SimSig Exeter

Simulation Operation

Exeter Panel A

This panel covers the area from just west of Exeter St. Thomas to Ivybridge, as well as the junction with the Paignton line at Newton Abbot.

Operational Notes:

A phone call is required before a train is sent to Buckfastleigh.
Platform 2 at Totnes cannot be used by trains continuing to Ivybridge.
Totnes Loco Siding cannot be used as an entry/exit point.
Signals 5, 13, 90, 100 and 190 will re-set their routes until cancelled, even though they don’t have an auto button.
Calling on is allowed on all platforms at Newton Abbot, with the exception that trains from Heathfield cannot be called on into Platform 3.
Beware setting a route from signal 109 to signal 111 too early- unless the
warner route is selected, the overlap will block the Down Main.
TRTS is provided in all platforms at Newton Abbot.
The Heathfield branch can only be accessed from Platform 3 at Newton Abbot.
The Up Main is reversible between Teignmouth and Dawlish Warren. This is sometimes used when storms causes spray from waves breaking against the sea wall to wash over the railway, as
this video shows. Voyagers (Class 220 and 221) are known to be very sensitive to sea water!
The passing loops at Dawlish Warren can be used to allow fast trains to overtake stopping services.
Up trains to Starcross and beyond cannot use the Down platform at Dawlish Warren: this platform can only be used in the Up direction by trains that terminate there.

Exeter Panel B

Exeter Panel B covers the area between just west of Exeter St. Thomas and Stoke Canon LC, as well as Exeter Central and entry to/exit from the Barnstaple branch.

Operational Notes:

Calling-on routes are permitted in all platforms at Exeter St. David’s, however trains from Exeter Central cannot be called in to Platforms 1 and 3 at Exeter St. David’s due to the steep downhill gradient from Central to St. David's. However if a train has been routed from St. David’s to signals 213 or 313, using the
white shunt arrows , they can be called-on back into St. David’s.
Signal 312 at Exeter Central will not clear unless Signal 335 is clear.
Signals 160 and 260 (Exeter St Davids platforms 1&3) will not clear until either signal 213 or 313 is clear.
The
overlap at Signal 437 will obstruct trains leaving St. David’s platforms 1-3 towards Red Cow LC
Red Cow LC should be lowered just before an Up train is due to depart from St. David’s, as a main line train passes signal DM191, or as a train from Barnstaple passes Cowley Bridge Jn.
The overlap at Signal 60 will prevent trains leaving St. David’s Platforms 1 and 3 towards Dawlish unless the warner route is selected.
If a train is signalled into Platform 5 or 6 at St. David’s, no train can leave the other platform in the same direction until the overlap has dropped out.
TRTS is provided at Exeter St. David’s (all platforms
except platform 2) and Exeter Central.
Exeter Dock Siding cannot be used as an entry/exit point.
Interposing BLOK at Signals 141/241 at Exeter Riverside Yard will force trains to enter on the other line. Alternatively, when the shunter phones for permission to enter, you can instruct him to send the train via the other line.
Stoke Canon barriers should be lowered as an Up train departs Exeter St. David’s, and when a Down train passes Hele and Bradninch LC, There is an annunciator giving a "simulation" message when the crossing should be closed.
Calling-on routes are provided for Down trains at Exeter Central platforms 1 and 2.
A phone call is required before a train can enter the west (i.e. Exeter) end of Riverside Yard.

Panel C

Exeter Panel C covers the area between Stoke Canon LC (exclusive) and Bridgwater/Castle Cary.

Operational Notes:

Call-on routes are provided in the loop lines at Tiverton Junction.
A phone call must be sent to the West Somerset Railway before sending a train to Taunton Cider Siding or the West Somerset Railway.
There is no route between Signal 22 and the West Somerset Railway, neither is there a route from signal 627 to signal 83 - all trains to and from this location must use the Relief between Taunton and Norton Fitzwarren.
Signal 627 is a PL shunt signal in the early eras and a Main aspect R/G in the later eras. The only route available it towards E481. When operating as a Main signal it requires E481 to show a Y or G (not PL) before clearing itself.
Call-on routes are provided into the Down Reception at Fairwater Yard.
Call-on routes are provided for all platforms at Taunton.
Trains can only access Platform 6 at Taunton by shunting via 606, therefore no passenger trains can arrive at this platform.
TRTS is provided at all platforms at Taunton.
Signal 191 will re-set its route continually (once it has been set initially), unless manually cancelled.
This simulation can be chained to Bristol at Bridgwater [See note *1 below] and Westbury at Castle Cary.

