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| A little Mock-SimSig Fun! 19/11/2021 at 17:35 #142391 | |
TUT
532 posts |
Pics of Bournemouth ASC: http://photos.signalling.org/index?/category/190-bournemouth_vscs In my opinion it's quite unacceptably ugly! Log in to reply |
| A little Mock-SimSig Fun! 19/11/2021 at 18:58 #142392 | |
GeoffM
6376 posts |
kbarber in post 142378 said:Good work. Others have picked up most of the issues, I think, although it might be worth double-checking Carpenters Curve - my father always referred to it as Carpenters Road Curve. But Channelsea Junctions need expanding a bit - the NLL from platforms 1 & 2 join at Channelsea South Junction then the High Meads Curve heads off east at Channelsea North Junction, to form a triangle with the line shown joining at Lea Junction. That part of the world is a real tangle... just imagine what it was like when you also had the access to Stratford Freightliner Terminal and Carpenters Road was double-track.I happened to watch this cab ride yesterday which was quite interesting - massive changes since before the Olympics and HS1. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Up2hmf_mI8 TUT in post 142391 said: Pics of Bournemouth ASC:Agreed! I went to an IRSE presentation shortly after it opened and was quite surprised (polite word) at how they designed it. Two signallers and a supervisor on duty which is not terribly efficient for a relatively small area. Miles and miles of blue cables everywhere. Light grey screens with poor contrast. The only other place I recall seeing grey screens for controllers was in the Oslo control centre on the VICOS workstations, so presumably anywhere else that uses VICOS (Germany, Scandinavia) may well also use it in places. SimSig Boss Log in to reply |
| A little Mock-SimSig Fun! 20/11/2021 at 11:31 #142398 | |
DaveHarries
1285 posts |
elltrain3 in post 142251 said:Here is the more modern version of West Coastway from 2009 to the modern-day! Good job Ell. One point though which is that, according to a diagram I have, the line from South Stoke L.C through to Horsham is part of Three Bridges Panel 7 and would, if released, be a welcome extension of the existing Horsham sim. Therefore the route from South Stoke LC through to Amberley, Pulborough, Billingshurst and Christ's Hospital would probably not appear on a West Coastway sim. I was doing a mockup of that panel myself but it proved tricky so I have found myself redoing it. I may share it here when I finish it. Dave Last edited: 20/11/2021 at 11:31 by DaveHarries Reason: None given Log in to reply The following user said thank you: Newhampshires |
| A little Mock-SimSig Fun! 25/11/2021 at 00:23 #142470 | |
elltrain3
372 posts |
Next up is another big sim, covering the country end of the GEML plus surrounding branches. The sim has 3 era's 2009-2014, where the smaller boxes between Clacton & Colchester closed and control passed to Colchester ASC under 2 new VDU work stations deemed "Eastgate" for the Colchester town and section through Hythe and "Thorpe-Le-Soken" for Thorpe-Le-Soken Walton-On-The-Naze and Clacton-On-Sea though Clacton somehow managed to escape the upgrade and was modified to work to the ASC at Colchester. This era also sees the lack of Bi-Di between Colchester and Marks Tey. Next is 2015-2018 where nothing major happened, but Bi-Di working was added between Colchester & Marks Tey, other very minor changes were sidings becoming decommissioned such as at Parkeston West SDGs but these don't affect much. Finally, we have 2018-2021, this is the most dramatic era for changes, with The major changes being the Felixstowe Branch got a MAJOR upgrade to boost freight and increase flexibility, and the other change was a mere 11 years late Clacton-On-Sea signal box closed and was absorbed into the VDU at Colchester ending the reign of Searchlights on Network Rail. Also in this period, the Wherry Lines were absorbed into Colchester ASC but that doesn't affect anything visually. Additionally, Norwich gained a new set of CS at Victoria Rd! So Panels then: First up Colchester, and although fairly small with goods lines a full set of CS and a lot of joins and traffic it's far from boring! the full BiDi also helps. Next, we head to Eastgate where we immediately see a crossing of the same name (where the former signal box is located), this panel is also nice and steady with stoppers from London heading through to Colchester Town & Clacton also a few CCTV crossings to watch Next, Thorpe-Le-Soken (& Clacton) another panel similar to Eastgate simple 2 track ML with plenty of stations & crossings but we also have the junction & Branch to Walton-On-The-Naze and Clacton which prior to 2020 had a very mechanical and "fun" layout with X-overs, mechanical shunt signals in odd places and the last Semaphore under-wires in the country! It also had the Searchlights for trains starting from platforms 1,2 & 3 which are now gone from the entire UK (MAINLINE) network Next Back to the Mainline for Manningtree, which is another very simple "pass trains through" panel with a few CCTV crossings to watch plus the shuttle/Boat trains to Harwich. Parkeston,(post-2020) is the only true "signal box" on the GEML that isn't watched by Colchester PSB/ASC, it has a simple job signalling the extensive docks and sidings at Parkeston Yard while also dealing with trains to Harwich Town and Boat trains from International. also on this panel is an oddity I've left in for some enjoyment, and