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This simulation is set at Crewe, an important junction on the West Coast main line from London Euston to Glasgow, with major branches to Chester (for North Wales and Holyhead) and Manchester, and other routes joining from Stoke (for the East Midlands) and Shrewsbury (for Mid-Wales). The time is summer 1986, a year after the station had been closed for six weeks for a complete remodelling of the station area to allow higher speeds for non-stop trains and simplify operation.
At the time of this simulation most services to and from London Euston were hauled by electric locomotives of classes 86 and 87, as were most services to Manchester, Liverpool and Birmingham. Other Inter-City trains were hauled by diesel locomotives, mostly of class 47.
Local services were mostly "Sprinter" diesel multiple units based at Derby, though older diesel multiple units still operated some services on the Stoke line. There were approximately hourly electric services to Altrincham (via Manchester) and Liverpool.
The station is seen on a summer weekday in 1986; your sample half-shift runs from 14.00 (2 pm) to 18.00 (6 pm). Much of the freight traffic through Crewe uses the independent lines which bypass the station to the west, outside the scope of this simulation, so you will only see freights to and from the Stoke line. You have to direct all the trains in and out, selecting platforms to avoid delays and minimise congestion. You will have to plan how to use the available platforms to avoid conflicts between arrivals and departures, and adjustments will be needed when arrivals are running late.
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Crewe 1986 (Freeware)
