This is another question where I hope Chris will help out.

Over in the RR&Co section we are looking at how to operate signals with the software.  Our first problem is to decide what signals to operate.  We have an agreed standard tutorial layout but we do not know enough to come up with a realistic signalling scheme for it and we risk getting bogged down in endless discussions about it.

We would all very much appreciate it if Chris, or anyone else able to do it, would look at the layout and come up with a signalling scheme, preferably for the whole layout.

The first stage of our signalling is to operate Eastham station, which extends to the left end of section 651 Eastham Home.  If you could only signal the station it would be sufficient to get us started.

The yellow rectangles are track circuits for the software to keep track of the trains.


Thanks in advance,

Brian

Hi Brian,

I can do this but I need a little more information first please.  It looks like the layout will be all unit operated and so I guess is relatively modern?  Colour lights will rule presumably.

Do you intend to have any shunt moves at the termini or will it be all in and out working?

Will there be any permissive working (i.e. units attaching in platforms) or will it all be in and out again?

Finally, I cannot tell how big the overall layout is, but would you expect trains to follow each other along the single line or would it be one engine in steam?

Please do not expect a techincal drawing in response - it will be pen drawn on your plan!!!!

Hi Chris

Its not an actual/planned layout its a schematic we have developed and used in the RR&Co tutorial to demonstrate various aspects of computor control.

Now we want to expand the tutorial to include signalling and rather than get bogged down in a debate on signal placement we decided it would be far quicker and more correct to try and get a ruling from you

It looks like the layout will be all unit operated and so I guess is relatively modern?  Colour lights will rule presumably.

There is no set period but I think we should base it on the steam/diesel transition which most of the RR&Co group operate

Colour Lights……yes…………we had assumed 3 aspect

Do you intend to have any shunt moves at the termini or will it be all in and out working?

To simplify the tutorial we were intending, at this stage, just to signal the Eastham branch blocks ie from Block 651 to the right then once that is done we would expand our horizons to the Terminus Weston. But yes there are a series of shunt moves at Weston which is set up with 3 platform faces

Will there be any permissive working (i.e. units attaching in platforms) or will it all be in and out again?

A steam engine with 2 carriages runs from Weston to Eastham and at Eastham runs around the carriages using the loop. At some stage in the future I intended to develop this so a Milk Tanker could be attached and detached……these are all demonstrations of automatic operation. 

Finally, I cannot tell how big the overall layout is, but would you expect trains to follow each other along the single line or would it be one engine in steam?

As I said earlier its not an actual layout just a sort of teaching aid. In real life I am sure it would be one engine in steam but that would rather defeat the purpose.

We havent developed the Goods yard for the tutorial yet but lets assume from an operating point of view that while the passenger train is at the station (Block 654) a goods train could enter the yard via the loop

Really appreciate your help on this Chris. I hope I have answered all your questions. If I have got anything wrong Brian….please feel free to correct me or amplify something 

 

 

Hope you can read this!



If not I can email the original?

If you could email the original to jdew@telus.net that would be great………………I dont know Brian's email but I can transcribe your notes on to the layout

Thanks Chris 

Thanks from me too, Chris.  That should give us plenty to think about.

Regards,

Brian

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