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Peak District

Introduction

Please note this Sim is classed as obsolete. It remains on the loader and existing licenses remain in place.

There are no plans to reinstate or update this simulation and no further licenses will be issued.

This simulation covers numerous signal boxes of varying types with numerous methods of signalling within the Peak District. It covers the lines from Hazel Grove to Buxton, the single line from Northenden to Hazel Grove High level, the lines from Hazel Grove to New Mills South Jn and the lines from Maple Jn through towards Edale and Sheffield. On top of this you control the freight only lines from Chinley to Peak Forest and Great Rocks as well as the token worked single lines from Great Rocks to Buxton and Buxton to Briggs (Hindlow). As a result, a very mixed passenger flow is evident with metro style services to Hazel Grove using AC electric units and New Mills Central, Fast services from Manchester via Stockport to Sheffield as well as the rural service to Buxton. Freight services run via all routes except direct from Hazel Grove to Buxton.

The layout has not changed for many years so timetables of varying eras are possible.

Train operated route release (TORR) is not provided on any of the panels as per the real thing

Start-up options

AB or TCB

This allows the user to select whether trains are signalled utilising the Absolute Block (AB) Controls between boxes or TCB which disables the AB controls.

Scenarios

Name	Description
Beginner	No delays or failures
Average day	No trackside equipment failures, small amounts of late running
Bad Weather	It’s been snowing causing severe delays and numerous failures

The above failure and delay settings may be altered at any time in a game via the failures tab in the 'Options' menu.

Signal Boxes

Buxton

Buxton is a lever frame box, as a result any signal that only has one route only requires the entry signal to be clicked. It controls Buxton station through to the fringe with Chapel-en-le-Frith. Within the station area there is a middle siding which is not track circuited as well as access to Buxton TMD. There is a run round facility (Not track circuited) above the main lines, this provides access to the single line to Topley Pike and Great Rocks which is operated by token. Trains are run round by the shunter with a ground frame to control the off-screen point and handsignals. Finally, is the single line to the Briggs complex which has numerous ground frames en-route. The line is operated by token with a token machine available at the far end to allow trains to be shut away in the Briggs sidings complex. Trains using the ground frames along the way cannot be shut away and have to leave the single line at either Buxton or Briggs to give up the token.

The quarry at Ashwood Dale may contact you at times to arrange for blasting operations near the line. When the request is made you must ensure that there is a suitable interval between trains, there are no trains on the single line to Great Rocks and withdraw and hold a token for the single line prior to advising “Clear to Blast”. Once blasting is complete you will receive a call from the Quarry to advise you that it is again safe to run train. You must then replace the token into the machine. If you fail to withdraw the token or signal a train onto the single line then you will receive a penalty. Note that you can not give permission for a blast if permission has already been granted to blast at Tunstead.

Working from here to…

Chapel-en-le-Frith – Absolute Block

Briggs – Token Block

Great Rocks – Token Block

Chapel-en-le-Frith

Chapel-en-le-Frith is an Absolute Block box controlling the Up & Down main fringing Buxton and Furness Vale.

Working from here to…

Buxton – Absolute Block

Furness Vale – Absolute Block

Chinley

Chinley is a panel box that controls the Up & Down Main from Edale to New Mills South Jn with AB working between this box and Edale as well as controlling the triangle and Up & Down Goods to Peak Forest by AB working. Shunts are provided at the East and North ends of the triangle to both reverse and turn trains.

Working from here to...

Edale – Absolute Block

Peak Forest – Absolute Block

New Mills South – Track Circuit Block

Edale

Edale box is a 20 lever frame which controls the Up & Down main from Earles Sidings to Chinley and has a recessing siding on the Down side, the one on the up being disconnected.

Working from here to…

Earles Sidings – Absolute Block

Chinley – Absolute Block

Furness Vale

Furness Vale box is an AB box comprising a 22 lever frame and manually controlled gates. It fringes Chapel-en-le-Frith and Hazel Grove.

Working from here to...

Chapel-en-le-Frith – Absolute Block

Hazel Grove – Absolute Block

Great Rocks

Great Rocks Box controls the Up & Down Goods and Up & Down Through Sidings to Peak Forest as well as the entrances to Tunstead works and the single line to Buxton. Part way along the single line is Topley Ground Frame which has a token machine to allow trains to be locked away. Whilst the Up & Down Goods are controlled by absolute Block regulations, the Up & Down Through Siding, which is reversible, is controlled in reality by phone.

