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Hope Valley

Official Files

Title
Simulation (Payware)
15/10/2009 WTT (Midnight and 0445 Start included)
08/04/2015 WTT (Midnight, 0400 & 1400 starts included)
09/01/2019 WTT (Midnight, 0400 & 1400 starts included)

Additional user-written timetables are available to download here Link to simulation's TT download page .

Introduction

The Hope Valley simulation covers the Trans-Pennine Hope Valley route from the outskirts of Manchester in the west to the outskirts of Sheffield in the east. It also includes the branch to Buxton, and numerous freight-only routes linking the quarries of the Peak District.

The fortunes of individual lines have changed over the years; originally, the Midland Main Line from London St. Pancras ran north from Derby and Matlock to join the extant route in the area of Topley Pike; it then continued north through Peak Forest and Chinley, before running onto the Northenden branch and onto a series of now-closed lines to the former Manchester Central station. Following the closure of the line between Matlock and Topley, the Peak Forest branch was relegated to a freight-only line serving the various quarries in the area. In the late 1980s, British Rail opened the connecting line between the Buxton and former Midland lines at Hazel Grove, allowing Manchester- Sheffield trains to serve Stockport. These were diverted away from the route via New Mills Central, which became primarily a local passenger route with some freight traffic.

Today the area sees a mix of traffic: Long distance express services pass along the length of the route from Edgeley No.1 Jn (Stockport) to Dore; local passenger trains serve Buxton and intermediate stations on the Hope Valley line. New Mills Central and Hazel Grove mark the eastern edges of Manchester's suburbs, and as such some passenger trains terminate here; the line from Manchester to the latter is electrified, although various quirks of service patterns mean that on the whole electric trains have been a rarity in Hazel Grove.

Start-Up Options

Scenarios

Hazel Grove Points OOU

The crossover at the Buxton end of Hazel Grove station has failed, with detection only available in the Normal position. All traffic, except trains from Buxton and reversing services from Stockport, must use platform 1.

Hazel Grove Up Platform Closed

Platform 1 at Hazel Grove is closed. All traffic must use platform 2.

Hazel Grove Down Siding Closed

Hazel Grove Down Siding is closed. All traffic booked to use the sidings must use the Up siding.

Other Options

Absolute Block

By default Absolute Block is enabled on this simulation. Uncheck this option to disable the Absolute Block controls.

TORR

No boxes within the simulation are fitted with TORR . Therefore TORR is disabled in the start up options and the user will have to tick the check box so that it is enabled.

Level Crossings

While there is only one controlled crossing in the simulation, this option will also disable phone calls from user-worked crossings.

Auto Switches

All of the simulated boxes are either mechanical or panel with signals without Auto functionality. To aid the player and reduce workload, Group Auto Switches have been provided.

Scale of Problems

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

Hand Controls

The sim comes with three shunt panels. These are located at Buxton, Peak Forest and Earles Sidings.

Hand Points

Earles Sidings and Peak Forest shunt panels are labeled as such: 1-F-2. 1 and 2 relate to the siding to which the hand point is set.

If the F (Free) label is white, the points are free to swing. If Red, the points are locked, either by a train being on top of them or a hand signal having been given.

The player has no other indication that there's a train sitting on top of these points.

On Buxton panel, the run round lines are labelled E-F-S. For clarity, E: Engine run round road, S: Single line access road.

The hand signals will operate the same way as Earles Sidings and Peak Forest.

Hand Signals

There are three hand signals which can be given over each set of points.

In - For facing moves over the points. Use the same button whether the route is set towards either siding 1 or 2.

S1 - Hand signal out of Siding 1. This will need the hand points set towards Siding 1.

S2 - Hand signal out of Siding 2. This will need the hand points set towards Siding 2.

Once a hand signal has been given, the points will indicate locked until it's rescinded, either automatically by the passage of a train, or by the player right-clicking the roundel.

Buxton

The hand signals panel works similarly to that described above at Buxton. Hand signals are located at the exits of the Neck, HS and BTS sidings. Hand signals are also located at the 'A' point end of the ERR siding (to control moves into the Neck) and the 'C' end of SLA to control moves into the Neck, HS and BTS sidings. Hand points A, B and C must be set appropriately for the movement being made before the hand signal is given.

Moves to and from SLA and ERR sidings at the Buxton end are controlled via signals in the usual way.

Absolute Block

Absolute Block is simulated between all boxes with the following exceptions:

• New Mills South Junction & Chinley (Both lines)
• Hazel Grove & New Mills South Junction (Both lines)
• Buxton & Great Rocks. See the token working section for details.

