This is a general guide to the Lickey Banker, and should cover most methods of working, however please read the notes with each TT for details on how to work in that Timetable.
The Lickey Incline is 2 miles at 1 in 37¼- very steep in train terms. In steam days, multiple engines were needed to bank the train, until the introduction of ‘Big Bertha’ in 1919, an 0-10-0 locomotive specifically designed for banking trains on the Lickey incline. Descending trains were not allowed to exceed 25 mph on the way down.
Following the withdrawal of steam, specially-modified Hymeks were used as bankers, or 2 class 37s. First-generation DMUs struggled with the hill, often climbing at walking pace and on a number of occasions had to be rescued by the banker.
Today, improved engine design and braking means most trains can climb without assistance with little speed loss, however several freight trains a day still require banking, and Class 220s/221s must have at least half of their engines in working order to climb the hill.
In the default TT, an engine will enter at Bromsgrove Down sidings, and should be routed as normal to Bromsgrove banker spur. In F2, the train will say ‘Terminated, no more timetabled trips’. Next workings are not given at the spur because the arrival order of trains cannot be guaranteed, and some trains do not run every day. You will know if a train needs a banker, since it will have an arrival and departure time at Bromsgrove (South), and will be timetabled to join a loco (the TD of the loco will often be the same as that of the train requiring banking, only with the first character replaced with a 0. When the train arrives in the loop, enter F2, select ‘run to another timetable’ and select the relevant light engine timetable. Then, set a route into the UGL and wait for the train to give TRTS. When it does, set the route (remember there is a 3 minute delay before the signal will clear), and the train will depart. When the train arrives at Blackwell, the loco (always 0B00) will be detached from the back of the train, and will need to be routed back down the line to the banker spur. After uncoupling, the freight will carry on the Barnt Green.
In some timetables, however, a loco will be sent from Saltley (entering this Sim at Longbridge) for each freight train, and will return there after detaching at Blackwell, following the freight. Care is needed to ensure you can interpose the loco’s train description in SY1’s berth after the freight leaves, but before the loco does, to ensure you are not penalised for sending an undescribed train to a neighboring signalbox.
| Previous | Contents | Next |
|---|
Last edited by GeoffM on 15/09/2016 at 03:00