Trains going into Tunstead (Other than light engines) normally run to the Recp Line where the loco is detached, a quarry loco being attached to shunt the train into the plant. The loco then runs via the ground Frame to the sidings or reverse behind 26 signal and returns to Great Rocks south Jn. Light engines will normally run straight to the sidings as opposed to the Recp line. Trains starting from Tunstead will come direct from the sidings towards Great Rocks South Jn.

Trains can reverse at GR23 and GR28 signals by requesting the relevant slot from Tunstead sidings or reception.

Tunstead British Lime Industries frequently carry out blasting operations in Tunstead Quarry during daylight hours. When this occurs you will receive a call from the Blasting Control Foreman asking permission to do so. Permission may ONLY be given if there is a suitable interval between trains, the single line to Buxton is clear, with no routes set onto it and no tokens out of the machine and also no trains or routes set on the Up & Down Tunstead Through siding between the Junction and GR26 signal. Failure to do so or if it is done prior to the foreman advising blasting is complete then a penalty will be given. Note that you can not give permission for a blast if permission has already been granted to blast at Ashwood Dale.

Working from here to…

Peak Forest – Absolute Block (Up & Down Goods Only)

Buxton – Token working

Hazel Grove

Hazel Grove OCS panel controls the electrified Up & Down Hope Valley from Edgeley Jn (Fringing with Edgeley No 1 Box) through to Hazel Grove station where electrification ends and the lines split. The Up & Down Buxton continues towards Middlewood and fringes with Furness Vale Box. Meanwhile the Up & Down Hope Valley single line continues to Hazel Grove High Level where it regains two lines after joining with the Up & Down Cheadle Single line from Northenden Box to continue through Dinsley Tunnel towards New Mills South Box . The Up & Down Hope Valley single was opened in 1987 to allow through running from Manchester to Sheffield via Stockport and is used by the hourly TPE services.

Working from here to…

Furness Vale – Absolute Block

Edgeley No1 Box - Track Circuit Block

Northenden Jn – Track Circuit Block

New Mills South Jn – Track Circuit Block

New Mills Central

New Mills Central Box is a lever frame box with TCB working to Romily Jn Box at its fringe at Marple Wharf Jn and AB working to New Mills South Jn. A lot of local services terminate and shunt to the siding to clear the line before their return journey.

Working from here to…

New Mills South Jn – Absolute Block

Romily Jn – Track Circuit Block

New Mills South Jn

New Mills South Junction box controls the Up & Down Hope Valley, by now the Up & Down Main from Hazel grove High level through to its fringe with Chinley as well as the Up & Down Romiley from New Mills Central. A goods loop is provided on the Up Romiley just before the junction.

Working from here to…

New Mills Central – Absolute Block

Chinley – Track Circuit Block

Hazel Grove – Track Circuit Block

Peak Forest

Peak Forest box is by far the largest in the area, sporting 50 levers. It controls the Up & Down Goods from Chinley South Jn through to Great Rocks. There is a fuel point and sidings on the Up side as well as the Up & Down Through Siding which runs to Great Rocks Box. Up/Sorting siding 1 is a dead end siding whilst Sidings 2-4 are entry/exit points. On the Down side is the access to the Cemex works and Long sidings. The Long sidings access the main line at the Chinley end of the sidings through the crossings or at the Great Rocks end via a ground frame in the untrack circuited section. Note that there is no route from the Down line to the Long Sidings.

Operation of the Long Sidings. These sidings comprise of two lines (#1 closest to the main lines and #2 furthest away) under the control of the shunter and operated by handpoints at either end. As we don’t have a shunter you have responsibility for the points through the lever accessible in the Ground Frames option (Longs Sidings GF). No release is required for this. Once a train is in the long sidings the loco can run round if required in one of two ways. The loco, after detaching will call for the release of the Down Sidings ground frame. This frame will only release if you have requested and received a line clear from Great Rocks (Unless you have TCB Regulations selected at start up). Once released and the points have been set you can authorise the driver to proceed using a handsignal (Tick the relevant box). The driver will then, once clear of the points, request a route back, either via PF24 on the main line or via the Long Sidings. Again, once clear the crew will advise you that you can restore the frame to normal.

Note that the main lines are not permissive, except for the detatching of banking locos at PF45.

Working from here to…

Chinley - Absolute Block

Grindleford - Track Circuit Block

"One-pull" routes & Sequential Locking

With the exceptions of Hazel Grove and Chinley, all of the signal boxes in the area are mechanical boxes, operated by a standard lever frame. As such, 'routesetting' in these boxes is done by pulling a single lever. To reflect this, on all signals where only one route is possible, it is set simply by clicking on the signal. There is no need to click on the exit signal. Additionally in these boxes the signals have to be operated in the correct order, for example if the starter signal is cleared then you will not be able to clear the home signal.