Please see the Absolute Block manual for operating details.

All fringes are Track Circuit Block.

Semaphore Signalling

Semaphore signalling is in use to varying extents on all panels except Hazel Grove and Totley Tunnel East. Please see the Semaphore Signalling page for details of semaphore signalling concepts.

Tokens

Briggs Branch

When a train enters from the Briggs Branch, the train will call asking for permission to take a token from the remote instrument. The train will remain at Briggs until this is granted. On arrival at Buxton, the token will be automatically replaced.

To send a train onto the Briggs Branch, you will first have to select the Release Roundel. This will allow for signals to be cleared towards the branch. To replace the token without sending a train, right-click on the Release roundel. On arrival at Briggs Sidings, the train will phone to indicate its arrival and to replace the token.

Buxton to Great Rocks

To offer a train, the player should initially use the Offer button to offer the train to the adjacent box. This will cause the adjacent signalboxes Release light to flash.

To accept a train, the player must select the Release button. This action releases the token and causes the token to light up Train Going To (Sending Box), and Train Coming From (Receiving box).

It is only now that a route can be set into the section. Please note that this is a One Train action, and as such, the route can be replaced as many times as the player wants without having to go through the above.

A token can be replaced without a train passing through the section by the player right-clicking on the Offer Train To roundel on the sending signal box.

Trains can be sent to Topley Pike from either Buxton or Great Rocks. The train will phone the Buxton Signaller on arrival and to replace the token.

Trains entering at Topley Pike will phone the Buxton Signaller for permission to withdraw a token and proceed onto the single line. Once on the single line, the train may proceed towards Great Rocks, or reverse to go towards Buxton.

Speed Limits

Please note that this is a high-level summary of speed limits, and does not detail every change. Points and crossovers are generally in the 15-20mph range, with some of the freight sidings being 10mph.

Hazel Grove- Dore West Jn: Generally 70mph, with an enhancement to 90mph for trains permitted to run under the 'SP' speed class (in practice, Class 158s used on Nottingham- Liverpool services; class 150s sometimes used on the stopping services are also able to reach their maximum 75mph under this enhancement, but in practice the stopping pattern precludes much use of this). Speed limits in the New Mills- Chinley East area are generally lower, including a 50mph limit at Chinley East. The Buxton end crossover and connections to Hazel Grove HL junction are 40mph, the Manchester end crossovers are 25mph.

Marple- New Mills South Jn: 60mph to New Mills Central, 20mph through the tunnel then 35mph to New Mills South Jn, including the connections to the main line.

Edgeley- Buxton: 40mph as far as Hazel Grove, then rising to 45-55mph for passenger trains up to Buxton station throat. Note that beyond Hazel Grove freight trains are limited to 25mph throughout.

Chinley- Buxton: 45mph to Topley Pike, then 30mph for the remainder of the line to Buxton. Around half a mile of 20mph on the Peak Forest side of Topley Pike.

Northenden branch: 30mph, with some stretches at 45mph and a short 20mph restriction.

Panel Notes

Buxton

Buxton works Absolute Block to Chapel-en-le-Frith, and Electric Token Block to Great Rocks.

Please see the instructions above for details of how to work the token instruments to Great Rocks and the Briggs branch.

A call on route into Buxton Platform 2 will require the use of the Red triangle in rear of Signal BN32.

Trains between Great Rocks and Briggs can use the SLA and ERR lines at Buxton to pass each other, however care must be taken to ensure that the loco of the first train has run round before allowing the second train into the sidings. It is also possible to gridlock the area by accepting additional trains towards Buxton with the sidings occupied- take care when planning movements.

In reality, the disc from the TMD to the Neck siding and the exit signal from the Neck siding are both worked from lever 6 in the box. This allows shunts between the neck and TMD without continued intervention from the signaller. To represent this, setting a route from BN6 to the TMD will also call a route from BN5 to the Neck, and both signals will clear. The routes will need to be cancelled manually.

Chapel-en-le-Frith

Chapel-en-le-Frith works Absolute Block to Buxton and Furness Vale.

A Train Out of Section cannot be sent from Furness Vale to Chapen-en-le-Frith until the rear of the train has passed Signal CH18 by 400 meters. This is to simulate the clearing point for the box.

Chinley

Chinley works Track Circuit Block to New Mills South Junction, and Absolute Block to Edale and Peak Forest.

