NEWPORT

This simulation is based on the layout existing between 1941 and 1961.  The Uskmouth Branch was doubled in 1952, but has been included as doubled in this simulation.

Some Sidings have been omitted, but do not detract from the operation.

Note that there were Loco servicing facilities including a Turntable, Water and Coal in High Street Sidings, so locos with a short turnround didn't need to go to Ebbw Junction MPD.  This was actually a relic of the original High Street Loco Shed which closed on 17 July 1915, the same day as Ebbw Junction opened.  The Sidings were also known as Godfrey Road Sidings and had around fifteen sidings as well as three for loco and coal facilities.


Signalling Control

The area was controlled by several Signalboxes operating Semaphore Signals.  Newport East (opened on 29/5/1927) and Newport West (opened on 24/6/1928) were Miniature Lever frames with the Signals and Points being Power operated.

Signals and points are shown in individual blocks of numbers for each Signalbox and bear no relationship to the actual lever numbers.

101 - 169  Ebbw Junction SB .. .. .. .. Closed 20/5/1963
171 - 199  Alexandra Dock Junction SB . Closed 27/11/1961
211 - 219  Waterloo Loop SB .. .. .. .. Closed 27/11/1961
231 - 249  Gaer Junction SB .. .. .. .. Closed 10/12/1962
261 - 319  Newport West SB ... .. .. .. Closed 10/12/1962
331 - 389  Newport East SB ... .. .. .. Closed 10/12/1962
400 - 429  Maindee East SB ... .. .. .. Closed 10/12/1962
441 - 469  East Usk Junction SB . .. .. Closed 16/4/1961
481 - 509  Maindee North SB .. .. .. .. Closed 10/12/1962

The first stage of major track and signalling alterations was the remodelling of East Usk Junction and replacement of the Signalbox on 16/4/1961 by a Panel Box on the Down side of the remodelled layout.  Changes then took place at regular intervals, with Power operated Points and Colour Light Signals being gradually brought into use, with some operated from temporaray panels in Maindee East, Maindee North and Gaer Junction SBs.  All except Ebbw Junction was transferred to the new Panel at East Usk in December 1961.  Ebbw Junction was finally closed and operated from the Panel in May 1963.


Opening Screen

The opening screen is a Down Class 7 Freight headed by ex-GWR 'Grange' Class 4-6-0 No.6810 "Blakemere Grange" on the Down Through.  The photo was taken by Peter Dean on 25 July 1963.  Note that the scissors crossover between the Up Main Platform and the Up Through had been removed when the resignalling took place in 1962.


Electrification

The area is not electrified


Stopping Places

Timing points (T) and stopping points (S) are provided at:

Ebbw Junction
(S) Sig 156 - Sig 159 .. Up Cardiff Loop
(S) Sig 161 - Sig 158 .. Down Cardiff Loop

Alexandra Dock Junction
(T) Sig 140 - Sig 171 .. Up Main
(T) Sig 192 - Sig 142 .. Down Main
(S) Sig 144 - Sig 173 .. Up Goods
(S) Pts 174 - Sig 146 .. Down Goods
(S) Sig 183 - Sig 148 .. Down Goods Loop
(S) Sig 815 - Sig 177 .. Up Low Level
(T) Pts 182 - Sig 810 .. Down Low Level

Waterloo Loop
(T) Sig 216 - Sig 219 .. Up Waterloo
(S) Sig 827 - Sig 218 .. Down Waterloo

Newport Station
(S) All Platforms . (P3 for Passenger/Mail Stock & Locos only and is a separate 'Location')
(S) Up Main . .. .. opposite Platforms 5 & 4 
(S) Down Main .. .. opposite Platforms 1 & 2
(S) Up Spur . .. .. This is a separate 'Location' - Up Spur

Maindee North
(S) Up Hereford Goods
(T) Up Hereford
(T) Down Hereford
(S) Down Hereford Goods

Maindee East
(S) Up Goods
(T) Up Main
(T) Down Main
(S) Down Goods  


Platform Lengths

The nominal 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 ... ... 8
Platform 2 ... ... 7
Platform 3 ... ... 7 (In Platform, 14 to 232 Signal)
Platform 4 ... ... 9
Platform 5 ... ... 8
Platform 6 ... ... 9
Platform 7 ... ... 9
Platform 8 ... ... 8
All Platforms except No.3 can handle longer trains, but will 'hang out' at the entering end and may foul other routes.

Note that the Down Goods at Maindee East will only hold a Loco + 39 wagons between Signals 424 and 449, so longer trains requiring to stop must be run to Signal 416.

Permissive working is available on all Platforms and on the Up and Down Mains through the station.
Bi-directional working is available on Platforms 6, 7 and 8, although wrong-direction shunt moves can be made elsewhere.

The Stopping place codes used in the Timetable are;
No Code ... Newport Station (Except Platform 3)
A .. .. ... Alexandra Dock Junction
B .. .. ... Platfom 3 (Newport B)
C .. .. ... Cardiff Loop
E .. .. ... Maindee East
N .. .. ... Maindee North
U .. .. ... Up Spur
W .. .. ... Waterloo Loop 
e .. .. ... East Siding and Dock
w .. .. ... West Sidings 1 and 2


Through setting of routes.

The routes into Newport station are capable of through setting as shown below:
Up Relief (263) to Platform 8 (339)
Up Relief (263) to Platform 6 (341) via Platform 7
Up Relief (263) to Platform 4 (343) via Platform 5
Up Relief (263) to Platform 4 (343) via Up Main if Platform 5 Occupied
Up Relief (263) to Up Main (345) via Up Main
Up Relief (263) to Up Main (345) via Platform 5 if Up Main (W) Occupied
Up Main (265) to Platform 4 (343) via Platform 5
Up Main (265) to Platform 4 (343) via Up Main if Platform 5 Occupied
Up Main (265) to Up Main (345) via Up Main (W)
Up Main (265) to Up Main (345) via Platform 5 if Up Main (W) Occupied
Down Relief (352) to Platform 7 (290) via Platform 6
Down Relief (368) to Down Main (296) via Down Main (E)
Down Relief (368) to Down Main (296) via Platform 1 if Down Main (E) Occupied
Down Relief (368) to Platform 2 (298) via Platform 1
Down Relief (368) to Platform 2 (298) via Down Main (E) if Platform 1 Occupied
Down Main (356) to Down Main (296) via Down Main (E)
Down Main (356) to Down Main (296) via Platform 1 if Doen Main (E) Occupied
Down Main (356) to Platform 2 (298) via Platform 1
Down Main (356) to Platform 2 (298) via Down Main (E) if Platform 1 Occupied

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.


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 for their invaluable assistance.

Version 2
23/6/2016


