulation isn't being chained; this is shortly before the first train of the morning. This start time should not be used if chaining to adjacent simulations.

The 2015 timetable is typical of the area from at least the mid-2000s up until May 2018.

2019 01 09 SX

An additional 05:00 start time is provided when the simulation isn't being chained; this is shortly before the first train of the morning. This start should not be used if chaining to adjacent simulations.

From May 2018, the majority of trains which previously terminated at Wigan Wallgate were diverted to Wigan North Western. This timetable is therefore quieter than the 2015 WTT, though freight traffic to Knowsley had re-started by this time.

Terminating services had largely reverted to Wallgate by the end of 2019.

Level Crossings

Name	Type	Panel	Located Between
Dukes Wood	UWG	Rainford Jnc	Rainford and Upholland
Chapel Lane MCG	MCG (Crossing Keeper)	Parbold	Arpley Bridge and Parbold
Parbold	MCB	Parbold	Arpley Bridge and Parbold
Dean Lane	AHB	Burscough Bridge Jnc	Parbold and Hoscar
Frog Lane	UWC	Burscough Bridge Jnc	Parbold and Hoscar
Hoscar	AHB	Burscough Bridge Jnc	Parbold and Hoscar
Four Lanes End	MCB-OD	Burscough Bridge Jnc	Hoscar and Burscough Bridge
Shaws	UWC	Burscough Bridge Jnc	Hoscar and Burscough Bridge
Crabtree	UWC	Burscough Bridge Jnc	Burscough Bridge and New Lane
New Lane	AHB	Burscough Bridge Jnc	Burscough Bridge and Bescar Lane
Martins Lane	AHB	Burscough Bridge Jnc	Burscough Bridge and Bescar Lane
Bescar Lane	AHB	Burscough Bridge Jnc	New Lane and Meols Cop
Wyke Cop	AHB	Burscough Bridge Jnc	New Lane and Meols Cop
Pool Hey	AHB	Burscough Bridge Jnc	New Lane and Meols Cop

Multiplayer & Chaining

While easily manageable by one player, up to two could realistically play in multiplayer mode. The sim can be chained to Sandhills and/or Warrington to provide extra workstations.

The simulation chains at all fringes:

Simulation	Location
Warrington	Wigan Station Junction
Sandhills	Southport

Hot Keys

No hotkeys are provided due to the small size of the layout.

Acknowledgements

Simulation by: SimSig Development Team

08/04/2015 WTT by: John Mills

09/01/2019 WTT by: John Mills

Reference Section

Signal Number Plan

Wigan Wallgate Signal Number Plan

This is an Adobe Acrobat PDF file. If you don't have Adobe Acrobat Reader installed on your computer you can get a free download of the latest version from the Adobe website . Use the built-in Find function (Ctrl+F) to locate signal numbers.

Signal Box Prefix Codes

Code	Box
BB	Burscough Bridge
ML	Sandhills (Merseyrail) *
PD	Parbold
PDCL	Chapel Lane Gate Box
RJ	Rainford Junction
WN	Warrington *
WW	Wigan Wallgate

* indicates fringe signalbox

Platform, Loop & Siding Lengths

Platform Lengths

Location	Platform	Length (m)
Wigan Wallgate	P1	192
Wigan Wallgate	P2	182
Wigan Wallgate	P3	82

Other platform lengths within the simulation are generally not important.

Siding Lengths

Location	Loop Name	Length (m)
Wigan Wallgate	DCS	140
Wigan	UTS	160

Timetabling Details

Trains entering or leaving Knowsley Freight Terminal must be timed at Dale Lane Ground Frame.

Special Decisions

The following codes can be used in Decisions of the form [EXT!xxxxx]:

Code	Meaning
XSDL	Sandhills is chained
XWBQ	Warrington is chained

TIPLOC Codes

TIPLOC Codes

Splash Screens

Splash screens of stations, trains, and the external views of signalboxes where taken by Richard Houghton (Steamer).

Internal views of the signalboxes where taken by Andrew Gardiner (Andrew G) on official organised visists. High resolution versions can be viewed of these in the link below.

Andrew Gardiner

Splash1	The interior of Wigan Wallgate signal box
Splash2	A close-up view of Wigan Wallgate on the real panel
Splash3	The interior of Rainford box. Unusually, the track diagram is positioned on the floor, behind the lever frame.
Splash4	Wigan Wallgate DCS on the real panel
Splash5	The interior of Parbold signal box
Splash6	The non-stopping controls for Four Lane Ends level crossing in Parbold box.
Splash7	The track diagram and block shelf in Parbold box
Splash8	Burscough Bridge station on Burscough Bridge panel
Splash9	The interior of Burscough Bridge box
Splash10	The 'Block instruments' to Parbold and Dean Lane AHB on Burscough Bridge panel
Splash101	A Class 142 'Pacer' departs Platform 1 at Wigan Wallgate, while another stands in Platform 3. In the background, the bridge carrying the WCML crosses the Wallgate line.
Splash102	A waste train from Knowsley is relieved on Wallgate platform 2; WW104 is cleared towards Wigan South Jn
Splash103	Chapel Lane gate box
Splash104	Chapel Lane crossing; the Up protecting signal can be seen. The gates are normally closed to road traffic, with the signals cleared unless a road vehicle needs to cross.
Splash105	The Down protecting signal for Chapel Lane crossing; Parbold's Down Inner Distant (PD20B) is mounted beneath it.
Splash106	Parbold signal box.
Splash107	PD19 (right) and PD5 (left); PD5 also has Chapel Lane's Up Inner Distant mounted beneath it.
Splash108	PD18
Splash109	Another view of Parbold box, level crossing, crossover and PD19
Splash110	Burscough Bridge signal box
Splash111	A Class 142 passes RJ3, heading to Wigan and Manchester. RJ9 is visible to the right.
Splash112	Rainford Junction signal box, RJ8 and RJ2
Splash113	Another view of Rainford Junction signal box.
Splash114	A Class 142 arrives at Kirkby. Behind the camera is the line from Liverpool Central, as simualted on the Sandhills simulation.

Additional Information

Slot 100 is believed to have been retained from the 1970s, when the layout at Wallgate had points within the overlap of WW101, and LOS signals for shunt moves on the Down side at Wallgate were closer to WW101. When the layout at Wallgate was rationalised and re-signalled, the slot was retained, likely to avoid making alterations to the interlocking on Warrington's side.

The branch to Kirkby originally formed part of the Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway's main line to Liverpool Exchange. The line was severed at Kirkby in 1977, with the electrification of the line from Kirkby into Liverpool; Exchange station closed at around the same time, with the opening of the underground line to Liverpool Central, which is simulated in the Sandhills simulation. While the Liverpool side of the split prospered with a Metro-style service, the Wigan side has been somewhat neglected ever since.

External Resources

Cab Ride to Knowsley Freight Terminal

Version History

Version History

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Last edited by y10g9 on 22/06/2022 at 20:39