Absolute Block Working

The operation of these style of block instruments is currently detailed on the Worksop Manual written by Howard Potter and located at the link below (This takes you straight to the AB working section)

Absolute Block Operation

Although the operation is the same as Worksop the way the instruments are presented is slightly different as shown in the picture below.

Token Working

Great Rocks – Buxton

The single line between Buxton and Great Rocks is operated by token working. There are three token machines, one in each signal box and a third at Topley Pike siding.

Firstly a train can traverse the entire line. Taking Great Rocks - Buxton as an example, the train driver has to be given the token by the Great Rocks signalman. It is released by clicking the "Remove Token" roundel at Great Rocks. The section signal can now be cleared. On arrival at Buxton the driver will return the token to the signalman there. It is returned to the token instrument by clicking the "Replace Token" roundel at Buxton.

Secondly a train can enter the single line from either Buxton or Great Rocks and get “Put inside” to clear the line at Topley Pike. Access to the single line is done in the same manner as above, however, once the train arrives at Topley Pike and is in clear of the main line, the driver will put the token in the intermediate block equipment located there, this is automated and requires no intervention other than acknowledging the phone call. This acts the same as operating the token in button and resets the section to normal.

Finally a train can enter from the siding at Topley Pike, when this happens the crew will call you to request a token, once you acknowledge the call the crew will remove the token and the train will then enter the single line, On leaving the section the driver, again, hands the token to the signalman who presses the “Replace Token” roundel.

Buxton – Briggs

The single line between Buxton and Briggs is operated by token with a one machine in Buxton Signal box and the other at Briggs Ground Frame. This allows numerous trains to be inside the Briggs complex at once, however, the other ground frames on the line do not have token machines so any train that uses these ground frames can not stay there and have to leave the single line again.

For a train to run from Buxton to Briggs the signaller needs to click the "Remove Token" button in order to give the driver the token, he can then clear the signal to allow the train to enter the section. Once the train arrives at Briggs the crew will call you to request a release of the ground frame, once reversed the train can enter the terminal. Once the train is in clear the driver will advise you by phone that he has finished with the ground frame and has returned the token. This resets the cycle.

Trains entering from Briggs will contact you to request a token and the ground frame, this allows the train onto the single line, however, the driver will ring again once he has finished with the ground frame prior to continuing to Buxton. On arrival once the train has passed the box complete you can operate the “Replace Token” button to complete the cycle.

Trains can also leave the section with the token from the same end that they entered, this particularly applies to trains using intermediate ground frames.

Electrification

Hazel grove is at the extremity of the Overhead Line Equipment for the Manchester area with the wires stopping at the Furness Vale end of the platforms. As a result any electric trains have to reverse here and either go into the sidings or return towards Edgeley Jn.

Line Speeds

Line speeds throughout the area vary but do not reach more than 70mph.

Siding and Platform Lengths

Location	Platform	Length	Notes
Buxton	1	165m	Permissive working authorised
:::	2	143m	Permissive working authorised
:::	Middle Rd	300m	:::
:::	Arrival Road	410m	Permissive working authorised
Chapel-en-le-Frith	Up	86m	:::
:::	Dn	92m	:::
Cheadle Loop	Dn	410m	:::
Chinley	Up	116m	:::
:::	Dn	116m	:::
Disley	Up	137m	:::
:::	Dn	136m	:::
Dove Holes	Up	81m	:::
:::	Dn	87m	:::
Earles Sidings	DGL	358m	:::
Edale	Up	99m	:::
:::	Dn	99m	:::
Furness Vale	Up	100m	:::
:::	Dn	109m	:::
Hazel Grove	Up	169m	:::
:::	Dn	169m	:::
Hazel Grove Sidings	Up	121m	:::
:::	Dn	121m	:::
Middlewood	Up	91m	:::
:::	Dn	91m	:::
New Mills Newton	Up	102m	:::
:::	Dn	101m	:::
New Mill South	UGL	397m	:::
New Mills Central	Up	95m	:::
:::	Dn	116m	:::
:::	Sdg	115m	:::
Peak Forest	Long Sdgs	380m	Permissive working authorised
Strines	Up	113m	:::
:::	Dn	126m	:::
Whaley Bridge	Up	123m	:::
:::	Dn	119m	:::

Timetabling Notes

These notes apply to those writing timetables for the simulation. They may be of interest but are not required if you are simply running the simulation.