CY165 is approach released from red if CY153 is at danger; this is due to the steep downhill gradient from Peak Forest.

Chinley's automatic signals have a separate track circuit for their overlaps, however these are not shown on the panel. It can therefore appear that a signal is at red in front of a train, when in reality it has passed the signal but not yet progressed beyond the overlap.

Earles Sidings

Earles Sidings works Absolute Block to Edale and Grindleford. An Intermediate Block Section is provided in both directions.

The Intermediate Block Section between Earles Sidings and Grindleford straddles Bamford station in both directions, hence the station being drawn on both workstations. Calls for delayed trains at Bamford will go to Grindleford box.

A phone call is required to send a train into Earles Sidings from Signals ES5, ES30 or ES34. No phone call is needed for trains from ES22.

The branch to the Cement works is operated by the quarry's own loco (in recent times one of two Class 20s), which haul all trains between the works and Earles Sidings. The 'pilot at' indication shows whether this loco is at the works or Earles' Sidings; a train cannot proceed to the Works if the pilot is at the Works and vice-versa. When a new simulation is started, the pilot will be at the Works and timetable writers should take account of this.

There is no signal protecting the exit of the shunt neck- trains entering the neck will call for authority to move when they are ready to depart. You must ensure that all points are set correctly for the train's destination and no conflicting moves in progress before authorising the train to proceed.

Edale

Edale works Absolute Block towards Chinley and Earles Sidings. An Intermediate Block Section is provided towards Earles Sidings.

A train booked into Edale DRS from EE14, if longer than the distance between signals, will proceed past the yellow shunt signal, EE7, towards the Neck, as long as the train is not booked to continue past Edale station, and that the points ahead of Signal EE7 are Normal.

Furness Vale

Furness Vale works Absolute Block to Chapel-en-le-Frith and Hazel Grove.

The crossover points cannot be reversed unless the level crossing is down and clear.

Great Rocks

Great Rocks works Absolute Block towards Peak Forest and Electric Token Block to Buxton. Please refer to the notes in 'Simulation Features' for operation of the token system.

Inner and Outer Distant signals in the Down direction are mounted beneath PF21 and PF22 respectively; both are fixed at caution.

A phone call must be placed to Tunstead Quarry prior to signalling a train onto either the Reception line or the Loading lines.

A 240 second timer is placed on the Up & Down Tunstead Sidings, preventing a train being signalled onto the line from the opposite direction.

Grindleford

Grindleford works Absolute Block to Earles Sidings and Totley Tunnel East.

And Intermediate Block Section is provided between Grindleford and Earles Sidings; this straddles Bamford station in both directions, hence the station being drawn on both workstations. Calls for delayed trains at Bamford will go to Grindleford box.

Hazel Grove

Hazel Grove works TCB to Edgeley Jn No.1 and New Mills South Junction, and Absolute Block to Furness Vale.

The Warner route, Signal HG10 to HG18 will not step up to a full overlap with an onward route set. With Extra Autos enabled, this route may be set into Auto.

Norbury Hollow Crossing & Gatebox is located in the overlap of Signal HG26. The crossing keeper will only grant the slot when a train has left Hazel Grove en route to Buxton. A train will always see a green, but the timing is random.

Trains from Northenden Junction require a slot. To grant the slot, set a route from Signal NN27. The slot will be restored as soon as the first track circuit is occupied.

The Up & Down Hope Valley is electrified with 25kV overhead as far as Hazel Grove station platforms, along with the Up and Down Sidings. These are the only lines in the simulation that are electrified.

Tunnel occupancy indicators are provided for Disley Tunnel.

New Mills Central

New Mills Central works Absolute Block to New Mills South Jn and TCB to Romiley Junction (outside the scope of this simulation and included on the Manchester East simulation).

Shunt routes can be set from NM6 and NM25 to NM201 by setting routes from the red arrows in rear of NM6 and NM25 to NM201.

New Mills South Junction

New Mills South Junction works Absolute Block to New Mills Central, and TCB to Chinley and Hazel Grove.

Routes can be set to NS4LOS provided the block section from New Mills is at Normal; a route cannot be set while the block is at Line Clear or Train On Line. The block will change to TOL as soon as a route is set to NS4LOS, and can only be returned to normal once a train has been reversed at NS4 and drawn clear again, or the route is cancelled with a train passing. This provides a simplified representation of the 'blocking back outside home signal' regulation in the AB system.

A route from Signal NS8 to NS10 won't clear until either the berth track for NS8 is occupied, or NS10 is showing a proceed aspect.

