PC-RAIL PRESTON

Background

Preston is a major station located approximately halfway between London Euston and Glasgow Central on the West Coast Mainline.

This simulation is based on the 1973 arrangement when multiple aspect signalling was introduced and the East Lancashire lines closed.  At the same time the West Coast Main Line was electrified through Preston.
This new system meant that ten signal boxes in the Preston area were abolished and replaced by a single new signal box which was located on the site of the former steam depot a quarter of a mile north of Preston Station.  The signal boxes closed were Skew Bridge, Ribble Sidings, Preston No1, Preston No1A, Preston No4, Preston No5, Oxheys, Maudland Viaduct, Ashton and Salwick No1. Both the Ribble Branch and the Ribble Branch to the Docks also came under the control of the new signal box as far as Strand Road. A signal box remained in use on the Deepdale Branch at Skeffington Road until the early 1980's.

There are some subtle differences, such as at Euxton Junction and Fylde Junction.  The Ormskirk Branch has been reduced to a single line, however, the track arrangement is very similar to today's arrangment.

The operating area for this simulation covers five stations in the Preston area and five major junctions on the West Coast Main Line - Preston, Lostock Hall, Bamber Bridge, Leyland and Euxton Balshaw Lane.

The are five different routes which converge on the area covered by this simulation:

1. The West Coast Main Line between London Euston, Crewe, Carlisle and Scotland
2. The East Lancs Line from Yorkshire via Burnley and Blackburn
3. The Ormskirk Branch Line
4. The Fylde Line from Blackpool and Fleetwood
5. The Central Lines from Manchester via Bolton and Chorley

There are also two additional minor branches, the first is Ribble Branch for Preston Docks.  Preston was a major port on the west coast of England and received ships from all over the world.  In the early 1980's Preston's port was reduced in status and is now only home to yachting marina, however the land around the old wharves has been converted into retail and housing developments.  An area close to the docks is also the location of a land-served Bitumen terminal which receives trains several times a week.

The Ribble Steam Railway also operate heritage trains on the network of tracks around the marina.

The second is the Deepdale Branch which, in years gone by, continued to Longridge via Grimsargh (and a branch to the former Whittingham Hospital).  However, in 1967 the line, having already been freight only since 1930, was cut back and used only by trains delivering materials to the Courthaulds Works at Ribbleton and Deepdale and then further cut back in the 1980's to the Deepdale Coal Concentration Depot a couple of miles east of Preston Station.  In the 1990's the Deepdale Branch was taken out of use and now has no regular trains.  The track is still in place to just past Skeffington Road and to the Coal Depot.  The point work at Fylde Junction for the branch has been partially removed however and trains can currently not access the branch.

All may not be over for the branch however as a long mooted plan to convert it to a tram line is in planning.

Preston Station itself consists of eight through  platforms (although only 1 to 7 are used for passenger services), two bay platforms for passenger services (3C and 4C) and various sidings.  There is also a dedicated through parcels platform, (the RES platform), and associated bays.  These are not now used except for stabling of empty stock and locos.

Platform Capacities (Reduce by 1 for loco-hauled trains):

Plat 1  - 13      Sdg 1 - 4
Plat 2  - 13      Sdg 2 - 4
Plat 3  - 17      PS1 1 - 4
Plat 3c -  4      PS2 2 - 4
Plat 4  - 13      PS3 3 - 4
Plat 4c -  4      CS1   - 4
Plat 5  - 12      CS2   - 4
Plat 6  - 12      PSN   - 8
Plat 7  - 12      RES   - 11

LK1,LK2 AND LK3 - 2

All through platforms are bi-directional.  Permissive working, where a second train is allowed to enter an already occupied platform, is allowed at all platforms.

Miscellaneous Information:

Electrification

The following routes are electrified by a 25kv overhead supply.

The Down Main, Up Main, Down Slow, Up Slow, Up Lostock Hall, Down Lostock Hall (to sig 492), and Lostock Hall sidings 1,2 & 3.  Also the North Sidings, the Shunt Line Loop and all routes, bays and sidings through Preston except PS1,PS2 & PS3.  Note - Lostock Hall Junction is NOT electrified and all electric locos must shunt via Farington Junction.

Other Notes:

Preston is the location of a major train crew depot.

Crew changes may take place at any platform.

Platform 7 is only used in an emergency to load and discharge passengers, (such as when there is a major incident affecting the train services).  If it is used for passenger services, then the capacity for class 1 and 2 stopping trains is reduced to only 7 coaches, plus a loco.

Engineering trains are generally stabled in the Dock Street Depot, as are diesel locos.  Dock Street Depot is not electrified.

Level Crossings

Bamber Bridge - This level crossing is monitored and operated by a local gate box, the box operator will close the barriers on the approach of the train.

Strand Road - The barriers are locally controlled at the crossing.

Photograph Information

The start-up picture is the view from the end of platform 3 at Preston looking south towards Skew Bridge Junction and Leyland. A Virgin Pendolino can be seen departing platform 6 southbound on the Up Fast line as a C1 156 & C1 150 multiple unit combination departing platform 4 via Down Fast with a local Northern Trains service.

An alternative picture is also included and may be selected in the simulation's configuration options. It shows the view from the north end of platform 3 at Preston looking south as the erstwhile 47300(47468) heads north light engine on April 1st, 1993

Many Thanks to PC Rail Team for the testing of this simulation.

Adrian Bradshaw runs an excellent website dedicated to Preston Station here -

http://www.prestonstation.org.uk     

