NEWCASTLE

This simulation is based on the 1957 resignalling of the Newcastle Area.  The scheme had been devised as part of the LNER Modernisation Plan, which was started before the Second World War.

Designs had been started for both York and Newcastle by Westinghouse Brake and Signal Co., but were put on hold due to the war.  York was completed in 1951, but Newcastle dragged on for another six years.  In both cases, the resignalling simply consisted of the replacement of mechanical signals and points by Colour-light Signals and Pneumatically operated Points operated from a switch panel mounted in front of an illuminated diagram.

The simulation also includes signalling which was controlled by Gateshead Greensfield (Nos.610 to 649), King Edward Bridge (Nos.701 to 739) and Newcastle Forth (Nos.760 to 779) Signal Boxes.

In this simulation, some sidings and shunting signals have been omitted for clarity, but do not disadvantage the train running.

The track layout at the Eastern entry to Gateshead MPD has been adjusted to fit the available space.  Note that it is not possible to send a loco directly into the MPD from Newcastle at this entry.  Most locos required turning before their next duty and usually entered the East end of the MPD after reversing at No.627 Shunt Signal on the Up Pelaw Goods Line.

The track layout at Manors includes one of the three Bay platforms.  The other two, the Up and Down Jesmond Goods lines and the Goods curve from Manors North to the North end of the Main lines have been omitted due to lack of space.  As there were only a few terminating trains at Manors, this should not prove to be a problem.  Freight trains using the curve were mainly inter-yard transfers, but could travel via Benton if necessary.


Opening Screen

The opening screen is an official BR photo taken in April 1950, before the resignalling had taken place.  The loco is a Class A4 4-6-2, No.60027 "Merlin" of Edinburgh Haymarket MPD approaching Platform 9 or 10 from the Up Main.


Electrification

The North Tyneside and South Tyneside services are electrified at 650v DC using the third rail system.  Platforms 1 to 7 and all lines to the North from these platforms are electrified.  The Up and Down Gateshead lines over the High Level Bridge and the Up and Down Pelaw Main lines are also electrified.


Stopping Places

All trains can be timed to stop in all the through lines, including the Goods lines at Newcastle.  The four lines through Gateshead are also timing/stopping points for all classes of trains.


Platform Lengths

The length of each platform is shown below.  This is indicated in Number of Coach lengths.  The number of coaches on a particular train is reduced by the number of locomotives required in the platform concurrently.

Platform 1 ... ... 9
Platform 2 ... ... 9
Platform 3 ... ... 9
Platform 4 ... ...10 to Sig 82, 12 to Sig 62
Platform 5 ... ... 9
Platform 6 ... ... 9
Platform 7 ... ... 9
Platform 8N .. ... 9
Platform 8S .. ... 8
Platform 9N .. ... 9
Platform 9S .. ... 9
Platform 10N . ... 8
Platform 10S . ... 9
Platform 11 .. ... 9
Platform 12 .. ... 9
Platform 13 .. ... 9
Platform 14 .. ... 9
Platform 15 .. ... 9

Note that the North end of Platforms 8, 9 and 10 is at the Left hand side of the display.

Freight trains are limited to 51 wagons through Newcastle Station, but longer trains can be run between the Pelaw lines and the Dunston line or the Main line Southwards.


Train Reporting Numbers

The Train Reporting Numbers use a four-character code.
The first character is numeric 0 to 9 and indicates the Class of the train.
The second character is alphabetic A to Z and indicates the destination area or route of the train.
The last two characters are numeric 00 to 99 and are allocated to distinguish individual trains.

As the codes varied over time, the specific references are shown in the Timetable Notes.


Loco Shed Codes

Timetables which use the full format of Motive Power Details may also show the code of the MPD (Loco Shed) at which a specific Loco or Multiple-unit train is based.  This code also varied over time and individual details are shown in the Timetable Notes where applicable.


Operating Notes

Freight trains between Newcastle and Manors generally use the Up and Down Tynemouth lines and, if necessary, cross to /from the Up and Down Main lines at Manors.

Main Line Passenger, Mail/Parcels and Empty Stock trains between Newcastle and Manors can use either pair of lines, but usually use the Main lines if using the Main lines beyond Manors.  If using the Tynemouth lines beyond Manors, they usually use the Tynemouth lines between Newcastle and Manors.


Acknowledgements

This simulation was developed by Peter Dean using the PC-Rail Development software supplied and supported by John Dennis, proprietor of PC-Rail.

Testing of the operation was carried out by the PC-Rail testing team, with thanks to Alan Sugden, Geoff Foster, Peter Mould, Richard Harrison and Richard Wade for their invaluable assistance.

15 May 2010