Mandatory Timing Points

Trains must be timed at the following locations as a minimum

Edgeley Jn - Buxton

• Edgeley Jn
• Hazel Grove

Northenden Jn – Hazel Grove High Level

• Northenden Jn
• Hazel Grove High Level Junction

Marple - Dore

• Marple Wharf Jn
• New Mills Central
• New Mills South Jn
• Chinley North Jn
• Edale
• Earles Sidings

Chinley South Jn – Buxton

• Chinley South Jn
• Peak Forest South Jn
• Great Rocks Junction
• Topley Pike GF (For trains going to/ from Topley Pike ONLY)
• Buxton No 1 Signal Box

Buxton – Briggs

• Buxton No 1 Signal Box
• Briggs Ground Frame

Shunt locations

The sim has been designed to allow all feasible shunt movements with most shunt movements being shown in the timetable as the location followed by the signal number.

Ground Frames

At certain locations the shunter will call for a release of a ground frame. Once the release has been taken the Ground Frame should be operated in the normal way (Show - Lever Frames)

Special Instructions

From	To	Type of Train	Line	remarks
Great Rocks Jn	Peak Forest South	Freight	Up Main	Propelling authorised for trains up to 153m in length
Peak Forest Down GF	Peak Forest South	Light Engines	Down Goods	Wrong direction working authorised
Buxton	Peak Forest South	Freight	Single/Up Goods	Trains can be assisted in rear by a locomotive attached to the train
Tunstead Sidings	Chinley South Jn (Sig CY165)	Freight	Trains can be assisted in rear. An assisting loco NOT going beyond Peak Forest does not need to be coupled to the train
Peak Forest South	Buxton	Freight	Down Goods/single	Trains can be assisted in rear by a locomotive attached to the train
Hindlow	Briggs GF	Freight	Single	Propelling authorised for trains of up to 160m ij clear weather
Buxton	Furness Vale	Freight	Down Main	Trains can be assisted in rear by a locomotive attached to the train
Chinley East Jn	Chinley North Jn	Freight	Trains may be propelled from CY159 to CY154 signals

Chaining

The simulation is not currently capable of chaining to any adjacent simulation.

Signal Number Plan

Peak District Signal Number Plan

These are Adobe Acrobat PDF files. If you don't have Adobe Acrobat Reader installed on your computer you can get a free download of the latest version from the Adobe website . Use the built-in Find function (Ctrl+F) to locate signal numbers.

Signal Box Prefix Codes

Code	Box
BX	Buxton
CH	Chapel-en-le-Frith
CY	Chinley
EE	Edale
EY1	Edgeley Junction No 1
FV	Furness Vale
GR	Great Rocks
HG	Hazel Grove
NJ	Northenden Jn*
NM	New Mills
NMS	New Mills South
NY	Norbury Hollow#
PF	Peak Forest
RJ	Romily Jn*

*Fringe box, signals not controlled in this simulation.

#Gate Box, signals not controlled.

Splashscreens

Screen View

Map

Geographical map of simulation area

Version History

Version 1

Initial Release

Version 1.1

Updates as follows:-

- 0018989: [Simulation issues] TD not stepping from Northenden Jn (Noisynoel) - resolved.

- 0018982: [Simulation issues] EE19 (Noisynoel) - resolved.

- 0018990: [Simulation issues] Northenden Jn Slot (Noisynoel) - resolved.

- 0018841: [Simulation issues] Trains Locking in at Briggs (Noisynoel) - resolved.

- 0018866: [Simulation issues] Crew calls from GF (Noisynoel) - resolved.

- 0018953: [Simulation issues] Flank Locking at Buxton UR (Noisynoel) - resolved.

- 0018952: [Simulation issues] PF17 will not clear (Noisynoel) - resolved.

- 0018271: [Simulation issues] Furness Vale Train Approaching indicator (Noisynoel) - resolved.

- 0018857: [Simulation issues] Sig CY146R - revert when TC in advance occupied? (Chinley) (Noisynoel) - resolved.

- 0018902: [Simulation issues] Sequential Locking (Noisynoel) - resolved.

- 0018848: [2009 (Groundhog Day) Timetable] Rule for 6H66 needs to be amended (Ro-Land) - resolved.

- 0018845: [2009 (Groundhog Day) Timetable] 5F04 Seed dividing issue (Ro-Land) - resolved.

- 0018833: [General] Trains with Topley GF in tt going into Topley when they are booked to run through (Noisynoel) - resolved.

- 0018899: [Simulation issues] Northenden line (Noisynoel) - resolved.

- 0018856: [Simulation issues] NMS52 (Noisynoel) - resolved.

