                                  Lickey Route

(C) Dee-Kay Systems 1985

18 Salford Close, Woodrow South, Redditch, Worcs. B98 7UN


1.INTRODUCTION
  In this simulation you are a driver on the Lickey route between Bristol and
Birmingham, and have the choice of handling the controls of a Class 50, 47 or
45 locomotive or an Inter-City 125 High Speed Train (HST) on a through return
holiday working to the North-East, or one of the locomotive types on the heavy
overnight train to Glasgow with intermediate stops along the line at Parkway,
Cheltenham and Bromsgrove. All of the trains are heavily-laden, and with the 15
or 16 coach load of the combined sleeper and mail train you will require
assistance up the steep incline between Bromsgrove and Blackwell from the
resident pair of Class 37 Lickey bankers. The locomotive types have to be
driven hard over much of the route to keep time, but with the HSTs it will be
your skill at braking and concentration on maintaining the line speed which
will really count.


2.DISPLAY FORMAT
  The simulation is presented as a two-part display on the television screen:
the upper section giving information a driver would have from visual
observations and his background knowledge of the route, and the lower section
being a monitor of the locomotive controls and performance. Milepost distances
(MP) are given throughout in integer tenths of a mile from Bristol Temple
Meads.


3.THE ROUTE, SPEED RESTRICTIONS AND SIGNALLING
  The gradient profile of the route is shown in the Appendix. Probably the
stiffest test on the undulating grades to Bromsgrove is just over 2 miles of 1
in 75 on the climb out of Bristol to Filton, but even this pales into near
insignificance when compared with the massive rise of the Lickey incline
itself.
  Line speeds are based on those in force around 1982, with the addition of a
near 15 mile stretch of 100 mph running permitted between Cheltenham and Abbots
Wood Junction. Over much of the route the line limit is nominally 90 mph, but
as shown in the Appendix there are numerous sections with lower limits and you
may also encounter restrictions due to engineering work on the track.
Notification of any such 'permanent way slacks' will be given in the roster
notices at the start of the simulation, and during your run you will be given a
reminder as you approach all reductions in the permitted line speed (this
advance warning commencing 1.5 miles before any pws slacks and 1.0 mile before
other restrictions unless notified to the contrary).
  The line is signalled with multiple aspect colour lights throughout, and with
mixed 3- and 4-aspect signals there could be either just a single yellow, or
both double yellow and yellow aspects, preceding a signal at red. As you
approach all signals at caution or danger you will receive a cab warning
indication (AWS), which if not acknowledged within 6 seconds will bring an
automatic application of the emergency train brake.


4.MOTIVE POWER AND TRAIN SCHEDULES
  The Class 50s are the most powerful of the locomotive types, with their
English Electric 16CSVT engines of 2700 hp. After a recent refurbishment
programme the locomotives are the pride of the Western Region fleet, and all
but one are named after famous Royal Navy warships (the exception being 50007
renamed 'Sir Edward Elgar' and painted in Brunswick green as a preliminary to
the GWR 150 celebrations). The Class 47/4s are the standard 2580 hp express
passenger locomotives of British Rail, found near indiscriminately over the
whole system. Many drivers however prefer the older Class 45/1s, derived from
the original 'Peak' design, which enjoy a reputation for sure-footedness and
good high speed running despite their lower power rating of 2500 hp. The HSTs
used on the Lickey route are seven coach formations sandwiched between twin
power cars, each rated at 2250 hp. Although the high speed potential of the
HSTs cannot be utilized on this line, their superior acceleration and braking
capability leads to a significant reduction of the schedules for locomotive
hauled trains (see Appendix). The Class 47s and 45s (and of course the HSTs)
will all work through to Newcastle with their holiday trains, but a Class 50
would be removed at Birmingham in favour of other motive power. The diesel on
the Glasgow train (whatever its type) would give way to a Class 87 or 86
electric at New Street.


5.LOCOMOTIVE CONTROLS AND DRIVING TECHNIQUE
  The tractive characteristics of the various locomotives and trains are
realistically reproduced in the simulation, although the controls have been
somewhat simplified to the now standard DKS system.
  Engine power is varied by adjustment of a master controller which is
calibrated between 0 (engine idling with drive disconnected) and 5 (full
throttle). On the diesel locomotives current is supplied to traction motors by
a generator, and care must be taken not to cause an overload trip by applying
too much power at low speed (warning not to continue with notching up being
given by a 'high generator current' message on the status indicators). At speed
there are several stages of generator field diversion to maintain efficiency,
but these occur automatically and require no action by the driver. On HSTs
there is an alternator rather than a generator, and with the modern control
system to coordinate the output of the power cars at each end of the formation
all that happens if too high a controller setting is selected at low speed is
that an automatic current limiting system comes into operation. Engine failures
do however occur from time to time, and if you experience an engine shut down
on a run with an HST you should continue as best you can with the reduced power
of the remaining engine.
  The brake handle is similarly calibrated between 0 (off) and 5 (full on)
although position 5 should be used in emergencies only, the maximum application
in normal service being setting 4. You should brake with caution as you
approach adverse signals, and if a signal remains at red you should bring your
train to a halt within 35 yards of it in order to obtain telephone instructions
from control about the situation. There are controlled signal approach
sequences to all station stops, and once in the platforms you should again draw
up within 35 yards of the starting signal to be correctly positioned for
passenger loading.
  When working the overnight Glasgow train, the banking engines will
automatically buffer up during the Bromsgrove station stop, and will drop back
behind your train at the top of the Lickey incline.

  The computer keys used for locomotive control are:
  CONTROLLER : Increase  > (BBC) or P (Spectrum)
               Decrease  < (BBC) or O (Spectrum)
  BRAKES     : Increase  X
               Decrease  Z
  AWS CANCEL : Space Bar
  HORN       : Available on the BBC only by pressing the Shift Key
               (a short press giving a starting acknowledgement
               and a longer press a twin tone warning).

  If you want a break during your run, the simulation can be suspended by
pressing the H key (for hold), with action restarted by pressing the R key.


6.GETTING STARTED

  BBC computer: The program is loaded by typing CHAIN"" (note users with disc
  or Econet interfaces should first return to the disc filing system by typing
  PAGE=&E00).

  Spectrum    : The program is loaded by typing LOAD"lr"

  Amstrad     : The program is loaded by typing CHAIN"LR"


         A REMINDER OF THE LINE MANAGER'S STANDING INSTRUCTION

    When trains are running late, drivers must endeavour to make up
    time with due regard to all speed restrictions and the braking
    capability of the train.


                                    APPENDIX


                               ROUTE INFORMATION

  Please refer to the image file lickrout.png for speed limits and a gradient
profile of the Lickey route.


                                TRAIN SCHEDULES

                                       1S19                1E37
                                 Bristol-Glasgow    Paignton-Newcastle
                                       DS60          D350       HST

 0.0 Bristol T.M.    dep               21.00         16.00      16.00
 5.8 Parkway         arr               21.12
                     pass                            16.09      16.08
                     dep               21.13
18.6 Charfield       pass              21.28         16.21      16.19
38.0 Gloucester Yd.  pass              21.43         16.35      16.32
44.4 Cheltenham      arr               21.50
                     pass                            16.41      16.37
                     dep               21.52
62.4 Abbots Wood     pass              22.08         16.55      16.49
75.7 Bromsgrove      arr               22.20
                     pass                            17.05      16.58
                     dep               22.22*
89.9 Birmingham N.S. arr               22.45         17.25      17.15


                         * = Banked up Lickey incline
  The only recovery time allowed is 1.5 minutes on the final section
  between Bromsgrove and New Street.
