All,
Its good to see Perth being mentioned as a possible simulation,really
looking forward to that one. My Dad was a former Relief Stationmaster
based at Perth so I would be more than willing to assist with the
research into the development of the simulation if required. Would it
be possible to set it in 1957 which would tie in with Carlisle, but I
presume that it would depend on timetable, stock, engine working
details and availability of such information. It maybe that the
British Railways Yahoo group may be able to source some information
on those subjects. I am aware that there are SB diagrams for Glasgow
Road Bridge and Dn Centre on the Signal Box website but hopefully
the Signalling Record Society may be able to assist with Hilton Jcn
through to Stanley Jcn and Barnhill.
If 1957 was used then the whole gamut of services and all nine
platforms would be in use, including the unofficial "Platform 10"
which was the loading bank at the north end just before you ran under
the wall next to Plat 4 and I believe was used at times of severe
congestion by the Blair Atholl locals. I'm pretty sure that the
ticket platform at Dovecotland was still used then so all southbound
services would have to pause for a few minutes for a simulated ticket
collection as I believe that Perth was an "open" station at that
time.
Thinking ahead but not being an expert in the IT world I could see
screen one for Hilton Jcn, Friarton Shed and Perth South, screen two
for Edinburgh Road Bridge SB, south end of Perth General, through to
Barnhill via Princes St and the Carriage Shed north of Platform 3,
screen 3 for the north end of Perth General which can include the
Carriage Shed north of Platform 3 as per screen 2 through to
Balhousie / Perth North with screen 4 being Almond Valley Jcn through
to Stanley Jcn.
In all likelihood I know that its probably a few years away for Perth
if it gets the green light for development but I for one can just see
moving those Pilot trips between Perth South and North via the Old NB
shed picking up repaired wagons, Seed potato specials ex Bankfoot
dropping into Balhousie for a loco change then right away via
Glenfarg, joining up the portions from Glasgow/Edinburgh to Inverness
in Platform 7 but also also making sure the portions via Forres and
the Direct route were in the right place and last but not least
ensuring that a 5A locomotive worked the 1645 Fish Train for the
south. I know what I'll be asking for Xmas in a few years time
hopefully !!
Cheers,
Dave
63A


--- In SIAMulations@..., Tim Bourne <yahoogroups@...>
wrote:
>
> > I will be in England for about a week and busy. The SIAM
> > web site tells me the Exeter simulation is a fair way
> > away from being finished. As I saw Brian's name on the
> > list this morning I wondered who else might be near to
> > producing a new simulation and Brian is said to bee
> > doing one on the Isle of Wight as I recall. At one time
> > there were a few people doing new simulations but that
> > seems to have dried up.
> >
> I believe there are three people other than me currently
> working on something, but all of them have full time jobs
> that have to take priority, and for the last year or so
> we've had major health problems in the family that have
> kept me busy for 2 days most weeks looking after
> grandchildren. I keep asking, but I'm not aware of anything
> nearly ready except Exeter 1955. This still has some of the
> moves and all of the traffic to be entered, but all the
> research and design is complete, and most of the
> programming.
>
> > I also noted from my notes
> > that several requests from Tim over the years for
> > information for new simulations that have never
> > appeared. I have not the list to hand but Glasgow
> > Central and Stoke were two that I think have been
> > mentioned. It all goes to prove I suppose I need to get
> > a life really but what else can I do to pass the time on
> > long flights.
> >
> I did correspond with someone a few years ago who was
> proposing to do Stoke, but that went quiet; the same thing
> happened with Preston.
>
> Track plans are now fairly easy to find for the Midland,
> Western and Southern regions, but much harder for the
> Eastern and Scottish. Detailed information about traffic,
> loco duties and carriage working is much more patchy,
> though the books produced by Xpress Publishing are a big
> help.
>
> Two I'd like to do for which I have only very inadequate
> track plans are Perth and York, to redress the geographical
> balance a bit. I haven't decided on my next project yet,
> but Derby is tempting, and fairly well documented.
>
> Tim Bourne (SIAM)
>