- 0018898: [Simulation issues] Norbury LC (Noisynoel) - resolved.

- 0018905: [Simulation issues] Lack of Flank Locking - Peak Forest (Noisynoel) - resolved.

- 0018907: [Simulation issues] New Mills Central - Default Stopping Positions (Noisynoel) - resolved.

- 0018847: [Simulation issues] Unable to cancel line clear Peak Forest - Great Rocks (Noisynoel) - resolved.

- 0018915: [Simulation issues] Potential for Mexican Stand Off at Peak Forest Up Siding (Noisynoel) - resolved.

- 0018842: [Simulation issues] Potential for Mexican Stand Off at Cemex/Peakstone (Noisynoel) - resolved.

- 0018870: [General] Incorrect direction shown on Buxton - Great Rocks line (Noisynoel) - resolved.

- 0018832: [Simulation issues] Limit of Shunt boards on Single Lines (Noisynoel) - resolved.

- 0018878: [Simulation issues] PF45 wrong route code (Noisynoel) - resolved.

- 0018867: [Simulation issues] Down Sdgs GF (Noisynoel) - resolved.

- 0018862: [Simulation issues] Earles Sdgs Last Sent (Noisynoel) - resolved.

- 0018846: [Simulation issues] Buxton - Train Description Berths (Noisynoel) - resolved.

- 0018850: [Simulation issues] Unable to take advantage of Edale Up IB Signal (Noisynoel) - resolved.

- 0018849: [Simulation issues] NMS2 to NMS16 should be a subsidiary route (Noisynoel) - resolved.

- 0018844: [Simulation issues] GR20 (Noisynoel) - resolved.

- 0018837: [Simulation issues] Chinley - CY168 doesn't TORR (Noisynoel) - resolved.

- 0018843: [Simulation issues] New Mills South Junction - Missing route from NMS 24 to NM3 (Noisynoel) - resolved.

- 0018853: [Simulation issues] Peak Forest South - PF8 has TORR enabled (Noisynoel) - resolved.

- 0018851: [Simulation issues] CY162 & CY168 - Single Click (Noisynoel) - resolved.

- 0018854: [Simulation issues] New Mills - New Mills South block instrument (Noisynoel) - resolved.

- 0018855: [Simulation issues] Call from Tunstead Shunter re GF (Noisynoel) - resolved.

- 0018838: [Simulation issues] New Mills South Junction - NMS143 is an Auto (Noisynoel) - resolved.

- 0018836: [Simulation issues] Chinley - Approach Control (Noisynoel) - resolved.

- 0018835: [Simulation issues] New Mills South Junction - Approach Control (Noisynoel) - resolved.

- 0018831: [Simulation issues] EE16 should be a Colour Light (Noisynoel) - resolved.

Version 1.2

Updates as follows:-

- 0019092: [Simulation issues] Replacement of Repeater Signals (Noisynoel) - resolved.

- 0019125: [2009 (Groundhog Day) Timetable] Dwell times for reversals - in particular at New Mills Central (Ro-Land) - resolved.

- 0018848: [2009 (Groundhog Day) Timetable] Rule for 6H66 needs to be amended (Ro-Land) - resolved.

- 0018845: [2009 (Groundhog Day) Timetable] 5F04 Seed dividing issue (Ro-Land) - resolved.

- 0019093: [General] 6M97 - 2017tt (Noisynoel) - resolved.

- 0019131: [Simulation issues] Separate entry points for Peak Forest Up Sidings and Peak Forest Up SS (Noisynoel) - resolved.

- 0018915: [Simulation issues] Potential for Mexican Stand Off at Peak Forest Up Siding (Noisynoel) - resolved.

- 0019124: [Simulation issues] Unable to cancel Down Block NMS to NMC (Noisynoel) - resolved.

- 0019100: [Simulation issues] Up Stoppers won't depart from New Mills C if New Mills S Home is On (Noisynoel) - resolved.

- 0019104: [Simulation issues] CY165 cursor (Noisynoel) - resolved.

- 0019095: [Simulation issues] In AB mode Down trains are passing Earles Sidings which haven't been accepted by Edale (Noisynoel) - resolved.

- 0019089: [Simulation issues] Chinley - CY162 doesn't TORR (Noisynoel) - resolved.

- 0019015: [Simulation issues] Buxton MS (Noisynoel) - resolved.

- 0018898: [Simulation issues] Norbury LC (Noisynoel) - resolved.

- 0019130: [Simulation issues] Northenden Junction - Text for Last Sent (Noisynoel) - resolved.

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Last edited by headshot119 on 17/03/2023 at 00:47