A couple of things i have noticed

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A couple of things i have noticed 10/08/2024 at 13:13 #158118
steve00961
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15 posts 		Hi all
As a shunter at Basingstoke i wanted mention a couple of things I have noticed in the sim that are slightly different from real world and wondered if they can be considered for a future update. Firstly the smallest is the up reception siding IRW is called Up Sidings West. For trains to enter USW the signaller needs to obtain shunters acceptance before they can signal a train in. For trains departing USW the driver will contact the signaller directly when ready and will be given a proceed aspect to depart without the shunter needing to be contacted.

The other thing I have noticed is the shunt signals within Barton Mill Sidings, BE159 and 5107. When a train shunts from the mill to upper siding east to berth or the opposite way from where a train has berthed there overnight the sim is currently correct with setting one signal to off depending on which direction the train is travelling. in the real world however it is also possible to have both shunt signals to off at the same time (which is more commonly used) by requesting this from the signaller, so we can shunt trains about for as long as we need and will remain off until the shunter advises the signaller that shunt moves have been completed, rather than the track circuit resetting them after each move.
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A couple of things i have noticed 11/08/2024 at 13:45 #158136
DaChezePufz
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24 posts 		Hi All,

Steve - I was wondering whether you knew anything about the Long Valley Sidings/ Down East End Sidings and whether the 2nd loop, which is non-electrified, is ever used, as the hand points are clipped and padlocked. During disruption you could stabe a class 158/ 159 there as well with them being diesel. There is also the possibility of this being used as a run around loop for loco hauled trains, with the head shunt.
I have photos and annotated Google Earth imagery if im not making any sense.

If the above is a possible move, it could be interesting to see this added into the sim, even though it is not displayed for the signaller in real life.

Another point is the Down Yard, after the electrified siding, quite a bit of the track/ point work seems to have been removed as it is no longer used.

With regards to the Up Reception Siding/ Up Sidings West - I believe the electrification only stretches the length of 3x 450 (about 325m) and then the remainder of the siding to the buffers is then un-electrified.

I apologise for any wrong/ incorrect terminology and phrasing, I am just an enthusiast.
- Jake
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A couple of things i have noticed 11/08/2024 at 15:13 #158138
DaChezePufz
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24 posts 		One more thing, for the GWR terminating servies from Plat 5, you are able to phone the station supervisor and notify them of a change, to platform NCK, for the up neck, which then allows you to signal a passenger train into it. However there is no platform here so would never be done in real life.
- Jake
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A couple of things i have noticed 11/08/2024 at 18:00 #158140
steve00961
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15 posts 		Hi Jake
I control moves in/out of long valley almost daily but from Barton Mill. The non elec siding in long valley is never used and as you say the points are clipped and locked. I think its been so long since that road has been used i dont think you will ever see anything in there. with regards to run arounds trains would be fouling one end so this wont be possible either. in disruption the 158/9 stock is brought in and out of the mill for their turnarounds.

With regards to the down yard this is what was part of the Alton light railway and is electrified for 12 coaches and the only siding at Basingstoke equipped with track circuit.. about 5 years ago they started to clear vegetation in preparation for a second siding to be added with CET facilities, we even trained ten new shunters ready for when it opened. However SWR and NR had completely different ideas of timescales and the plans were cancelled as they started the work.

in terms of the up neck, this is never used for pax trains, i have known the readings to use P4 or P1 if there is a problem with P5. however, in the last couple of years light locos have berthed here. There is an acceptance switch for the neck but it is not in my operating procedures and therefore, nothing to do with Basingstoke shunters so we do not get involved with anything to do with the neck.

Steve
Last edited: 11/08/2024 at 18:01 by steve00961
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A couple of things i have noticed 11/08/2024 at 22:03 #158141
DaChezePufz
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24 posts 		Hi Steve,
Thank you for all of this, it has been really interesting to learn more about Basingstoke.

Am I correct in assuming that you, working at Barton Mill controls all of the sidings (Barton Mill, Upper Sidings East, Long Valley(s), Up Sidings West, the No.6 Siding, Neck, Down Yard & Up Branch/ North Yard in the Basingstoke area? if so, how does this interface with the mainline signalling panel at Basingstoke ASC?

Long Valley - so theoretically, as the tracks and points are still physically connected, it would be possible to have a train on the non electrified road, providing someone to unclip the points and set the hand points accordingly?

Down Yard - having looked out the windows from countless passing trains, and also the far end of Platform 1, are there any moves that can still be done after BE167 stop board? or is this now effectively permanently disconnected?

I don't suppose you would have anything to do with/ any extra knowledge about the Andover Sidings also?

Thanks in advance - Jake
- Jake
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A couple of things i have noticed 12/08/2024 at 01:11 #158142
steve00961
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15 posts 		Hi Jake
you are welcome, always happy to help. As the shunter i control the moves within the mill, long valley and the up sidings as they all require the acceptance switch to be activated by the shunter. Upper Siding East is known locally as under the box and is more or less part of the mill and can berth up to 5 coaches. We mainly use it as a shunt neck. for example on a weekday 2L63 will come in as an 8 car into rd 4 and split. we will then ask the signaller for back to back signals to the old box and move 4 coaches up and back in to rd 3 of the mill. Unfortnately at the moment back to back signals do not seem possible within the basingstoke simulation.

