Birmingham Western 1953

Description

In this simulation you control all traffic on the Great Western lines in the Birmingham area, from Tyseley in the south to Handsworth Junction in the north. This area was covered by fifteen manual signal boxes, plus the first generation panel box at Snow Hill. The simulation is set before main line diesels had intruded on the scene, though Tyseley had the first batch of the BR 350hp diesel shunters, and a batch of standard tanks. Most services in the area continued largely as they had done for decades past. Most stations still had goods yards for local traffic. Traffic was marshalled mainly at the extensive Bordesley Junction yards, but some shunting will also be required at Hockley, Queens Head and Handsworth. Tyseley has a shed with two roundhouses, and extensive carriage sidings. The shunting of both goods and passenger traffic will keep you very busy at times. The nature of the traffic changes markedly on a Saturday, with extras on all lines, and returning holiday trains keeping Snow Hill busy until well into the evening. Local spotters kept the road bridge at Tyseley occupied all day – I was one of them! This simulation has eleven track screens.