that's the Harwich Town Train Ferry Terminal, The last Boat left in 1987 but being most of the trackwork still exists I thought I may as well include it! Back on the Mainline, we hit Ipswich where I've split the panels, West handling the station which can be quite busy with all the trains terminating and freights swapping locos! then we have East which handles the other end of the yard plus the branch to Felixstowe which would require careful judgement to avoid Mexican stand-offs. also included is the Cliffe Quay branch, not used regularly since the 80s but included as it's still connected (just about!) An odd one now at Saxmundham where the fast mainline branches away and we head into rural East Suffolk and pass plenty of crossings and single-line sections similar to Panttyffon on the Hereford sim really. is also features the first of something Norfolk has plenty of......Swing bridges! Next, we have Stowmarket which ironically still boasts a signal box opened in 1882 and plated "ST" though in 1985 Colchester PSB absorbed the area but to save on workload Stowmarket survived! albeit as a gate box supervising a number of CCTV crossings and the slots are seen throughout this panel. we also pass the RHTT sidings at Stowmarket plus the Bury St Edmunds branch, this panel is certainly busy and would be very fun! Finally (kinda) is Norwich where we follow the GEML as far as Trowse where were joined to another sim I made a while back at Wymondham and it joins here and we pass Victoria Sidings which were converted in 2020/1 for use by GA's new "Flirt" units. we then pass over the Trowse swing bridge which can be released and swung to allow tall boats to pass, the "signal box" at Trowse also signals the Cromer branch which fringes at the Whittington Jn entrance! following on we pass a chord to the CS at Crown point (we'll come back to that) before we reach the journey's end...Norwich! the 6 platforms and plenty of sidings make for a fun panel and busy at that! we then quickly see the wherry lines join and pass Crown point CSD............ Now I wasn't going to add Crown point but I've thrown a mini version in due to the sheer amount of traffic it deals with. the real CS have 24 Roads and an extensive panel to operate them, but my version is the same panel but compressed. controlling the reception roads from Norwich and Wensum jn with the Wensum end through a series of complex slots. This took rather a long time to produce and even longer to colour but with it, we complete the GEML and ALL its branches and have a visual for them. this also means that the ENTIRE Greater Anglia network is covered (I think?) as Steamer posted an impressive wherry lines mock a while ago meaning the entire area is covered now in mocks at least! pointers and small mistakes I've missed are always welcome, I've probably missed a lot with the size of the sim. You may also want to "download" the photos to view them in more detail as they are really rather large!    Post has attachments. Log in to view them. Resident Mock Maker! / "The Out Of Control Host" Log in to reply The following users said thank you: Newhampshires, Joe S, bill_gensheet |
| A little Mock-SimSig Fun! 26/11/2021 at 22:19 #142488 | |
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Joe S
129 posts |
Amazing work, Ell! One day, perhaps... would be great to play! The one thing you're missing off the sim, to be faithful to the current ASC, as you say, is the Wherry Lines between Whitlingham Jn and Gt Yarmouth / Lowestoft which are now controlled from a couple of workstations. I believe the fringe between the two is around Acle - must be rather quiet as it isn't a very busy service at the best of times (one per hour on all routes), let alone with the area 'cut' in two. Log in to reply |
| A little Mock-SimSig Fun! 27/11/2021 at 22:44 #142529 | |
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bill_gensheet
1413 posts |
Love the train ferry ! Maybe any actual sim set would be split differently, so you could get keep the Norwich local services on one, and if that was too big then maybe split into a 'GE outer' and 'Saarfolk & Naarfolk' between Ipswich and Manningtree even if that means Colchester comes in two parts (like Doncaster). A few typos on the 2009-2015 image (not looked at the rest).... Stick to 'Viaduct', there's enough space and avoids V'diuct (Marks Tey - Colchester) Colchester Town platform is the other side Neeley => Weeley Thorpe-le-Soken station name missing 'Careless => 'Carless Sidings' (Harwich PQ) 'Cattahade' => Cattawade (Manningtree) 'Haugley' => Haughley 'Cow Creek' => Cow Green (no UWC in Quail 2006, only the GF.. more recent ?) Felixstowe Beach should show as disused platform (hollow) 'Felixtowe' => Felixstowe (north FLT) 'Nowrich' => Norwich (Wymondham approach) 'Nowrich' => Norwich (station) 'Jubiliee' => Jubilee (Norwich station) If you made some platforms wider (eg Colchester, Harwich, Norwich 5/6) as you have Ipswich the platform numbering would look better and not break up the platform. If it was a sim, I would be requesting Trowse station for timetabling, as while Trowse closed in 1964 it reopened for a few weekends in 1986.... http://www.gensheet.co.uk/photo1/trowse.jpg https://c2.staticflickr.com/4/3696/11908790193_bb7c31b5eb_b.jpg Bill Log in to reply |
| A little Mock-SimSig Fun! 27/11/2021 at 22:54 #142530 | |
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elltrain3
372 posts |
Thanks, Bill I'll get those edited in due course! 
