Hibaldstow
The signalling on the layout is based upon an IFS panel situated in a 1960s built BR Type 19 signal. This box, known as Moss Lane replaced several other boxes in the early 1980s.
It replaced Sutton on Sea, Sutton East Junction and Sutton Town Signal boxes. Sutton East Junction box still remains in a disused state.
Signalling, Operations, and Control
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Moss Lane Signal Box
Moss Lane is a 1960s built BR Type 19 box. The kit comes from Display Models (
link). The interior is being added from various sources.
These boxes were often fitted with a lever frame, like Pasture Street in Grimsby and then during resignalling were equipped with a panel. This is the case with Moss Lane. During the early 80s, 4 local boxes closed and a new IFS panel was fitted to control the area.
The area of control sees Moss Lane working to, on the left hand side, Sutton North Junc which controls the triangle junction linking Mablethorpe to Sutton on Sea and to Willoughby. This was formally quadruple track to handle the increased mineral traffic in the 1950s. Since the decline of coal the Up Goods was removed from Sutton North Jcn to Sutton town. Beyond Sutton Town the Up Goods was left in situe as a long siding feeding a local grain silo. Sadly this traffic ended in 1989. The Up siding remains but the pointwork is bolted towards the mainline and the siding has a few dumped wagons left on it.
Method of signalling the Up and Down main to Sutton North Junc. SB is by Track Circuit Block, the Down Slow is by Absolute Block.
All traffic for Willoughby uses the Down Slow. Traffic for Louth can use either line.
Sutton Town Station
Sutton Town station is an intermediate staffed station between Mablethorpe and the terminus at Sutton on Sea.
It is a three platform station, one in the down direction and 2 in the up. Platform 1 sits on the former Up Slow line. It now acts as a terminating siding for the ABP staff trains to and from Sutton Dock.
Platform 2 sits on the Up Main. It can be used as a bi-directional platform if needed.
Platform 3 sits on the Down Slow. From here trains to Willoughby and Boston can stop, as can trains to Louth. There is no junction from the Main to the slow.
Access between platforms is via a subway.
Buildings are situatied on P3 for a ticket office and a buffet. Buildings on P2/3 provide a waiting area only.
Right Pic - Sutton East Junction.
Sutton East Junc. is situated just to the east of Sutton Town Station.
It is a simple ladder of double slips allowing acess from the Down Slow to the Down Main, Up Main, and Platform 1 on the former Up Slow.
All points are worked by Cobalt Omega Original motors, 1012B points on the far right are fixed reverse pointing towards the Up Main as the Up Siding, (former Up Slow) is now out of use. For a time it served as a siding for loading grain trains but this freight flow ceased. The idea for this scenic wise is to park from old PAA Grain vans on the siding and weather it as overgrown.
Electronics
The primary system of control is DCC. Control is provided from two locations.
When the layout is being operated by a single person, control is provided by a Digitrax DCS52. When in multi-operator setup, one person acts as the driver/train preparer and another works as a signalman. In this method, control is handled by an Arduino Uno Mega working with JMRI and a mimic diagram showing the position as aspect of points and signals on the layout.
Signal control is currently under construction and is interlocked by relays and some SSI (Solid State) circuits with feedback control from point work and block indicators relaying position of trains.
Above Pic - Wide view of Sutton Town Approach. The three lines to the left will go into the garden).
Left - Sutton Town station under construction . The three lines to the left will go into the garden. During construction the Down Slow was temporarily attached to the "Dock Branch" line at the Terminus to enable running in.
Beyond the wall lies the garden. It's not very large but it's enough for a line to go to the far side and retun to a fiddle yard situated below Sutton Town station.
Signals
The areas signalling is completely colour light signalling. It's a mixture of Train-Tech, Berko and kit built items.
Future plans involve replacing them with absolute aspect custom made units.
The plans include a fully signal layout with track circuits. Control will be by a mock NX panel.
More to come.
Operations
Prototypical operation.
The layout runs to a prototypical timetable. This computer, that is currently displaying the details for Grimsby Town whilst on a stability test will display the Timetable displays for the signal box.
The computer will display a "TRUST" style screen, although in realitity the time the layout is set is too early for TRUST.
Freight Planning
The frieght plan follows a particular pattern based on a pattern of perceived ship arrivals to the bulk terminal.