Dumfries station and services

don't forget to add a rule so the return working can't enter before the outgoing train has actually arrived/left the sim there

you described two trains following each other - on a line with long block sections. This does not strictly need a rule, the signalling section between Annan and Dumfries is very long so trains can't follow each other closely

Excellent, that is what I thought
However, if the first service is late and the second service is on-time
Does the sim still keep the gap between them?
I assumed it did not, so a rule would be required for 20 minutes separation

Albert in post 135182 said:

you described two trains following each other - on a line with long block sections. This does not strictly need a rule, the signalling section between Annan and Dumfries is very long so trains can't follow each other closely

Looking at the Sectional Appendix, the section north of Dumfries SC031 seq005
The block is about 14 miles between Dumfries, Holywood, Kirkconnel and New Cumnock

Excellent, that is what I thought
However, if the first service is late and the second service is on-time
Does the sim still keep the gap between them?
I assumed it did not, so a rule would be required for 20 minutes separation

Of more interest is how to enforce the minimum timing between successive trains from the north entering at Dumfries. Perhaps it needs a feature request... minimum time between entering trains at every entry point, with a 'trains can start here' option to override it in a situation like this.

kbarber in post 135196 said:

Of more interest is how to enforce the minimum timing between successive trains from the north entering at Dumfries. Perhaps it needs a feature request... minimum time between entering trains at every entry point, with a 'trains can start here' option to override it in a situation like this.

That's possible for the Developer to set a headway time but as you imply it'd apply to all trains entering the sim including ones originating at Dumfries.
It had not occurred to me to do this for this purpose till now.

Peter

It depends on the acceptance arrangements at Dumfries.

If the section north of Dumfries is Track Circuit Block, Dumfries almost certainly has an outermost controlled signal whose overlap leaves crossovers north of the station free. The next box north can send trains into the intervening section at will.

But I suspect the section is Absolute Block. The minimum separation between trains entering at Dumfries now depends on the acceptance conditions on the up at Dumfries. If there's a 14 mile section, it's inconceivable to me that Dumfries doesn't have a first home sufficiently in rear of the crossover that he can accept freely while continuing to shunt within station limits (unless the block regs have changed since my day there would need to be a second home in rear of the crossover(s) too, to give that freedom). There would be no reason (except the inevitable 'please explain'why he shouldn't hold the approaching train at the outer home all day until shunting is complete, then let it follow the train that reversed 'block and block' all the way to Gretna.

whatlep's diagram indicates the signals you mentioned are still in place (but doesn't give their exact mileages.)

I'd suggest to wait for mjkerr's response to all of this before focusing too much on details