Resident Mock Maker! / "The Out Of Control Host" Log in to reply |
| A little Mock-SimSig Fun! 29/11/2021 at 14:34 #142605 | |
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Newhampshires
101 posts |
Hey everyone. After being inspired by Ell, I decided to go off and do a mock-up of my own. Below please find the Cambrian Coast and Machynlleth. A few things: I KNOW that this diagram is a hosh-posh of eras, so I believe this diagram will end up showing features from multiple eras along the Cambrian Coast. I am sure there are few inaccuracies or inconsistencies as well. But, I really enjoyed doing this from the Network Rail maps and some cab ride videos from the early 1990s I was able to find on Youtube (plus some other Youtube videos here and there). Down with ERTMS, Long Live RETB! Presenting . . . Machynlleth! If you have any comments, suggestions, feedback, helpful hints, tips, tricks, and more - Please write below. (I did ask Ell if I could post here before doing so) 
Post has attachments. Log in to view them. Last edited: 29/11/2021 at 14:34 by Newhampshires Reason: None given Log in to reply |
| A little Mock-SimSig Fun! 01/12/2021 at 11:16 #142670 | |
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clive
2789 posts |
kbarber in post 142337 said:headshot119 in post 142334 said:Wasn't part of the problem that it needed separate cables to each signal and track circuit, rather than using a bus like SSI and similar systems do?Havant ASC is also fairly unique, one of the only examples of the Siemens Vicos OC VDU systems in the UK.That's right. Bournemouth was the first of the breed and, from what I understand of the mess that was the Havant commissioning, there seems little likelihood of there being more. Log in to reply |
| A little Mock-SimSig Fun! 01/12/2021 at 17:38 #142685 | |
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GeoffM
6376 posts |
clive in post 142670 said:kbarber in post 142337 said:From what I remember: yes. Virtual tree trunks coming out of the equipment room. IIRC multicore cables, cores arranged in a spiral, 9 blue followed by one red, then 9 blue, 1 red, etc. Something like that.headshot119 in post 142334 said:Wasn't part of the problem that it needed separate cables to each signal and track circuit, rather than using a bus like SSI and similar systems do?Havant ASC is also fairly unique, one of the only examples of the Siemens Vicos OC VDU systems in the UK.That's right. Bournemouth was the first of the breed and, from what I understand of the mess that was the Havant commissioning, there seems little likelihood of there being more. SimSig Boss Log in to reply |
| A little Mock-SimSig Fun! 07/12/2021 at 00:43 #142791 | |
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elltrain3
372 posts |
So now for my next mocks, and we head back to the southern network! The first mock is Guildford, covering the eras controlled by Guildford ASC & Farncombe signal box. Farncombe signal box is an original LSWR 1897 build when built fitted with a lever frame though this appears to have been replaced in the not so distant past with 4 IFS switches to control the 4 signals protecting the level crossings at both ends of the station. The signal box carries the code "WZ" under the southern's scheme with the "W" signifying the western branch of the southern network. The box took over the control of Milford in 1973 and has protection for the AHB there. Next is Guildford which is comparatively new only opened in 1998, it replaced Guildford Panel which was the original southern panel dating from 1962 which itself replaced 2 boxes: Guildford South (Plated "WY".) and Guildford Yard ("WX".) Guildford Panel took over the ex-yards box's code of "WX" which is the code it was given under the southern's scheme. The new ASC also took over boxes a little further out too: Chilworth, (Plated "CW" - appears to be a non-southern code) an LSWR box that opened in 1893 and closed in 1978 when Shalford took over its control Shalford (Plated "WY".) Opened in 1954 so it had a late opening and was fitted with 30 levers, its area expanded when it absorbed Chilworth but finally succumbed when Guildford Panel was abolished and it closed in 1998. Guildford itself is very simple just 8 platforms all Bi-Di and 2 sets of sidings but heading North there are 3 branch lines... First is the "Main" Line to Woking where we see the sole intermediate station and the only other former signal box Worplesdon (Plated "WW".) was a small box that was always sandwiched between 2 very modern schemes it didn't have many levers and had 1 signal on the up and 2 on the down and also had a closing switch, the box succumbed to modernisation in 1965 with Guildford taking control of the area. Next, we head down to the "Cobham" Lines and pass-through (Guildford) London road, and along an area that's been under Guildfords control for a long time! We then reach Effingham jn (Also Plated "WW" weirdly?) a 1925 opener so another late-comer and carried out its simple life working access to the works there until 1969 when Guildford Panel took over its control. the junction here is also a busy one with one going to Surbiton and back to London and the other also going to London but via Leatherhead & Epsom! Now to head back to Guildford and follow the "Ash" Lines and the first POI and former box is at Ash (Crossing) (Plated "FW".) and this box surprisingly lasted until 1998 with the opening of Guildford ASC Aldershot south junction is another fairly major junction allowing trains to head towards Aldershot, Farnham and Alton or travel straight into reading! the junction was worked from Ash prior to Guildford ASC's opening. Next is North Camp (Plated "DW".) and opened in 1902, though closed in 1971 with Ash taking over its area of control. after that, the line continues to Wokingham on the Feltham sim! The sim Chains to no more than 6! sims, those being Portsmouth, Three Bridges, Wimbledon, Woking (Twice) Feltham and Aldershot! =========================================================================================================================================================================================================== The Next sim is the Neighbour to the previous one, Woking! Covering the Woking & Surbiton areas. We start at Woking (Plated "WV" Meaning there were only 22 boxes between here and Waterloo at the time of the making of the code, as the "W" means the Western Division the 2nd letter is the identifier.) The signal box at woking is proof that colour lights are by no means modern, as the box was built in 1932 and fitted with a 111 Lever Westinghouse "L" style electric Power frame, which replaced Woking East, Junction & Yard Boxes and the box controlled ALL electrical equipment in 1932 though the surrounding boxes remained mechanical for a while yet, When opened the Portsmouth lines fringe was Worplesdon as described above though that changed to Guilford Panel by 1966. On the "Main" going Down, the fringe box was Brookwood Station (Plated "RW".) which like Worplesdon closed in 1966, to which Farnborough (Plated "TW".) Became the fringe but that also closed a little later the same year in 1966 when Basingstoke Panel (Plated "YW" - Interesting it kept the southern code for the former A box) Opened and It became the fringe box until the closure of Woking. When the 2 boxes above closed 2 small panels were added one Up & one Down to control Pirbright Jn and Brookwood station, and the box gained a new fringe at Ash Vale Jn (Plated "HW".) working directly to the box of the same name. Next, we head through the station and the simple layout