Peak Forest

Peak Forest works Absolute Block towards Chinley and Great Rocks.

A phone call is required to send trains to the RMC sidings.

PF25 Ground Frame must be operated for trains entering or exiting the 'B' end of the Long Sidings. Indications are provided showing whether the track sections labelled A-D are occupied. Note that trains using the ground frame must be given the handsignal at the frame, and the 'In' or 'Siding' signal at hand points B. Trains exiting the Long Sidings and returning to Peak Forest via the Up Goods will proceed towards PF24 provided the ground frame is locked.

The Up Goods distant signal is mounted beneath GR14.

Totley Tunnel East

Totley Tunnel East works Absolute Block to Grindleford and TCB to Sheffield PSB (a fringe to this simulation).

Totley Tunnel East will see trains entering from Sheffield one signal section out. Trains towards Dore Station or South Junctions will be routed in the fringe when a train is approaching Signals S52, TE3, or TE2. A train at Signal S52 will have absolute priority.

Trains to the Down Sidings (and departing trains towards Dore West Jn) will reverse outside the signal box and will telephone for permission to proceed. You must ensure that the crossover and siding points are set correctly before authorising the movement.

Timetable Notes

15/10/2009

TBC

08/04/2015

TBC

09/01/2019

TBC

Level Crossings

Name	Type	Panel
Bullock's No.1	TEL	Hazel Grove
Chapel-en-le-Frith	TEL	Chapel-en-le-Frith
Furness Vale	MCB	Furness Vale
Norbury Hollow	CK	Hazel Grove
Towers Farm	UWC	Hazel Grove

Multiplayer & Chaining

The simulation is suitable for one reasonably experienced player, with up to 13 players in multiplay.

The simulation chains at the following locations:

Simulation	Location
Manchester East	Marple
Stockport	Edgeley Junction No.1
Cheshire Lines	Northenden Junction
Sheffield	Dore West

Hot Keys

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

Number keys 1-7 scroll across the simulation in roughly equal steps.

Acknowledgments

Simulation by: James Pedrick

15/10/2009 WTT by: John Mills

08-04-2015 WTT by: John Mills

01/09/2019 WTT by: Matt Wilson

Reference Section

Signal Number Plan

Hope Valley Signal Number Plan

Use the built-in Find function (Ctrl+F) to locate signal numbers.

Signal Box Prefix Codes

Code	Box
BN	Buxton
CH	Chapel-en-le-Frith
CY	Chinley
EE	Edale
ES	Earles Sidings
EY1	Edgeley Junction No.1*
FV	Furness Vale
GD	Grindleford
GR	Great Rocks
HG	Hazel Grove
NM	New Mills Central
NS	New Mills South Jn
PF	Peak Forest
RJ	Romiley Jn*
S	Sheffield*
TE	Totley Tunnel East

*Fringe box, signals not controlled in this simulation.

Platform & Loop Lengths

Platform Lengths

Location	Platform	Length (m)
Buxton	1	175
	2	155
Hazel Grove	1	190
	2	190

Loop Lengths

Location	Loop Name	Length (m)
Earles Sidings	DGL	380
Hazel Grove High Level Jn	Dn Cheadle	420
New Mills South Jn	UGL	430
Peak Forest	UTS	865

Siding Lengths

Location	Siding Name	Length (m)
Buxton	MR	215
	Neck	120
	SLA	465
Earles Sidings	RR 1&2	160
	RR Neck	35
	Shunt Neck	110
Edale	DRS	225
	URS	300
Grindleford	DS	225
Hazel Grove	DS	165
	US	150
New Mills Central	SDG	110
Peak Forest	1	310
	Fuel	80
	LS 1&2	355
Totley Tunnel East	DS	215

Timetabling Details

Notes for timetable writers; may be given own page

Splash Screens

File Name	Description
Splash01	East end of Hazel Grove station
Splash02	Furness Vale Signal Box
Splash03	Chapel-en-le-Frith Signal Box
Splash04	Buxton station, with BN9 and BN18 prominent. The signal box can be seen in the distance.
Splash06	New Mills Central NM16, with the signal box in the background.
Splash07	Stone dust billowing from the wagons, a Class 66 heads a Tunstead - Wellingborough train past EE19.
Splash08	GD14 signal, with the west portal of Totley Tunnel in the background

External Resources

Links to videos, photo albums etc.

Version History

Version History

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Last edited by Steamer on 12/03/2025 at 20:47