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Thingley Reversals

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Thingley Reversals 19/05/2015 at 17:57 #72489
DaveHarries
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In regards of the new timetables I am working on I have been doing the ECS moves in Swindon, and more specifically at Thingley Junction / Thingley East Junction and I am hitting a snag.

Certain HST services from London Paddington are starting from / terminating at Chippenham. The WTT for one such move looks like this:

http://www.opentraintimes.com/schedule/V52108/2015-08-03

Presumably the way this would work would be to make the HST go as far as signal SN1074 where it could be reversed back into Chippenham by setting the relevant signals. Meanwhile there are a few short DMU services between Swindon and Chippenham which have ECS moves specifying Thingley Junction, not Thingley East Junction, as the reversal point.

http://www.opentraintimes.com/schedule/V52153/2015-08-03

Presumably the Thingley Junction reversal point would be on the DM while the Thingley East Junction reversal point would be on the UM. However I can't get the UL line code to work for departures from Chippenham on the HST reversals> the sim insists on ML being the right line code. It would take ML to UL even.

Any tips?

Dave

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Thingley Reversals 19/05/2015 at 18:13 #72491
GeoffM
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Firstly, timetable planners often specify a junction as a reversal point even though the train has to cross the junction twice to get to where it needs to go. It's assumed the signallers know what is meant, which invariably they would. It would be a different matter if it was an ARS area though - actual reversal locations would have to be specified, just like SimSig (I wonder why :whistle: ).

I would have thought reversing behind SN27 from Chippenham to be the less preferable since it involves Bristol panel and the SIMBIDS. But without a line code in the timetable, it's not obvious to me (maybe it is to the planners and signallers).

Without trying, I would have expected that Chippenham-ThingleyEast-Thingley-ThingleyEast-Chippenham would work in the sim. If not, perhaps Peter will be along later to confirm if/why.

SimSig Boss
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Thingley Reversals 19/05/2015 at 20:36 #72496
Peter Bennet
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The data appears to allow Chippenham/Thingly Jn with or without EJ involved but I've not tried so I'm not sure if the ARS will validate all the paths and line codes.

You have to remember that the in real life a train can physically stop anywhere and reverse anywhere but in SimSig you need locations and what can happen there set out in the data. So the permutations and combinations of locations could be almost limitless.

Peter

I identify as half man half biscuit - crumbs!
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Thingley Reversals 19/05/2015 at 20:41 #72497
Peter Bennet
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" said:
The data appears to allow Chippenham/Thingly Jn with or without EJ involved but I've not tried so I'm not sure if the ARS will validate all the paths and line codes.

You have to remember that the in real life a train can physically stop anywhere and reverse anywhere but in SimSig you need locations and what can happen there set out in the data. So the permutations and combinations of locations could be almost limitless.

Peter
Actually I think it will validate if you insert EJ in the down direction but not the Up.

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Thingley Reversals 19/05/2015 at 22:17 #72500
DaveHarries
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" said:
I would have thought reversing behind SN27 from Chippenham to be the less preferable since it involves Bristol panel [.....]

Would it? How come? SN27 is, when coming from Bristol, just past the line to / from Thingley Yard so whoever did Panel 1 on SwinDid could bring any entering train to a halt. It is slightly more confusing when you realise that some of the waits by reversing trains are more than 10 minutes and there is, for good measure, one ECS where it would make sense to halt at SN1074 reverse behind SN27.

Anyway, in this TT the line from Bathampton Junction to Thingley Junction is closed: the TT reflects the 24/7 closure throughout August of the lines between Bathampton Junction and Chippenham, as well as between Bathampton Junction and Bradford Junction, for major engineering works so no reason to inviolve Bristol on this line as all trains to & from Bristol will use the Badminton route.

Info for anyone interested:
https://www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk/bath2015

Thanks all for your replies. I will code the TT and run it to see what happens with those HSTs.

Dave

Last edited: 19/05/2015 at 22:25 by DaveHarries
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Thingley Reversals 19/05/2015 at 22:29 #72501
Steamer
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" said:
It is slightly more confusing when you realise that some of the waits by reversing trains are more than 10 minutes and there is, for good measure, one ECS where it would make sense to halt at SN1074 reverse behind SN27.
Most of that wait is for good reason, it takes about 8 minutes for a driver to change ends on a HST.

"Don't stress/ relax/ let life roll off your backs./ Except for death and paying taxes/ everything in life.../ is only for now." (Avenue Q)
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Thingley Reversals 19/05/2015 at 22:42 #72502
postal
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" said:
" said:
It is slightly more confusing when you realise that some of the waits by reversing trains are more than 10 minutes and there is, for good measure, one ECS where it would make sense to halt at SN1074 reverse behind SN27.
Most of that wait is for good reason, it takes about 8 minutes for a driver to change ends on a HST.
FGW driver Lazzer says it takes at least 7 minutes in this topic so 10 minutes doesn't err too far on the side of caution.

“In life, there is always someone out there, who won’t like you, for whatever reason, don’t let the insecurities in their lives affect yours.” – Rashida Rowe
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Thingley Reversals 19/05/2015 at 22:47 #72503
GeoffM
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" said:
" said:
I would have thought reversing behind SN27 from Chippenham to be the less preferable since it involves Bristol panel [.....]

Would it? How come? SN27 is, when coming from Bristol, just past the line to / from Thingley Yard so whoever did Panel 1 on SwinDid could bring any entering train to a halt. It is slightly more confusing when you realise that some of the waits by reversing trains are more than 10 minutes and there is, for good measure, one ECS where it would make sense to halt at SN1074 reverse behind SN27.