designed for through trains before reaching the fringe to Surbiton. It's also worth mentioning the line names here are known as "Local" and "Through" as a pose to "Slow" and "Fast" respectively something that dated from LSWR days and lasted until Woking closed in 1997 and control passed to Woking ASC ending a 65-year life of what was a very modern system when it was built. ================================================================================================================================================================================================================= Now for Surbiton! The signalling here has changed a lot but the era I've used is when Surbiton Panel was operable from 1974 until it closed in 1998 control passing to Woking ASC Boxes it Replaced: West Byfleet (Plated "WC".) opened in 1880 and had 35 levers though lead a simple life before closing in 1970 just 10 years before its 100 year birthday Byfleet Junction which I can find no evidence of closed in 1970 on the branch now Addlestone (Plated "AD" - Another Non-SR Code) opened in 1899 by the LSWR and survived until 1970.......but DIDN'T CLOSE it was retained as a Gate box until Its demise in 1974 in preparation for the Surbiton re-signalling. also nearby is Coxes Mill Crossing which was merely a ground frame and was absorbed by Surbiton in 1970 Addlestone Jn closed with the rest of the boxes in 1970 Weybridge (Plated "WS".) was opened in 1882 and closed with the rest in 1970 though it was an impressive box with 68 Levers and a nice area to manage! Oatlands (Plated "WO".) was a real oddity it was built in 1894 as a "Break section" box to shorten the length of a block section but when rationalisation took place it was retained despite Block sections having been mostly abolished, it closed in 1970 Walton On Thames (Plated "WDM" - another oddity in that the code was out of sequence with the rest) opened in 1882 and fitted with 46 levers so a sizeable box, though not many levers were left in use by the time it closed in 1970 with 2 ground frames having taken most of the levers away. Esher was another original from 1880 and no code was reported so it may have been a break section box if it wasn't for the 52 levers inside it! it closed in 1970 We now visit the 2 branches before returning to the mainline, first Cobham Cobham was really only a small station box with 14 levers so not much was lost when it closed in 1970 Cooks Crossing (Plated "CK"  however was slightly more fortunate being built in 1885 with the rest of the boxes on the line,but in 1970 it was demoted to gate box status when Surbiton opened though it only survived another 4 years before becoming a CCTV crossing with Addlestone. Claygate was another 14 levers "station frame" and was little more than that. Finally, we hop to the other branch... Hampton Court (Station) was opened rather late in 1957 to replace the original box but by 1970 it dropped to a ground frame/gate box and by July 1979 barriers were fitted showing the box's function was nearly over, a mere 2 months later the box was closed and the crossing converted to CCTV. The box was demolished mere days later and so the box really only served 13 years as a block post with a further 9 years as a gate box so really only had a 22-year life, quite short really, and a big oversight by BR. Back on the mainline, we reach Hampton Court Junction (Plated "WP" which was a 1936 build so very modern really, it had 52 levers and closed in 1970 We now reach the Penultimate box at Surbiton (Plated "WN" and also opened in 1936 with 52 levers so must have been a batch, it had a tough job and was a busy box and survived a mere 34 years which compared with the 80-90 year boxes further down these were very short lives. We now also look at Fringes; New Malden (plated "WM".) was an 1880 build and survived the resignalling schemes on both sides of it retaining lever operation right through to 1990! Chertsey was another LSWR original from 1895 (Plated "WFJ".) but became a Gate box in 1974 with the final stage of the Feltham PSB Re-signalling where it was also re-plated to "CY" but closed only a year later in 1975 when Feltham PSB opened and it was converted to CCTV. The Guildford connection was straightforward fringing to Guildford (Panel) all its life......however in 1998, the panel at Surbiton was nearing its end though before it went, in April 1998 Guildford Panel closed and the ASC opened, Surbiton then closed in October 1998 meaning for the last 6 months of its life it managed to fringe to the ASC! ====================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================== Finally Comes Aldershot A small little sim for the line to Alton, The Panels then, First is Ash Vale Junction (Plated "HW".), opened by the LSWR In 1879 and fitted with 20 Levers It had a former neighbour at Frimley Junction (Plated "UW".) another 1879 opening and closed in 1973 when Ash Vale Jn took control of the area The frame in Ash Vale was replaced by IFS switches to control the area in 1985 though retained the same signal numbers as the lever frame. The area is all TCB and has been since the closure of Frimley Jn and Brookwood Station! The box closed in 2013 with the rest of the boxes on this line ending its 124-year life! Next is Aldershot (Plated "AS" - A non-southern code) Built-in 1900, The current Box was the former "A" box at Aldershot with "B" being at the country end of the station where GF "B" is in the older era There was also a 3rd box at Aldershot known as Aldershot Junction North (Plated "GW".), whose location is clear with the tunnel being the section it worked to Aldershot "A" Both "B" and Junction Closed in 1970 with Aldershot "A" taking over their areas and becoming plain Aldershot presumably when the "AS" code was added as we were passed the southern's prefix system. Though even it succumbed in 2013 with Woking ASC taking over. The Layout is simple and didn't change with Woking ASC's control other than the Ground Frames being removed, signals re-numbered and Auto Buttons and Emergency Replacement's added We now pass through one of the few Absolute Block sections in the area! to reach our next box The 3rd and final box to still exist in the pre-2013 era is Farnham (Plated "FN" - Again Non-SR) It opened as Farnham "B" in 1901 with Farnham "A" being its neighbour at the London end, The box was rationalised in 1973 when Farnham "A" closed and "B" became plain Farnham again when "FN" was adopted There is also another "signal box" here in the Yard known as Farnham Depot (Plated "FD".) which survived the 2013 closures! The signal box did replace a few other boxes though, Bentley was an LSWR box opened in the late 1800s and fitted with 30 levers, it closed in 1976 and was dismantled and moved to the Mid-Hants Railway where it lives on as Alton Signal Box! The Final Box was Alton which opened with Bentley and most boxes on the through route to Winchester and closed in 1976 and was demolished soon after. The through route to Winchester only closed in 1973, so the signalling at Farnham dated from around the same date Farnham was closed on the 27th August 2013 ending 124 Years of Mechanical signalling and Absolute Block working in the area :( As an extra, there is 1 more box to mention and that's Alton (New) which was built by the Watercress line! and is an IFS panel brought from Chichester and fringes at Alton in BOTH era's with some slotting added in the Woking ASC era! Another 3 sims that took a while to make and I hope they do their real-world boxes proud most of the SWML boxes would (and still are!) good fun to operate!   
