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Staffordshire

Official Files

Title	Version	Released
Simulation (Payware)	1.4	17/04/2023
08/04/2015 WTT (Midnight, 0400 & 1400 starts included)	5.5	23/08/2023
09/01/2019 WTT (Midnight, 0400 & 1400 starts included)	5.1	23/09/2020

Additional user-written timetables are available to download here .

Introduction

Welcome to Staffordshire, Linking the Midlands with Manchester.

Staffordshire complements the original Stafford simulation by providing a 2016 representation of the area. Simulated is the remodelled layout of Norton Bridge, Stafford, after the abolition of Stafford No.4 and No.5 signal boxes, and simulates for the first time the area of Stoke North workstation and the mechanical signalling area of Stoke Junction to Derby. South of Rugeley Trent Valley, the modern era is now simulated as part of Rugby North.

Start-Up Options

Scenarios

Platform Closure - Stafford

One (or more) platforms or lines will be closed at random at Stafford.

Platform Closure - Stoke on Trent

A platform at random will be closed at random at Stoke on Trent station.

Slow Lines Milford - TV Junction

The Up and Down Slow line between Milford Junction and Whitehouse Junction to Trent Valley Junction. All traffic will need to use the fast lines and crossover where appropriate at either Stafford South or Stafford North Junctions.

Stafford Avoiding Line Closed

The Up and Down Main lines between Colwich Junction and Stone are closed to traffic. All services must be diverted via Stafford Station. In this scenario, it will still be possible to reverse behind signal SOT505 at Stone.

Norton Bridge Flyover Closed

The Norton Bridge flyover will be closed to traffic. Please note that trains will be unaware of the closure, and will accept a "wrong" route onto the slow lines at Stafford, which on this scenario can only access Crewe.

Rickerscote Loop Closed

The Up Penkridge Slow (Rickerscote loop) will be closed. You will need to regulate trains as appropaite at Stafford. Trains booked to call at Rickerscote loop will automatically step up and will not stop on the Up Penkridge Fast.

Two of the above

Randomly select two of the above

WON 41 - Item 137

Weekly Operating Notice 41 - Item 137 - For use with the 09/01/2019 timetable.

The PICOP for Item 137 will ring you at around 05:15 - 05:30 to hand back the possession on the down line, shortly after he speaks to the signaller at Macclesfield to hand back the up line. When you answer the call all the reminders etc are automatically removed. The Macclesfield signaller will also call you to confirm the up line was handed back.

Other Options

ARS

The simulation has got three levels of ARS operation. Full, Per Reality, and Off.

"Per Reality" has only Rugby ROC, Stafford workstation fitted with ARS. "Full" has ARS across the whole simulation and "Off" has no ARS.

Derby Line

An option is provided to disable the player control of the Stoke-On-Trent to Derby line. This is a small area controlled by mechanical signal boxes. It is intended that when disabled, the Stoke-On-Trent to Derby line will work effectively as through routes only, and not allow access to any loops or sidings on the route. Any timetables which need access to these facilities should run with Derby Lines Enabled.

When disabled, you'll be presented with a hollowed out diagram of the Derby Lines. You will have no indication of signal aspects, routes set, point positions etc, however, you will see the progression of trains by the TDs stepping along.

Additionally, if Level Crossings are Enabled, but Derby Lines Disabled, the level crossings on Derby Lines will also be disabled.

Level Crossings

It is possible to disable level crossings on startup. This is to make the operation of both South Desk and Derby Lines workstation areas to be simplified.

When disabled, you will still see the locations of the crossings, but you will have no controls, phone calls or workstation indications.

Difficulty

Choose the scale of train delays and infrastructure failures. The normal SimSig options of “None”, “Low”, “Medium” and “High” are available. Select which one you wish to play from the drop-down menu. Note that through the manual, “None” and “Low” will be referred to as Easy, and “Medium” and “High” referred to as Difficult.

Features

Electrification

With the following exceptions, all lines within the simulation are electrified with 25kV OHLE:

Workstation	Location
Colwich	All Sidings
Stoke South	Stone CE Siding
Stoke North	Cockshute Sidings
	English China Clay
	Granville Sidings Ore Line Only
	Leek Brook Branch
	LNW Yard
	All sidings between Longport Junction & Bradwell Junction
	Marcroft Engineering
Stafford	Madeley Siding
Derby Line	Entire workstation

Exit Arrows

Across the simulation, there is a mixture of Red, White, Grey, and Yellow exit arrows.