For long valley, the key for the points are held by the shunter. However in the last 23 years ive never known the padlocked to be opened or the points moved. theoretically yes this could be done, but the lock will probably need to be grinded off and i doubt the points will even move it has been that long.

The down yard is fitted with track circuit and is controlled completely by the signaller, so from my view, it is left to its own devices. Nothing can pass the stop board in the down yard as beyond that the track is not in a fit state for trains to move over. No 6 siding is no longer in use despite there being an active ground position signal there. North yard and the siding next to platform 5 are network rail sidings so we, as SWR staff have nothing to do with these sidings. I am afraid i have no knowledge regarding the sidings at Andover.

Hope this has helped, anything else please feel free to ask
Steve
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A couple of things i have noticed 12/08/2024 at 14:21 #158146
clive
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2799 posts 		steve00961 in post 158118 said:
Hi all
The other thing I have noticed is the shunt signals within Barton Mill Sidings, BE159 and 5107. When a train shunts from the mill to upper siding east to berth or the opposite way from where a train has berthed there overnight the sim is currently correct with setting one signal to off depending on which direction the train is travelling. in the real world however it is also possible to have both shunt signals to off at the same time (which is more commonly used) by requesting this from the signaller, so we can shunt trains about for as long as we need and will remain off until the shunter advises the signaller that shunt moves have been completed, rather than the track circuit resetting them after each move.
This has been in SimSig for a long time (devs: ROU-OLO). The developer should be able to add it without much trouble if they want to.
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A couple of things i have noticed 13/08/2024 at 17:15 #158169
Steamer
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3998 posts 		steve00961 in post 158118 said:
Firstly the smallest is the up reception siding IRW is called Up Sidings West.
Sidings change name over time- I'm assuming this is what it was called on whatever source material the developer used, so I'll not raise an issue for this one.

Quote:
For trains to enter USW the signaller needs to obtain shunters acceptance before they can signal a train in.
Just to clarify, is this a slot (as per most of the sidings), or just a phone call?

For trains departing USW the driver will contact the signaller directly when ready and will be given a proceed aspect to depart without the shunter needing to be contacted.

Quote:
The other thing I have noticed is the shunt signals within Barton Mill Sidings, BE159 and 5107. When a train shunts from the mill to upper siding east to berth or the opposite way from where a train has berthed there overnight the sim is currently correct with setting one signal to off depending on which direction the train is travelling. in the real world however it is also possible to have both shunt signals to off at the same time (which is more commonly used) by requesting this from the signaller, so we can shunt trains about for as long as we need and will remain off until the shunter advises the signaller that shunt moves have been completed, rather than the track circuit resetting them after each move.
Mantis 41306
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A couple of things i have noticed 13/08/2024 at 23:24 #158176
GeoffM
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6380 posts 		Steamer in post 158169 said:
steve00961 in post 158118 said:
Firstly the smallest is the up reception siding IRW is called Up Sidings West.
Sidings change name over time- I'm assuming this is what it was called on whatever source material the developer used, so I'll not raise an issue for this one.
Yep. This particular one is labelled as "Up Siding" on the panel, "Basingstoke Up Recp. Sdg." in the Network Rail database, has been known as "Basingstoke West Yard" in the past, and is "Up Siding No.1" in the Sectional Appendix.

Thanks for the others though.
SimSig Boss
Last edited: 13/08/2024 at 23:24 by GeoffM
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A couple of things i have noticed 14/08/2024 at 19:23 #158187
steve00961
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15 posts 		Quote:
For trains to enter USW the signaller needs to obtain shunters acceptance before they can signal a train in.
Just to clarify, is this a slot (as per most of the sidings), or just a phone call?

Hi Steamer
for trains entering the Up Sidings it is and acceptance switch the same as Barton Mill and Long Valley. To depart the Up Sidings it is just a phone from the driver to the signaller to let them know the train is ready to start.

Regards
Steve
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A couple of things i have noticed 14/08/2024 at 19:26 #158188
steve00961
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15 posts 		GeoffM in post 158176 said:
Steamer in post 158169 said:
steve00961 in post 158118 said:
Firstly the smallest is the up reception siding IRW is called Up Sidings West.
Sidings change name over time- I'm assuming this is what it was called on whatever source material the developer used, so I'll not raise an issue for this one.
Yep. This particular one is labelled as "Up Siding" on the panel, "Basingstoke Up Recp. Sdg." in the Network Rail database, has been known as "Basingstoke West Yard" in the past, and is "Up Siding No.1" in the Sectional Appendix.

Thanks for the others though.
Thanks for this Geoff. The amount of times i go into the box for a cuppa and never paid any attention to what it is labelled up as at their end. Great simulation though i am enjoying it.

Regards
Steve
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