Post has attachments. Log in to view them. Resident Mock Maker! / "The Out Of Control Host" Last edited: 07/12/2021 at 13:18 by elltrain3 Reason: Pllllenty of Spelling mistakes and the text wouldn't fit on screen! Log in to reply The following user said thank you: Newhampshires |
| A little Mock-SimSig Fun! 07/12/2021 at 11:48 #142792 | |
bugsy
1766 posts |
The text that I have underlined in the paragraph below regarding Guildford should, I think, read Farnham. “Aldershot south junction is another fairly major junction allowing trains to head towards Aldershot, Fareham and Alton or travel straight into reading! the junction was worked from Ash prior to Guildford ASC's opening”. Farnham is correctly named on both of your track layouts
Everything that you make will be useful - providing it's made of chocolate. Last edited: 07/12/2021 at 11:55 by bugsy Reason: None given Log in to reply The following user said thank you: elltrain3 |
| A little Mock-SimSig Fun! 07/12/2021 at 13:16 #142793 | |
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elltrain3
372 posts |
Thanks i kept getting Fareham & Farnham mixed up! i'll get that changed now and at least I did it right on the sim xD
Resident Mock Maker! / "The Out Of Control Host" Last edited: 07/12/2021 at 13:17 by elltrain3 Reason: None given Log in to reply |
| A little Mock-SimSig Fun! 07/12/2021 at 17:19 #142797 | |
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DaveHarries
1285 posts |
elltrain3 in post 142791 said:The Next sim is the Neighbour to the previous one, Woking! Covering the Woking & Surbiton areas. I have one of Woking too but in a different layout format to that. Will probably share it for comparison. Dave Log in to reply |
| A little Mock-SimSig Fun! 11/12/2021 at 21:12 #142875 | |
ajax103
1120 posts |
Umm you might want to check your spelling of Wimbledon, I'm sure it's not Wimbeldon!
Log in to reply The following user said thank you: elltrain3 |
| A little Mock-SimSig Fun! 15/12/2021 at 22:11 #142928 | |
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elltrain3
372 posts |
For my next Mock we head North to Hull & Goole! First up It's Goole (Town) (Plated "G".) which opened in 1909 as Boothferry Road, and carried out its normal life until 1980 when Goole Engine Shed SB closed the Goole gained an NX Panel to control the current area, the box is due for closure in 2022 with York ROC taking Control. Next is the smallest panel nut by far the strangest. This is Goole Bridge which opened in 1859 by the NER on the route to Hull, the box started with a frame though the frame was reduced to 4 levers in 1933 when a new Panel was fitted making it the FIRST-panel box in the country! it controls 2 signals on both sides of the Bridge and works TCB to Goole & Saltmarshe though since the latter's Abolition it fringes to York ROC (amazing how an 1859 swing bridge fringes with a state of the art operation centre) and even when it Gains control both sides of the box it will almost certainly be retained as a bridge box, like Reedham & Somerlyton on the Wherry lines! Making this a separate panel is a little strange as I was debating adding to Goole's Control. The box also has only ever closed for a short period from Oct-Nov 2010 to allow for a refurb of the bridge (could make a fun TT) aside from that it's been open for all 162 years of its life! Next, we visit Saltmarshe (Plated "S".) which opened in 1905 to the NER's S2 Design and was fitted with 29 Levers, though after shortening to 20 levers in 1972 the entire frame was replaced by a panel in 2006 to which it retained till closure, it has a simple job but see's the start of Absolute Block! The Box closed on the 26 Nov 2018 as part of the Selby-Hessle Road Resignalling and control passed to York ROC, the box was demolished soon after. Now for the busiest and most exciting box on the journey to Hull as we hit Gilberdyke Jn! The box opened in 1903 by the NER and followed the S2 Design, it was fitted with 55 Levers and when opened was a busy box as the line from here to Melton was 4 tracks! though we first jump back to the fringe to Selby SB. Howden had a box up until 1997 when Selby expanded to cover the fringe, the line here is TCB with plenty of crossings and AHB's with a non-stopping button for Eastrington on the Up. Gilberdyke also has slot 1891 (a large number ready for the York ROC Takeover), and the slot can be set to auto. We now reach the mechanical part of Gilberdyke with semaphores all around! we also see an unusual crossing, Gilberdyke Crossing is one long crossing though is split for the 2 routes and both routes have their own crossing keeper and release from Gilberyke and were often kept very busy! The "home" signals also have a distant fitted as this line is heavily interlocked and slotted with the individual signal box's areas overlapping a lot! The Distants are for Oxmardyke GB and the 1-2-1 "train approaching" bell code was used here to make sure the signaller could drop the crossing at Oxmardyke and give the drivers a clear run! The box sent 7-5-5 on the 26 Nov 2018 and closed for good though still stands to this day! Next is Oxmardyke GB (Plated "O".) which is another NER Type S1a though, of all brick construction, it was built in 1901 pre-dating most of the surrounding boxes it worked too, it's lever frame was dropped to 16 levers when the 4 tracks were reduced to 2 in 1987 when it became a gate box. unusually the barriers here are worked from a wheel! The box closed with the rest in 2018, though still stands. Next Comes Broomfleet (Plated "B".) which opened in 1904 showing the varying dates the boxes along this line opened, it was built to the NER S2 design and fitted with 60 levers, though only 7 remain active split into 3 sections. The box is a simple one but with some complex slotting for the adjacent boxes. on the Up it's just the usual Distant, Home & Starter though the Down is a little more complex, all 3 signals are slotted by Cave Crossing, and not only do Broomfleets barriers have to be down but Cave's do too, and Cave's slot acts as the protecting signal to it's crossing! The box closed with the rest in 2018 though still stands. Next is Cave Crossing which opened in 1904 with 16 levers (Plated "C" un-officially), whereas previously described the small box is very complex, in that the protecting signal on the Down is a slot on all 3 of Broomfleets signals. though B14 is controlled by Broomfleet, slotted by Cave GB and acts as Crabley Creek's Outer Distant! now that's complex! this box also survives though OOU Next is our 3rd Block post on this line at Crabley Creek (Plated "CC".) which was built also by the NER in 1891 making it a good 12-15 years older