Red exit arrows can be used for setting calling on routes. These are red exit buttons at both Stafford and Stoke-On-Trent stations. For a call-on route to be set using the Red exit arrows, the platform track section must be occupied, and no onward route be set from the platform.

White exit arrows can be used to set a shunt route, irrespective of the track ahead being occupied or not. This applies in places such as the Up Goods platform at Stafford, or Sideway Loop on Stoke North workstation.

Grey exit buttons will allow you to set a route up to them as normal. This will be either be the main aspect or shunt aspect route depending on the location.

Yellow exit arrows will call a warner route, which allows the main route to be set to the signal, but with a reduced overlap and approach controlled aspect.

Diverting Entering Trains

The Fast or Slow line entry point from Crewe Basford Hall can be blocked by interposing the standard block code ("BLOK") in either Berth 5658 (Slow Line) or Berth 3654 (Fast Line).

Additionally, the Fast and Slow Entry points from Lichfield Trent Valley can be blocked by interposing "BLOK" at either Berth CH126 (Slow Line) or Berth CH127 (Fast Line).

In these cases, trains may need to be routed manually, as ARS may not be able to account for their new pathings. They may or may not appear as being off planned ARS path.

Panel Notes

Colwich

Colwich controls your fringe to both Litchfield, and your fringe to Hednesford.

Trains which operate to and from Rugeley Power Station will either go directly into the power station from Hednesford or alternatively reverse at Rugeley Town if the train is coming from Rugeley Trent Valley. Trains from the power station will either go directly to Hednesford or reverse at Rugeley Town and proceed to Rugeley Trent Valley. This is done off the sim, and no input from the user is required. It should be noted though that long trains reversing at Rugeley Town proceeding back to Rugeley Trent Valley may foul the point work causing a potential Mexican standoff .

At Colwich Junction, trains will accept a route towards Stafford if booked directly to Stone, this route is about 5-8 minutes longer than the direct route. Trains will not accept a route direct to Stone/Stoke-on-Trent if Stafford is in the timetable.

Colwich Junction Signals CH18 and CH29 are released red when routed to Signal CH23 unless an onward route is set from Signal CH23.

Rugeley Trent Valley CH304 Ground Frame requires Points CH205 either Reverse or Free to Reverse (converging lines between Platform 1 and 2), and Points CH202 Normal or free to swing Normal (Up Fast - Down Fast crossover), and no route set form Signal CH62. When the ground frame is released, Points 205 will be called and locked Reverse, and Points 202 called and locked Normal, and you'll be unable to route from Signal CH62. The king release lever cannot be pulled until these points are detected.

Stafford

This is the only desk which is fitted with Automatic Route Setting (ARS) in reality. In the sim, with ARS set "As per reality", this workstation will be the only area with ARS enabled.

Norton Bridge is the major change seen with the move to Rugby ROC. While trains will accept routes via either the East Chord or via the flyover, there is a considerable difference in speed: the East Chord is only 40mph vice the flyover at 100mph.

Signal LS5564 at Whitehouse Junction will not clear until LS3570 has cleared, or the train has approached LS5564 and cleared the rear-most track section. This guarantees that a long train is not brought to a stand fouling the junction.

Points SC742, directly ahead of Signal SC4313 on the Stafford Goods Loop (Down End), will be locked Normal with a route set up to SC4313 but can be swung by setting an onward route.

Madeley Junction to Madeley Siding has been included. Whilst Madeley Junction was plain-lined at the time of commissioning, suitable interlocking was provided to enable the line to be brought back into use in the future. If desired,

the branch is fully usable in the simulation, simply remove the reminders that are automatically applied to the points and signals on startup.

For either Signal LS5575 or Signal WS6299 to clear towards Signal LS4311 (Down Stafford Goods), Signal LS4311 must be showing a proceed aspect.

Signal SC5599 (Down Slow) will be maintained at danger when a route is set from the Down Slow to Signal SC3595 unless the berth track of Signal SC5599 is occupied.

Doxey Junction is generously spaced, and as such, may in places appear to miss some of the normal amounts of flank protection.

South

A warner route, from Signal SOT479 to SOT411 will only clear if the berth track for Signal SOT479 is occupied without the track in rear also being occupied.

Note the location Stone covers both the platforms, and Stone Junction. If a train is booked Stone - Colwich Junction directly it should be routed via the Up Main. If the train is booked to stop at Stone, or travels via Stafford it should be routed via the Up Norton Bridge.

Trains not booked to call at Stafford Station will accept the route via Stafford Station from Stone, but this route is approximately 5-8 minutes longer than the direct route so trains may incur a delay. Trains booked to call at Stafford will not accept the direct route to Colwich from Stone.