Note 1 - Exeter can be chained to Bristol, though a message will be received saying that "Chaining arrangements are inconsistent". If you cancel these messages, and any other errors, it is still possible to play a chain game.

Crediton (CN)

The Crediton panel covers the area covered by the real-life box at Crediton: the Barnstaple and Okehampton Branches.

Operational Notes:

There is no route between CN15 and E154.
Crediton crossing must be closed and cleared before a route can be set over it.
There are no routes from CN12.
CN3R is fixed at caution.
Eggesford has been provided with ARS because there are no signals there in real life, and drivers collect a token from a machine on the platform, which is released from Crediton signal box. To simulate this, the repeaters are fixed at caution, and the signals will only release when the train approaches.
Drivers will ring in on arrival at, and departure from, Barnstaple.

Exmouth Junction (EJ)

Exmouth Junction panel covers the area between Exeter Central and Honiton, and the Exmouth branch.

Operational Notes:

The location Rev. at Exmouth Junction is the head shunt opposite to Exmouth CE sidings.
A 'Close Crossing' indicator is provided at Pinhoe to let the signaller know when a Down train is approaching the crossing.
The overlaps for EJ26 and EJ27 extend into their respective single line sections. If two trains are passing at Topsham, the warner routes towards these signals should be used.
If a train from Exmouth is approaching, Topsham crossing can only be raised by turning off the auto-raise button.
A "close crossing" indicator is also provided for Down trains at Topsham and an annunciator with a "simulation" message in the Up direction.
In the 2015 era, the stations of Cranbrook and Newcourt are located beyond the axle counters which activate the close crossing light. Please check the departure time of trains calling in the Down direction at either station.

Honiton

A replication of the Honiton/Exmouth Junction block working has been implemented. See here for details of real-life operation.

In the simulation, the operation is as follows:

The Normal/Accept lever is displayed as grey solid roundel (dot button) with a left/right pointer. It can point left to NORMAL or right to ACCEPT. LEFT-CLICK the roundel to make the arrow point to ACCEPT; RIGHT-CLICK the roundel to make the arrow point to NORMAL. There is a needle that points to N(ormal), T(rain), A(ccept).

Up Trains

The Normal/Accept lever can be left in either position.
Left click on the OFFER button; Honiton will accept and the indicator will point to Accept.
Signal the train and as it enters the section the indicator will point to Train [on line].
When the train arrives at Honiton you will receive a message and the system will revert to Normal.

Down Trains

The arrival of train at Honiton will be announced by the usual "Train entering simulation" message.
If the Normal/Accept lever is in the Accept position Honiton will immediately send the train unless a train has already been accepted in the UP direction or the single line is occupied.
If the lever is Normal, left click to turn it to accept.
Honiton will phone if you forget to Accept the train for no apparent reason.
When the train enters the section the indicator will point to Train [on line].
When the train clears the single line section you must press the Arr button after restoring the Norm/Acc knob to Normal. This will reset the instruments.
The Normal/Accept lever can otherwise be left at Accept.

The buttons are linked to [Simulation-specific #1] sound where you can link the "tap" sound.

Paignton (PN)

Paignton panel covers the Paignton branch.

Paignton Platform 2 is a separate TT location to ensure that a wrong route isn’t set into Platform 1, since the Up Torbay is not accessible from platform 1.
TRTS is provided at Paignton.
Paignton South crossing is closed locally by traincrew, and you will see a 'crossing closed' indicator. This is driven by the train's timetable- untimetabled trains will not close the crossing.
A phone call must be placed to the Dart Valley Railway (listed under "Place call..." as "Paignton(DVR)" before a train is sent there.
There are no signalled routes on to the DVR. You must operate the Ground Frame and authorise a train to pass PN7 or PN9. B53 will operate automatically when GF is set correctly.
Trains can be timetabled into and out of Paignton Queens Park on the DVR, however they require no signaller intervention.

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Last edited by Peter Bennet on 20/08/2020 at 20:06