than all the other boxes on the route and also survived the longest! It is built to a NER Type S1b design and fitted with 40 Levers though this was reduced to 14 in 1987 when the 4-tracks went to 2. The box was quiet and only had a signal and distant each way! though has a small gated crossing to work by hand at the farmers request, which made it unusual as in 2018 when these signal boxes closed 1 box survived and that is Crabley Creek! as in the farmers deed from when the railway first reached here he required a MANNED level crossing at all hours so NR had to fulfill the deed and post 2018 Crabley (Now a gate box) survives and opens and closes the gates all day long. Next is Brough East (Plated "BE".) and opened in 1904 and is one of the only boxes to retain a crossover. The box closed with the rest in 2018 though still stands. We pass Welton GB a standard layout that closed with the rest in 2018 though still stands. Finally, we reach Melton Lane, a latecomer to the line only opening in 1921 to the NER Type S4 design and fitted with 34 levers, The box has an unusual layout, with the area being the sole place to show evidence of the former 4-track mainline here! and the reason for that is Ferriby station, the box retains semaphores and a small fan of sidings which can be accessed Bi-Di via the slow line. The box also has an IFS panel to control Ferriby station and the fringe to Hessle SB, we now leave mechanical signalling behind in order to head into Hull! The Box here closed with the rest in 2018 surviving just 97 years. Next is Hessle Road SB (also known as Hessle Road Jn) (Plated "HR".) which opened in 1962 though its area of control has expanded since its opening! The box it absorbed was Hessle Haven (Plated "HH".) located around where Hessle station is today, it opened around 1902 and closed in 1983 with Hessle road absorbing Its area of control. it survived to work the yards and Speedlink sidings but the drop in Speedlink traffic meant the box could be abolished easily. At Hessle road junction we now see the Up & Down King George Dock lines leave for Hull Docks and pass the 2nd manned bridge box on our journey at Hull Bridge, which is a small NX panel with 2 slots and released by Hessle Road. From there we head into the docks and over to the docks GFs Back on the Mainline we now pass over 2 CCTV crossings that'll keep the signaller busy before heading into Hull! The box also works the lines through to Scarborough and has some more CCTV crossings and Bi-Di working on those lines. Now for the biggy, Hull Paragon, the box here is a non-standard LNER design built in 1938, It once contained the largest Relay based interlocking system in the UK and has managed to withstand a full blow from a german WW2 bomb all while still working! The Box started with an OCS panel, but this was replaced by an "Emergency" IFS panel in 1984 with the assumption Hessle road would take over, but the latter never happened due to...complications leaving Hull Paragon still signalling trains to this day. The layout is mostly original with the full 11 platform station and steam-age layout still visible, though former platforms 1-4 and now sidings E-A and are used to Berth ECS, the box also has access to the main MPD on the sim at Botanic Gardens TMD, the name of the original Loco shed (53B 1950-1960 Became 50C 1960-1973) and is still used to Berth Northern, TPE, Hull Trains & LNER units. the latter 2 still give this small City(?) a connection to London! Next, we leave Hull in the direction of another seaside line this time to Bridlington & Scarborough Starting off at Beverley (Plated "BS".) a lovely looking box built by the NER in 1911 to their Type 4 Design, the box amazingly is still fitted with a 34 Lever frame albeit all-controlling electrical equipment. The box is prefixed "BS" which dated from when the box was known as Beverley South with North closing in 1984, the box has seen a lot of rationalisation with almost all the AHB's/CCTVs under its control formerly had a box associated with them. The last box to go was Hutton Cranswick in 1987 to the North and Cottingham North to the south, upon the change TCB With Bell was introduced to Hessle Road SB. The line north to Driffield though is still worked by Absolute Block, The Box is also listed with the station so will be around for a while yet! Next up is Driffield (Plated "D") Another NER Box opened in 1875 to there S1a design of all brick construction when opened fitted with a full lever frame though with the loss of so many boxes and so many more crossings to handle the frame became more and more useless so an IFS panel was installed and as we can see the sheer amount ot crossings the box handles makes it a hard job! The local crossing adjacent to the box is also unusual as it is barriers operated through a gate wheel! as when the frame was removed levers 1-3 were retained to control the crossing adjacent. Finally the seaside resort of Bridlington (plated "BN") The railway here was once a sight to see with 8 platforms, coal sidings, Docks, lengthy excursion sidings, and a shed (53D) though by the 80s the line had been rationalised and ravaged with little of the above surviving, platforms 1-3 were abolished and are now under a housing estate the shed is under a B&Q and the docks and coal sidings are long gone. the station also handled plenty of holiday traffic for Filey Holiday camp (Butlins Filey) and many other destinations. I can only imagine seeing what the box was like double manned on a summer Saturday!! The current box is the former "south" box built-in 1895 to the NER type S4 design and has been extended twice to house a 126 lever frame though by the 1980s most of the layout had been abolished and levers 65-126 were removed and converted to Kitchen space with 65 levers retained to work the layout shown. The other box at Bridlington was "Quay" and opened later in 1911 replacing the original "north" box, it controlled the North end of the station & crossing though it closed in 1998 and Bridlington took control of the area from there to Hunmanby through an IFS panel. it worked to Seamer since the abolition of the boxes between Bridlington & Seamer in 1998. The box has very recently (Nov/Dec 2021) been changed again and the frame replaced by an NX panel, the plan was to place the panel over the Former Frame but mid-way through the plan Bridlington's Box & Frame became listed and had to stay meaning the panel is now installed in the tight kitchen and the 65 levers staying where they are. Another fun sim with 2 records of the first Panel box and Largest Relay Interlocking. I may make a York ROC version though it'd be far more boring without the Semaphores! 