Due to an OHLE section gap between Signals SOT505 and SOT509, any train which needs to reverse Up to Down at Stone Junction must reverse at Signal SOT505, not at SOT509. Additionally, to set the route from Signal SOT505 an onward route from SOT509 is required to be set first.

The South workstation controls 5 level crossings. With the exception of Church Lane, they will all auto lower provided a route is set over the crossing. A CCTV Picture Switch On message is provided when the barriers begin to lower.

Highfields UWC is located at the end of the overlap of Signal SOT241, you will not get a penalty for allowing the use of the crossing until the train has reached this point.

North

At Kidsgrove, a warner route, from Signal SOT474 to SOT472 will call and maintain Points SOT679 towards Crewe. Note that it is still possible to route a train from signal SOT312 to SOT310.

There is no TORR on signal SOT473. When using ARS, it is recommended to this signal set with the auto button enabled.

All yards within the North workstation area will phone you for permission to enter the simulation. They will however only interpose their descriptions on Easy mode. In Hard mode, you'll have to interpose the description manually. (See start-up options above). All yards also require a phone call for permission to be given for a train to enter the yard.

On the real workstation, there is a warner exit button on Signal SOT439 (Approaching Stoke-On-Trent Station). This has been omitted due to it no longer being in use.

Long trains booked to call at Stoke on Trent North will need to be routed via Signal SOT432. For trains routed SOT282 to SOT438, you can only fit 200m to be clear of the Up Main.

The route from SOT311 to SOT473 is three aspect (R, Y, G), and cannot show a Double Yellow aspect.

Leek Brook Branch

The Leek Brook Branch is a 10 mile long single track branch to Leek Brook Junction. The line has been out of use since 1988, but controls are provided in the Stoke South interlocking for potential future use of the line.

Only one train is permitted on the branch at a time. One Train Working (OTW) is used between Stoke on Trent and Leek Brook Junction. Whilst the branch is shown as Out of Use on sim startup, the OTW controls are fully operational if desired.

The OTW indicator must be at CLR to send a train on to the branch. The OTW indicator must be at OCC for a train to enter the sim onto the branch at Leek Brook Junction (i.e: the default sim startup state, or a train has already been sent out to Leek Brook Junction).

To use the branch, first remove all the reminders protecting the branch points, signals and OTW controls, then, initiate the OTW reset sequence.

The OTW indications may be reset to CLR to bring the branch into use, or after a track circuit failure has been fixed. To reset the OTW indication from OCC to CLR:

1. Remove any yellow reminders from the OTW Reset button. (Click the Reminder button on the SimSig toolbar, then right-click the OTW Reset button).

2. Left click the OTW Reset button. It will begin flashing.

3. After 120 seconds, the OTW Reset button will stop flashing. Right click the OTW Reset button to reset the OTW section to clear.

To cancel the reset sequence, left or right click the OTW Reset button whilst it is flashing, or left click the OTW Reset button when solid. If either of the track circuits at the entrance to the branch become occupied, the reset sequence will be cancelled.

For Signals SOT278 or SOT426 onto the branch to clear, Signal SOT463 (the branch exit signal) must be lamp proved. Should SOT463 not be proved, the OTW Override button will override the lamp proving requirement and allow SOT278 or SOT426 to clear regardless.

Derby Lines

This is a mechanical area of the simulation. An option is provided on startup to disable the area. Timetables which use any reversing locations or do anything which is not straight through running will advise that the timetable is not compatible with the current scenario

Derby Lines workstation contains 7 mechanical signal boxes and 9 manually controlled level crossings.

While auto raise has been added as a feature on the Derby Lines, this does not exist in reality. Note that auto raise applies only to main aspect routes across the crossings and not to shunt aspect routes.

TDs will step for all moves on this workstation.

Caverswall signals CL19 and CL13 (exit signals from the Up Loop and Down Loop respectively) are 2 aspects Red / Yellow, so cannot exhibit a Green aspect. Additionally, routes into the loops are by shunt signal only.

Hilton Crossing

Hilton Crossing has a dedicated gate box and crossing keeper. A release from the crossing keeper is required to set routes across the crossing. To request the gates be closed, and the release be given, click the green roundel above the crossing. The release will automatically be returned once the route has been used, and no further routes are set across the crossing. The release can also be returned by right clicking on the roundel.

Timetable Notes

8th April 2015

9th January 2019

This timetable is designed for the WON 41 Item 137 scenario, but can also be used standalone.