Anyway, in this TT the line from Bathampton Junction to Thingley Junction is closed: the TT reflects the 24/7 closure throughout August of the lines between Bathampton Junction and Chippenham, as well as between Bathampton Junction and Bradford Junction, for major engineering works so no reason to inviolve Bristol on this line as all trains to & from Bristol will use the Badminton route.
Well, I didn't know it was actually closed beyond Corsham so that changes factors somewhat. I also wasn't entirely sure the sim was right with routes from SN72 and SN672 to SN286 (1074 in the sim) but I've now seen a locking sketch which confirms that it is indeed possible.

SimSig Boss
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Thingley Reversals 20/05/2015 at 05:43 #72506
Forest Pines
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" said:

Well, I didn't know it was actually closed beyond Corsham so that changes factors somewhat. I also wasn't entirely sure the sim was right with routes from SN72 and SN672 to SN286 (1074 in the sim) but I've now seen a locking sketch which confirms that it is indeed possible.
Bathampton Jn-Thingley Jn exclusive is closed for half of July then Bathampton Jn is blockaded completely for the whole of August - trackbed lowering prior to electrification. Of course, nothing public has stated the exact limits of possession, which might alter reversal locations.

Bath's going to have an hourly service to Paddington via Temple Meads and the Badminton line, incidentally. My Bristol-Bath commute's going to be fun!

Last edited: 20/05/2015 at 05:44 by Forest Pines
Reason: fixed tags

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Thingley Reversals 20/05/2015 at 05:50 #72507
Peter Bennet
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" said:
" said:
The data appears to allow Chippenham/Thingly Jn with or without EJ involved but I've not tried so I'm not sure if the ARS will validate all the paths and line codes.

You have to remember that the in real life a train can physically stop anywhere and reverse anywhere but in SimSig you need locations and what can happen there set out in the data. So the permutations and combinations of locations could be almost limitless.

Peter
Actually I think it will validate if you insert EJ in the down direction but not the Up.
Yes it will work without EJ in the TT but you need to switch out the LUPTHING ARS control and manually route it. If you want to route it behind 27 you must NOT have EJ in the timetable. Note that the TD steps to behind 25 and you need to manually move it back (not necessarily a bug - remember you are doing something out of the ordinary).


Peter

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Thingley Reversals 20/05/2015 at 10:07 #72521
DaveHarries
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" said:
Bath's going to have an hourly service to Paddington via Temple Meads and the Badminton line, incidentally. My Bristol-Bath commute's going to be fun!

Yes it will. It seems that short trains will run Bath to Bristol so you won't be completely isolated. OTT & RTT currently suggest that all trains will use Platform 2 at Bath Spa though.

Also both OTT and RTT suggest an hourly service will run Chippenham to London Paddington with some additional short trains between Swindon and Chippenham. In addition the Cardiff to Portsmouth Harbour services will instead operate Swindon to Portsmouth Harbour and these will also all call at Chippenham so you could still get to Swindon and pick up London Paddington services off the Kemble line from Gloucester.

Dave

Last edited: 20/05/2015 at 10:08 by DaveHarries
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Thingley Reversals 20/05/2015 at 10:17 #72522
headshot119
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I'm so glad that the Severn & Solent region won't be where I am over the summer, it's gonnah be a nightmare to get anywhere!
"Passengers for New Lane, should be seated in the rear coach of the train " - Opinions are my own and not those of my employer
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The following user said thank you: Forest Pines
Thingley Reversals 20/05/2015 at 20:45 #72539
Forest Pines
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" said:
" said:
Bath's going to have an hourly service to Paddington via Temple Meads and the Badminton line, incidentally. My Bristol-Bath commute's going to be fun!

Yes it will. It seems that short trains will run Bath to Bristol so you won't be completely isolated. OTT & RTT currently suggest that all trains will use Platform 2 at Bath Spa though.
True - it's much worse for those of my staff who commute from Westbury or Swindon to Bath!

I've already done both of the crossovers between Bath and Oldfield Park, so I'm not bothered about P1 being out of use - the rumour I heard is that the other track is going to be slewed into the centre so the platform can be widened.

The one bit of rare track I'm annoyed I haven't done - I could have if I'd waited for the next train from Bath - is that I once saw a down HST run wrong line from Bath to Bristol because a 150 had failed at Oldfield Park. I was on the failure instead!

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Thingley Reversals 20/05/2015 at 22:47 #72542
DaveHarries
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" said:
I've already done both of the crossovers between Bath and Oldfield Park, so I'm not bothered about P1 being out of use - the rumour I heard is that the other track is going to be slewed into the centre so the platform can be widened.

This is what I heard from a rail enthusiast at Bath Spa back in December last year. Why only widen one platform, not the other, I wonder?

Dave

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Thingley Reversals 21/05/2015 at 11:51 #72555
Forest Pines
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I would have thought Platform 2 to be the one most in need of widening, also. However if you had a free choice of platform to use for turnbacks regardless of engineering considerations, Platform 2 is probably easier overall for the station staff and has more passenger facilities - the big thing it doesn't have is straightforward level access for evacuation in an emergency situation.
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Thingley Reversals 02/08/2015 at 16:21 #74678
BoxBoyKit
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Have just discovered that the blockade is called the Bathampton TPOD. Was wondering if anyone knows what TPOD stands for as I can't decipher it or find it anywhere.... Many thanks.
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Thingley Reversals 02/08/2015 at 21:23 #74685
BarryM
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TPOD Track Preparation Overhead Distribution?

Barry

Barry, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Last edited: 02/08/2015 at 21:24 by BarryM
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Thingley Reversals 03/08/2015 at 08:25 #74691
tomsmith27
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Temporary Period of Disruption I belive.
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