Post has attachments. Log in to view them. Resident Mock Maker! / "The Out Of Control Host" Last edited: 15/12/2021 at 23:22 by elltrain3 Reason: None given Log in to reply The following user said thank you: Guts |
| A little Mock-SimSig Fun! 19/12/2021 at 16:51 #143015 | |
i26
308 posts |
As much as I love these mocks ups. Unfortunately some people are sending these mock ups to people telling them that the sims are in development/testing and will be released soon. I nearly got caught out by the Woking and Guildford sims until I remembered about this thread.
Log in to reply The following user said thank you: elltrain3 |
| A little Mock-SimSig Fun! 19/12/2021 at 18:04 #143016 | |
headshot119
4869 posts |
i26 in post 143015 said:As much as I love these mocks ups. Unfortunately some people are sending these mock ups to people telling them that the sims are in development/testing and will be released soon. I nearly got caught out by the Woking and Guildford sims until I remembered about this thread.Personally I don't think that should have a bearing on whether or not people produce mockups, they are just a bit of fun for people, and shows what a simulation might look like if it was eventually developed. It's not a new phenomenon either, people where doing it when I first played SimSig way back in about 2008. I think it's fairly well known what's been officially announced as in development as this moment in time, are Crewe, Bristol, and Doncaster Station. "Passengers for New Lane, should be seated in the rear coach of the train " - Opinions are my own and not those of my employer Log in to reply |
| A little Mock-SimSig Fun! 19/12/2021 at 19:36 #143021 | |
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elltrain3
372 posts |
headshot119 in post 143016 said:i26 in post 143015 said:Yeah as Headshot put these are pure fun and are to MOCK an idea of what future sims might look like, I am not a developer and these are made in a non-SimSig program. So unless an announcement is made on the website or by an approved developer then any other mock/diagram etc in the thread is pure fiction. So I ask that people that read this thread understand these are mocks not the real thing and if you do share them (which I'm more than happy for you to do) then make sure you label them as mock versions of possible future sims not actual onesAs much as I love these mocks ups. Unfortunately some people are sending these mock ups to people telling them that the sims are in development/testing and will be released soon. I nearly got caught out by the Woking and Guildford sims until I remembered about this thread.Personally I don't think that should have a bearing on whether or not people produce mockups, they are just a bit of fun for people, and shows what a simulation might look like if it was eventually developed. It's not a new phenomenon either, people where doing it when I first played SimSig way back in about 2008.
Resident Mock Maker! / "The Out Of Control Host" Last edited: 19/12/2021 at 19:40 by elltrain3 Reason: Clarification Log in to reply |
| A little Mock-SimSig Fun! 02/01/2022 at 18:33 #143250 | |
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elltrain3
372 posts |
Hey all so first of happy new year! I've been busy with work/family events through Christmas hence my lack of activity! But I'm back with a quick one today and that's Walsall PSB! There are 2 era's to this area one with mechanical/PSBs and other following the WMSC takeover in 2013 but I've only made the earlier era as I lack the data to make a mock of the modern era. Another small link sim that would certainly never be boring! So the Panels Then, First up we start in a Mechanical box at Hednesford (Plated "HD".) The box here still bears the nameboard "Hednesford No1" as it was once 1 of 3 boxes in the area to control the vast sidings and colliery's nearby though they have been lost over the years and just the 1 box survived with a simple track layout and turnback facilities. It works AB both ways! Next Up Bloxwich (Plated "BH".) but before we reach Bloxwich we must cover Essington wood colliery and associated sidings, now controlled from Bloxwich via an NX Panel, there was a box there originally (Plated "EW".) though this closed in the mid-80s with the decline of the colliery. Now onto Bloxwich itself, the box is a BR Standard type 15 and one of if not the last mechanical signal box to be built by BR in 1959. It's layout is simple and has a layout built for shunting, with private sidings. Next is the almighty Walsall PSB Opened in 1965 by BR and was one of the many "WCML/Midlands PSB" Scheme which collected complex area's into 1 signal box. We start at Ryecroft Jn where the goods only line from Saltley PSB (another of the major PSB's) joins the line from Rugeley and we then head over what was once a 4-track section hence the "Fast" label, then we hit Walsall Stn and a layout very heavily rationalised since it was commissioned. only the Up Fast & Platform 3 are electrified with platforms 2 & 1 being diesel only. the former layout now reappears for this small section, we pass numerous sidings before hitting Pleck Jn, which prior to 1965 boasted a substantial signal box for this very complex junction! From Pleck Jn 3 routes Diverge, these being "Darlaston" which head through Darlaston Jn and re-join the Grand Jn Railway to head into Wolverhampton the 2nd chord is the "Dudley" Lines which were formerly a through route to Dudley, though closed to passengers in 1964 under the beeching axe and freight limped on through the 60s and 70s but by 1993 the last train had run the the route was fenced off, so would only be used in older Timetables. the 3rd line are the "Bescot" lines, to which we follow.. We now reach the next panel, and by far the most complex in the area! First we reach Bescot Jn where a chord from