Level Crossings

Name	Type	Panel	Located Between	Number	Notes
Parrots No.1	TEL	Stafford	Up & Down Penkridge
Hammerhouse Farm UWC	TEL	Stafford	Norton Bridge East Chord
Highfields UWC	TEL	Stoke South	Colwich & Stone
Ashton-By-Stone	CCTV	Stoke South	Colwich & Stone		Fitted with Auto Lower
Church Lane	CCTV	Stoke South	Colwich & Stone
Meaford	CCTV	Stoke South	Colwich & Stone		Fitted with Auto Lower
Barlaston	CCTV	Stoke South	Stone & Stoke Jn		Fitted with Auto Lower
Wedgwood	CCTV	Stoke South	Stone & Stoke Jn		Fitted with Auto Lower
Mow Cop	CCTV	Stoke north	Kidsgrove & Macclesfield		Fitted with Auto Lower
Caverswall	MCB	Derby Lines	Caverswall SB
Calverleigh Farm UWC	TEL	Derby Lines	Caverswall SB	#1
Blythe Bridge	CCTV	Derby Lines	Caverswall SB
Stallington	CCTV	Derby Lines	Caverswall SB
Jacksons UWC	TEL	Derby Lines	Caverswall SB	#2
Bennetts UWC	TEL	Derby Lines	Caverswall SB	#3
Critchlows UWC	TEL	Derby Lines	Caverswall SB	#4
Creswell AHBC	AHB	Derby Lines	Caverswall SB	#5
Newton UWC	TEL	Derby Lines	Caverswall SB	#6
Colliers UWC	TEL	Derby Lines	Caverswall SB	#7
Upper Leigh AHBC	AHB	Derby Lines	Caverswall SB	#8
Baileys UWC	TEL	Derby Lines	Caverswall SB	#9
Leigh Farm AHBC	AHB	Derby lines	Caverswall SB	#10
Bramshall AHBC	AHB	Derby Lines	Uttoxeter SB	#11
Sergeants UWC	TEL	Derby Lines	Uttoxeter SB	#12
Westons UWC	TEL	Derby Lines	Uttoxeter SB	#13
Loxley Lane AHBC	AHB	Derby Lines	Uttoxeter SB	#14
Stathams UWC	TEL	Derby lines	Uttoxeter SB	#15
Barkers UWC	TEL	Derby Lines	Uttoxeter SB	#16
Hockley	CCTV	Derby Lines	Uttoxeter SB
Pinfold	MCB	Derby lines	Uttoxeter SB
Uttoxeter Racecourse UWC	TEL	Derby Lines	Uttoxeter SB	#20
Tunicliffs No.1 UWC	TEL	Derby lines	Uttoxeter SB	#21
Langridge No.2 UWC	TEL	Derby Lines	Uttoxeter SB	#22
Marchington Old Station UWC	TEL	Derby Lines	Uttoxeter SB	#23
Dovefields R/G	TEL	Derby Lines	Uttoxeter SB	#24
Sudbury	MCB	Derby Lines	Sudbury SB
Nash's UWC	TEL	Derby lines	Sudbury SB	#30
Leathersley Farm No.2 UWC	TEL	Derby Lines	Sudbury SB	#31
Archers No.1 UWC	TEL	Derby lines	Scropton SB	#40
Scropton	MCB	Derby Lines	Scropton SB
Scropton Mill Lane UWC	TEL	Derby Lines	Scropton SB	#41
Brandons UWC	TEL	Derby Lines	Scropton SB	#42
Weer Lane UWC	TEL	Derby Lines	Scropton SB	#43
Tutbury	MCB	Derby Lines	Tutbury SB
Rowes UWC	TEL	Derby Lines		#50
Marston On Dove AHBC & UWC	AHB	Derby Lines		#51
Hayside UWC	TEL	Derby Lines		#52
Spurriers NO.2 UWC	TEL	Derby Lines		#53
Hilton	MCB	Derby Lines	Egginton Jn SB		Dedicated crossing box and keeper. Use green slot button to request the gates be closed.
Egginton	AHB	Derby Lines		#54

Multiplayer & Chaining

The simulation chains at the following locations:

Fringe	Location
Crewe	Basford Hall (Stafford Desk)
Crewe	Alsager (North Desk)
Manchester South	Macclesfield
Derby	North Staffs Junction
Rugby North	Litchfield TV Junction
Walsall	Rugeley Town
Wolverhampton	Bushbury Junction

Hot Keys

In addition to the standard shortcut keys , the following are available:

