Panel 2 controls the Windsor lines from the higher numbered platforms at Waterloo to Clapham Junction and Point Pleasant Junction. During Eurostar days it was the busiest panel in the signalbox and as such each signaller was limited to two hours before being relieved for a break. Unlike Panel 1 which only has two main focus areas, this panel has several focus areas - Waterloo, Nine Elms Junction, Queenstown Road Battersea, West London Junction, and Clapham Junction. Added to that, the route effectively consists of four running lines which go down to two through Queenstown Road (three if non-stopping).
Between Nine West London Junction and Waterloo, non-stopping trains can be routed onto the Windsor Reversible. This is helpful if the Up Fast is congested. It is broadly the same speed and time between the two points.
Queenstown Road Battersea is a bit of a pinch point as the four lines go down to three, effectively resulting in a bi-directional centre track. That can be used to your advantage but care needs to be taken for Up stopping trains at Queenstown Road. Note that - contrary to expectations - the Down Windsor to Down Windsor Fast at W117 is approach controlled, but not for the Down Windsor Slow.
If you have a backlog of Down trains waiting to go into Clapham Yard via W141/W143, consider sending trains via Barnes on the Down Windsor Fast instead, putting them back on the right line just before Clapham Junction.
See Panel 1 for details of Lime Street Control into platforms 1 to 19.
Note that the International platforms 20 to 24 have dual track sections in the same way as platforms 1 to 19. Again, the country end track section is 80m long while the berth tracks for W912 and W22 are 90m long.
The berth tracks for W49, W57, and W913 are very short, with the signals mounted on gantries above the tracks. Thus, trains stopped at those signals may not occupy the berth track until the signal shows proceed, as they may not be able to see the signal if too close to it.
The slotting arrangements for Clapham Yard have been simplified slightly to fit within the limitations of both Wimbledon and Clapham Yard being shown on the same VDU.
There are four slots relating to the Yard from panel 2. There are two requested by panel 2 and two granted by panel 2. When sending a train into the yard, request the appropriate "into yard" slot - up or down direction as appropriate. The slot will flash until granted by Clapham Yard.
When Clapham Yard wish to send a train out on to the Windsor lines (or Up Ludgate, or Up Latchmere), the "out of yard" slot for either up or down will flash. Left click to grant the slot.
Be careful not to have two trains staring at each other from signals W923 and W926, each with only one possible route - through the other train. It is a big headache.
These signals are automatic but plated as non-passable.
At Waterloo there are two train describer berths - last arrival (at the buffer end) and first departure. If a train divides then ARS may not be able to interpose both workings as there are insufficient TD berths. Platform shares (double docking) also require manual intervention for the same reason.
In full ARS mode the slots for Clapham Yard will automatically be requested and granted by ARS when appropriate.
Up trains over the Putney Reversible will not have route set from W350 until the train is at or past East Putney. This reduces the risk of ARS setting route over Point Pleasant Junction before a higher priority train has struck in from Barnes.
The Waterloo Curve was provided to allow Eurostars to access Waterloo from the Chatham Main Lines controlled by Victoria Southeastern .
Up trains to Waterloo will strike in around the Clapham High Street area as long as Victoria SE have the routes set throughout towards W924 signal. Victoria SE do not need slots or any other permission to send a train to you.
Down trains from Waterloo just need route setting to signal VS73. An additional exit arrow is provided adjacent to the "Down Waterloo Curve->" label which can be used instead of clicking on VS73. No slots or other permission is required to send a train to Victoria SE.
The junction complex at Latchmere provides access to the West London Lines to Kensington Olympia and beyond. The relevant Wimbledon connections form a triangle, with the Windsor lines at the top, the Sheepcote Lane connections on the left, and the Latchmere Curve connections on the right.
Trains approaching from Kensington Olympia will show regardless of the routing at Latchmere (including never entering Wimbledon's control area). The TD berths at VC680/VC682 will populate when the train is leaving Kensington Olympia, though the track indications start one signal section later.
Victoria has to request one of four slots in order to send a train to Wimbledon. These are in the box labelled "Request from Victoria". Grant the appropriate slot, which will be flashing, by left clicking on the flashing roundel. You can then see Victoria setting routes towards you. If Victoria routes a train towards Longhedge Junction or Clapham Junction platform 19, you will see partial route lights.
To send a train towards Victoria, Wimbledon do not need any slots. Just set routes as normal.
If sending Eurostars to North Pole (beyond Kensington Olympia) it is recommended to route the train on the Windsor Reversible all the way from Waterloo and on to the Up Sheepcote Lane. This so that any delay at Latchmere Junction keeps the rear end of the long Eurostar trains clear of the Down Windsor Fast.
For the same reason, Up Eurostar trains should be taken off the short Sheepcote Lane connections as soon as possible to avoid blocking the busy Latchmere Junctions.
Normally Victoria signalbox will request a slot on to the Up Sheepcote Lane from Latchmere signal VC680/682. However, if you place a reminder on signal W934, Victoria will instead request a route onto the Down Sheepcote Lane to signal W932 instead.
The simulation chains to Victoria Central at Kensington Olympia and Victoria South Eastern at Longhedge Junction.
Trains from Barnes will indicate as soon as they leave Barnes. No slots or special controls are required in either direction. The simulation chains with Feltham at this location.
Interposing the word 'BLOK' into berths 0334 or 0336 (Putney platform starter signals in the up direction, before the bridge) will cause trains to enter on the other line instead. For example, trains scheduled to enter on the Up Windsor Fast will instead on the Up Windsor Slow.
Last edited by GeoffM on 15/09/2016 at 03:00