***Pro Session*** Sunday 27/08/17

Must admit I'm not likely to join in at present (haven't had time to fire up a sim for months now), but I think there's an issue with modern vs dinosaur (OK British Rail era) regulating. Mark says trains runnng RT take priority over late runners. That's how it's done these days, bevcause of the privatisation-era performance regime. In BR days trains would be regulated to reduce overall delays, which might well mean holding a RT stopper to get the late running fast ahead of it (but possibly not where they were actually due to pass). Back in the 1980s it was common for Willesden PSB (OK, Jim Peplar, who was one of the box supervisors) to let a freightliner out at Wembley mid-peak, just behind a fast passenger but ahead of the following stopper; a couple of minutes delay to the passenger before Harrow, but by the time he reached Watford the 'liner had got into its stride and the stopper never saw anything of him again (and the lateness was taken up by the recovery time anyway). You'd get shot for that on the modern railway.

For those of us who were unavailable to join the 'Pro' session, can somebody let us know how it went and if there were any issues .....?

Thanks.

Must admit I'm not likely to join in at present (haven't had time to fire up a sim for months now), but I think there's an issue with modern vs dinosaur (OK British Rail era) regulating. Mark says trains runnng RT take priority over late runners. That's how it's done these days, bevcause of the privatisation-era performance regime. In BR days trains would be regulated to reduce overall delays, which might well mean holding a RT stopper to get the late running fast ahead of it (but possibly not where they were actually due to pass). Back in the 1980s it was common for Willesden PSB (OK, Jim Peplar, who was one of the box supervisors) to let a freightliner out at Wembley mid-peak, just behind a fast passenger but ahead of the following stopper; a couple of minutes delay to the passenger before Harrow, but by the time he reached Watford the 'liner had got into its stride and the stopper never saw anything of him again (and the lateness was taken up by the recovery time anyway). You'd get shot for that on the modern railway.

kbarber in post 101299 said:

Must admit I'm not likely to join in at present (haven't had time to fire up a sim for months now), but I think there's an issue with modern vs dinosaur (OK British Rail era) regulating. Mark says trains runnng RT take priority over late runners. That's how it's done these days, bevcause of the privatisation-era performance regime. In BR days trains would be regulated to reduce overall delays, which might well mean holding a RT stopper to get the late running fast ahead of it (but possibly not where they were actually due to pass). Back in the 1980s it was common for Willesden PSB (OK, Jim Peplar, who was one of the box supervisors) to let a freightliner out at Wembley mid-peak, just behind a fast passenger but ahead of the following stopper; a couple of minutes delay to the passenger before Harrow, but by the time he reached Watford the 'liner had got into its stride and the stopper never saw anything of him again (and the lateness was taken up by the recovery time anyway). You'd get shot for that on the modern railway.

I'm vividly reminded of Jack Warland's book (one of a suite of fine Railway books that I trust you're working on adding to, Mr Barber )

When the WR took control of former Southern metals in the south west he alluded to a moment where, at the behest of a WR controller, he sent an unfitted freight RT ahead of a late running express. The express took a beating and lost nearly half an hour. To highlight his dismay, he explained he would have been removed from duty and probably suspended for that decision under SR management, but the WR did things differently.

So this syndrome may not be as novel as the privatised Railway!

Can we do a Stafford pro server tonight please? :)