Key	Panel Area
1	Rugeley North Junction
2	Whitehouse Junction
3	Stafford Station
4	Norton Bridge flyover
5	Stone
6	Stoke Junction
7	Stoke-On-Trent & Kidsgrove
8	Derby lines

Acknowledgments

Simulation by: James Pedrick (pedroathome)

08/04/2015 and 09/01/2019 WTTs by: John Mills (Meld)

Reference Section

Signal Number Plan

Signal number plan

Signal Box Prefix Codes

Code	Area
LS	Litchfield - Stafford (Gaps on the Colwich Workstation Area
SC	Stafford - Crewe
CH	Colwich Workstation
SOT	Stoke SCC
CE	Crewe PSB
BH	Crewe Basford Hall
WS	Wolverhampton - Stafford (4xxx Wolverhampton, 6xxx Stafford)
NS	Norton - Stafford
MD	Macclesfield
FY	Foley Crossing
CL	Caverswall
UR	Uttoxeter
SY	Sudbury
SN	Scropton
TY	Tutbury
EN	Egginton
DY	Derby

Platform & Loop Lengths

Platform Lengths

Location	Platform	Length (m)
Stafford	1	335
	3	315
	4	315
	5	320
	6	315
	GDS	315
Stoke-On-Trent	1	320
	2	285
	3	90

Loop Lengths

Location	Loop Name	Length (m)
Stafford	Up Goods Loop	160
	Up Goods Loop (Incl. GDS Platform)	840
Stoke Junction	Sideway Passenger Loop	500
Stoke North Junction	Up Goods (Between SOT428 & SOT523)	120
	Up Goods (Between SOT428 and clear of Newcastle Jn)	185
Longport Junction	Up Goods	520
Caverswall	Up Goods	475
	Down Goods	440
Uttoxeter	Down goods	270

Siding Lengths

Location	Siding Name	Length (m)
Rugeley Trent Valley	Middle Siding	365
Stafford	Arrival Sidings 1 & 2	427
Stoke North Junction	Up Through Siding	160
Stoke-On-Trent	Viaduct Siding	175
Uttoxeter	Engineers Siding	45

All other sidings on sim are entry/exit points.

Timetabling Details

Rugeley TV Siding

Access to the siding adjacent to Platform one is accessed via either frame CH303 or CH304. To access the siding, you'll need to time a train at Rugeley Trent Valley (Platform 1), to reverse at either "Rugeley TV GF 303" or "Rugeley TV GF 304" as appropriate, and then finally reverse into the siding.

Stoke-On-Trent to Derby Line

If your timetable needs to use of the loops or sidings for turning back purposes, please include this in the timetable description so that a user will know to run the timetable with Derby Lines enabled.

Uttoxeter SB is a mandatory timing point for main routes to and from the area. However, shunt paths between the reversing locations, loops and sidings at Uttoxeter do not require Uttoxeter SB to be used as a timing point.

Stoke-on-Trent to Kidsgrove

Trains should only be timed at intermediate junctions when they need to change lines. This is consistent with the Network Rail timetable planning rules.

Decisions

It is possible to use decisions to make a number of timetable choices:

NSTAFFORD_x - Platform x is closed (Substitute x for the platform number, U for UFL, D for DFL.

NSTAFFORD_SLOWAPPR - Up and Slow line between Milford Junction & Trent Valley Junction Closed

NSTAFFORD_AVOIDER - Colwich to Stone (Stafford Avoiding Line) Closed

N_NORTONFLYOVER - Norton Flyover Closed

NDERBY_EN - Derby Lines Enabled, Alternatively, NDERBY_DIS tests for Derby Lines being disabled.

An example of where decisions may be used is for a platform closure at Stafford. For example, Platform 1 can be closed, which could mean that terminating trains which are later booked to go to the Arrival sidings cannot directly arrive.

If a timetable writer wishes, a decision could be made on such a train to either have its next working to be either say the next working, or alternatively shunt to another location, such as to the south, reverse, and shunt into the UBS platform and into the Arrival lines (This is just an example of what could be done).

The decision code to be used would be [NSC!NSTAFFORD_x] where x represents the platform number which the decision applies to. Codes 1, 3, 4, 5, 6 apply to platforms, U for Up Fast, and D for Down Fast. The goods platform cannot be blocked as this is the only way of accessing the down sidings.

• Choice Y - Scenario is active
• Choice N - Scenario is not active

It is envisioned that this may be used for deciding where trains will seed or terminate somewhere which would be heavily affected by a possession.

Splash Screens

Version History

Version History

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Last edited by Steamer on 28/07/2024 at 17:55