Wednesbury joins and we see the start of one of many slotting arrangements between Walsall PSB and Bescot Down Tower, so all routes to the down S.S. (sorting sidings) and the down & up goods are slotted, but routes set by Walsall. We pass Bescot Stadium station and join the Original Grand Jn Railway of 1837 one of the first main lines in the country! We work our way past the yards of Bescot, we then pass a long crossover, where the points towards Bescot are slotted by Walsall before they can be operated, we then hit Newton Junction where the yards re-join the Main line and slots are required on all route's both in and out of the yard plus the shunting neck. the line then becomes simple before trains pass over to Birmingham New Street PSB which opened in 1966 so has worked to Walsall for 47 years! a small TD is provided to help in seeing approaching trains! Finally a small panel hitched on as i felt it was needed, Bescot Down Tower (Plated DT) opened in 1965 and replaced a series of smaller boxes and it became one of BR's Marshalling Hump Yards and the Down Tower would have been a hectic place in it's heyday with an engine shed that had 64 locos allocated in 1965, 20 Sorting roads, 11 storage roads a Hump and that was only the DOWN Side, there was an equally impressive layout opposite....though in the era I've simulated it represented a sad era for our railways, the Hump was mothballed though the Panel somehow survived, the yard rationalised and smaller than it used to be. The panel was still complex with 4 reception sidings which would have formerly lead to the Hump, 2 through roads and plenty of sidings, pretty much all movements on the panel required a slot from Walsall PSB, as can be seen. But by 2013 the Panel was dated tired and wasn't exactly ideal being how busy the yard still was. So in 2013 a re-signalling scheme took place, that saw a few closures () - Age at closure Firstly in August, Bescot Down Tower (48) , Walsall PSB (47), The North Panel of New Street PSB (48), Bloxwich (54) , Hednesford No1 (136!) & Brereton Sidings (105) all closed with the Walsall - Rugeley section being electrified as part of the upgrade The only major layout changes were the Wednesbury Lines were lifted but a stub of the Dudley lines remained to run-round coal traffic, though has since ceased with the closure (and subsequent demolition!) of Rugeley P.S. and Walsall has re-gained Platform 3 as a Bi-Di Platform. Of the 60s PSBs in the area the only (full) survivors of the 2013 re-signalling were that of Saltley, Derby, Wolverhampton and New Street itself Though it didn't take long as Wolverhampton went in 2015, with Saltley a year later in 2016 and Derby went in 2018 Leaving the sole survivor as New Street PSB which currently only has the Centre (Station) Panel left, and this is due to migrate in 2022. Meaning these once revolutionary power boxes are (almost) no more! All the above areas are now in the West Midlands Signalling Centre at Saltley, apart from Derby who went only next door to the East Midlands SCC (EMSCC) Another fun mock and a complex area! 
Post has attachments. Log in to view them. Resident Mock Maker! / "The Out Of Control Host" Last edited: 02/01/2022 at 23:52 by elltrain3 Reason: Derby PSB Log in to reply |
| A little Mock-SimSig Fun! 02/01/2022 at 20:16 #143253 | |
andyallen4014
371 posts |
Interesting. I gather Walsall was mooted at one point for SimSig although your mock up looks a bit different. I don't recall the Bescot panel being involved but that may be my interpretation or memory deceiving me!
User | Multiplayer Host | Timetable Writer Log in to reply |
| A little Mock-SimSig Fun! 02/01/2022 at 20:54 #143255 | |
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elltrain3
372 posts |
It's quite small traffic wise but would make for an interesting sim with plenty of shunting to do! and yeah I wasn't sure whether to attach Bescot DT, but in the same was as East Usk & Newport are connected and have so many slots the additional panel would help people understand the layout between the 2 boxes. Resident Mock Maker! / "The Out Of Control Host" Last edited: 02/01/2022 at 20:55 by elltrain3 Reason: None given Log in to reply |
| A little Mock-SimSig Fun! 03/01/2022 at 00:19 #143258 | |
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DaveHarries
1285 posts |
andyallen4014 in post 143253 said:Interesting. I gather Walsall was mooted at one point for SimSig although your mock up looks a bit different. I don't recall the Bescot panel being involved but that may be my interpretation or memory deceiving me! Walsall would be a welcome addition along with Stourbridge Junction: both remain on my wanted list. Dave Log in to reply |
| A little Mock-SimSig Fun! 03/01/2022 at 22:02 #143328 | |
Edgemaster
332 posts |
GeoffM in post 142392 said:TUT in post 142391 said:Crossrail Core has the honour(?) of being the third VICOS system deployed to the UK mainline rail network.Pics of Bournemouth ASC:Agreed! I went to an IRSE presentation shortly after it opened and was quite surprised (polite word) at how they designed it. Two signallers and a supervisor on duty which is not terribly efficient for a relatively small area. Miles and miles of blue cables everywhere. Light grey screens with poor contrast. Last edited: 03/01/2022 at 22:02 by Edgemaster Reason: None given Log in to reply |
| A little Mock-SimSig Fun! 04/01/2022 at 20:13 #143347 | |
Guts
604 posts |
elltrain3 in post 143255 said:It's quite small traffic wise but would make for an interesting sim with plenty of shunting to do!I've seen small sims before. What I like about this one is the potential to divert trains between New Street and Wolverhampton, when chained; even the freight options from Saltley would be good. I still think Walsall is in the works, but it's not at the top of any list. Log in to reply |
