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Busier than you might expect, with frequent local services to Blackpool (North and South), Manchester, York and the Liverpool area, as well as through passenger and freight services on the West Coast main line. Your task includes engine changing on main line services from Blackpool North, and between Scotland and Manchester. Style is similar to Manchester Piccadilly 1990.
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This simulation is set at Preston, Lancashire. Preston was formerly a major junction of lines belonging to the London and North Western Railway (LNWR) and the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway (L&YR), which is the 1923 Grouping both became part of the London, Midland and Scottish Railway (LMS). It is the principle stopping point on the electrified West Coast (former LNWR) main line between London and Glasgow, and also serves as the engine changing point for through main line services over the non-electrified routes to Blackpool North and Manchester. There is also a frequent service between Manchester and Blackpool North; many of the trains on this route come from Stockport or points further south, usually via Nottingham and Sheffield. The Cumbrian coast line to Barrow and on to Sellafield, Workington and eventually Carlisle leaves the main line at Carnforth, 27 miles north of Preston. Other local services include Colne to Blackpool South and Liverpool to Preston or Blackpool North; there is also a shuttle service between Preston and Ormskirk, connecting at Ormskirk with Merseyrail services to Liverpool. There are two freight-only branches from Preston; that to Preston Docks handles mainly oil traffic, while the Deepdale branch serves a coal concentration depot.
At the time of this simulation main line electrified services were operated by classes 86/2, 87 and 90; through some Driving Van Trailers (DVTs) has been delivered for use in push-pull operation, these were in regular use only further south. However, one may be seen operating with class 90 on a test and driver training train between Preston and Carlisle. Main line services to and from Blackpool North and the Manchester area (including some to Birmingham and beyond) must change between electric and diesel engines at Preston.
The Provincial Sector operates a number of long-distance Express services through Preston; these operate between Blackpool North and Leeds or York via Blackburn, as well as via Manchester to Sheffield and points south, and are handled by Sprinters of classes 150, 155 and 156.
Local services are operated throughout the area, generally provided by class 142 Pacers and class 150 Sprinters. Services to Barrow are rostered either for class 156 Sprinters or first generation diesel multiple units of classes 101 and 108, though bue to a shortage of serviceable units the occasional service may see a class 31 or 46 on loco-hauled stock.
Freight workings are handled by a variety of electric and diesel classes, depending on the sector responsible for each service.
The station is seen on a weekday in October 1989. The day of the week is chosen at random, and affects which trains you will have to handle; a number of services, particularly freights, operate only on certain days. You have to direct all the trains in and out, selecting platforms to avoid delays and minimise congestion; you also have to allocate motive power to each loco-hauled service. 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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Preston 1989
Saturday
