Birmingham New Street

Features

Electrification

All running lines and loops are equipped with standard 25kV overhead electrification, with the following exceptions:

Proof House Jn- St Andrews Jn
Proof House Jn- Landore St Jn
Aston- Curzon St
Galton Jn- Rowley Regis.
Soho goods

In 1976-1991 mode, New St- Kings Norton and Aston- Four Oaks are not electrified.

The following sidings are electrified:

All sidings at Birmingham New St
Monument Lane
All sidings and loops at Soho depot.

Westpac Mk I Interlocking

Introduction

Birmingham New Street was signalled using Westpac Mk I interlocking technology and Westinghouse M2 panels. This, as the name suggests, was a first generation interlocking of the Westpac variety which is called a "geographic" interlocking. These were designed to be modular in style, where instead of free wired relays, there would be a set of pre-configured modules that performed one function with a standard set of relays inside. Each module would then be linked to adjacent modules using a multi-core cable. A module could be a controlled signal, or a single-ended point, or a double-ended crossover, or an exit button, or one of several other features. In this way, an area can be rapidly re-signalled with much less design time than traditional free-wired relay interlockings. The downside is slightly less flexibility and increased materials cost because some parts of those modules would never be used.

Interlocking Principles

Main routes are set in the usual manner in SimSig - main signal to main signal, or main signal to grey exit triangle.

Call-on and shunt routes mostly require route setting from the red arrow behind the entrance signal, followed by the main signal at the exit. There are a couple that are the other way around: that is to say a main signal is used as the entrance, and a red arrow used as the exit.

Warner routes take one of two forms depending on the era selected. In 2009 Proof House Junction was resignalled using SSI and thus not only has TORR but also the more normal standard for warner routes these days. In this case, selecting a warner route requires left clicking on the entrance signal and then left clicking on the yellow triangle at the exit.

For Westpac Mk I warner routes, the route should be requested by left-clicking on the entrance signal and then left-clicking on the red triangle at the exit. Since Birmingham International platforms 1 and 2 have both call-on and warner routes into the same platform and use the same method for routesetting, the interlocking automatically selects the call-on or the warner route based on the platform occupancy.

Some routes have selective overlaps. These are denoted by the purple numbers starting 80x next to grey triangles. These routes are set by clicking on the entrance signal, on the exit signal, and then on the selected overlap exit triangle. The overlap may be swung by clicking on the exit signal and then on a different overlap button.

Via buttons are routing buttons where more than one pathway exists between the same two signals. However, not all variants are available. If a route passes a via button then it must be used in the routesetting. To use via buttons, click on the entrance signal, on the via button(s), and then on the exit signal.

Overlap Selection Controls

At Stechford, Perry Barr, Aston, and Proof House (earlier eras only) there are overlap selection buttons. The early Westpac Mk 1 interlockings had to be given a "hint" as to which overlap to use. To set a route, click on the entrance and exit signals in sequence. Finally, click on an overlap selection button.

Note that the overlap selection button does not need to be used if there is already a route set from the exit signal.

The overlap can be swung by clicking the signal with the overlap, and then the overlap selection button.

Non-Track Circuited Loops

The Up Goods Loops at Soho are not track-circuited . That means that when a train enters the Goods Loop there is no indication that the loop is occupied. Sticky notes or other methods should be used to remember the fact that there is a train there, There are no TD berths to use.

The Monument Lane loop is only partially track circuited. However, in this case there are TD berths so no specific labelling of a train is required so long as the TD berths show the train(s) in the loop.

Regulation and routing of trains

It is important to read each train's timetable rather than assuming its routing. This is because often a train with a similar headcode to one previously will take a different routing.

Down trains at Grand Junction and Proof House Junction can use either the Derby or Stour lines (coded DEL and WL respectively). Most timetables should indicate which to use although there is no restriction on using the opposite line. However, not all platforms are accessible from both lines so it is important to get the train on the right line as early as possible. Trains from St. Andrews Junction in particular must be routed to signal NS130 if they are to use platforms 1 to 6 as there is no further opportunity to cross the train over in the 2000s era.

Cross-country trains on the Five Ways branch will often be slowed or even stopped by preceding Cross-city local trains. This happens in real life and the timetables allow for this. Trains should leave New Street towards Five Ways in their booked order unless one is running late.

Stopping trains towards Coventry have an opportunity to use the side platforms at Birmingham International if they are erroneously sent out in front of a fast train. There is no such opportunity for trains towards Wolverhampton so check the timetable carefully - don't just let a train out of New Street because the TRTS indicator is flashing! Check for other outbound trains whose departure might be imminent.

Up Grand Junction trains (from Walsall) might be timetabled via Perry Barr and Soho, or might take the "long way around" via Aston. Check this before setting the route at Perry Barr North Junction. They might not go to New Street at all and instead run direct to Coventry so, again, check before routing at Aston.

New Street Contents

Last edited by Steamer on 12/07/2020 at 12:19