Does the WTT show everything? And how would you go about creating a timetable.

[MythTrain]

Hey all,

Recently, I've become rather interested in this signalling game called SimSig, thus also in creating my own timetables. When creating a timetable, I have gone about by either looking at RTT or other online resources and adding information to a google sheet, and to be honest, I haven't actually got that much done because it is such an intimidating and tedious process. A few weeks ago I found that you can download an excel version of the WTT, and I was wondering if that would be better. However, I'm not sure if the WTT shows everything, because upon comparison with RTT, it was missing some freight etc.

As annoying as it is, I am still very interested in making a timetable, not matter how long it might take (I hope I can be that dedicated...), and I was therefore wondering if any former train planners, or experts in this area would be willing to share some knowledge on how best it would be for me to go about this. To clarify, I am interested in creating a fictional timetable at some point - so advice for that would be appreciated - but the first timetable that I wish to make will be heavily based, almost identical to a more modern/current WTT if possible so if anyone knows anything that would assist me in that, that would be great.

Thanks so much in advance!

Kind regards,

Myth

 

[RedControlled]

Hi there,

I'm no expert but I do enjoy making scenarios on Train Sim using WTTs so hopefully I can provide some help.

Network Rail has a vast collection of WTTs spanning from the early Railtrack days to as recent as now, and they are fairly easy to decipher - they show the headcode, where it goes to and from and the timings for each stop.

Here is the link: https://history.networkrail.co.uk/index.php?name=SO_4b13306b-816a-4d77-89ec-630d6beb2680

NR include an index to show which WTT code covers which area. For example, WG covers London Waterloo to Portsmouth and Weymouth, while WH (hopefully I am remembering correctly) covers all the suburban Waterloo workings (Reading, Dorking, ect.). Give it a quick read and you'll be able to find which WTT covers your relevant area.

Hope it helps.

 

[43055]

Hey all,

Recently, I've become rather interested in this signalling game called SimSig, thus also in creating my own timetables. When creating a timetable, I have gone about by either looking at RTT or other online resources and adding information to a google sheet, and to be honest, I haven't actually got that much done because it is such an intimidating and tedious process. A few weeks ago I found that you can download an excel version of the WTT, and I was wondering if that would be better. However, I'm not sure if the WTT shows everything, because upon comparison with RTT, it was missing some freight etc.

As annoying as it is, I am still very interested in making a timetable, not matter how long it might take (I hope I can be that dedicated...), and I was therefore wondering if any former train planners, or experts in this area would be willing to share some knowledge on how best it would be for me to go about this. To clarify, I am interested in creating a fictional timetable at some point - so advice for that would be appreciated - but the first timetable that I wish to make will be heavily based, almost identical to a more modern/current WTT if possible so if anyone knows anything that would assist me in that, that would be great.

Thanks so much in advance!

Kind regards,

Myth

I have made a few timetables myself in simsig including fictional ones. Typically I create/alter by service group for example on the Kings Cross sim this would be - Moorgate services, Great Northern (not Moorgate) and Intercity. For the fictional timetables I generally look at a real service to get an idea of the running times and use the same for all with the same stopping pattern and where conflicts arise such as a bay or junction then I will adjust with pathing or longer station stops.

 

[MythTrain]

Hi there,

I'm no expert but I do enjoy making scenarios on Train Sim using WTTs so hopefully I can provide some help.

Network Rail has a vast collection of WTTs spanning from the early Railtrack days to as recent as now, and they are fairly easy to decipher - they show the headcode, where it goes to and from and the timings for each stop.

Here is the link: https://history.networkrail.co.uk/index.php?name=SO_4b13306b-816a-4d77-89ec-630d6beb2680

NR include an index to show which WTT code covers which area. For example, WG covers London Waterloo to Portsmouth and Weymouth, while WH (hopefully I am remembering correctly) covers all the suburban Waterloo workings (Reading, Dorking, ect.). Give it a quick read and you'll be able to find which WTT covers your relevant area.

Hope it helps.

Great! Thank you so much - do you think that it will cover all freight, or will I need to find freight/ECS separately. Thanks!

I have made a few timetables myself in simsig including fictional ones. Typically I create/alter by service group for example on the Kings Cross sim this would be - Moorgate services, Great Northern (not Moorgate) and Intercity. For the fictional timetables I generally look at a real service to get an idea of the running times and use the same for all with the same stopping pattern and where conflicts arise such as a bay or junction then I will adjust with pathing or longer station stops.

Ah okay cool. Do you use the hourly timetables of the usual TT or create your own from scratch (E.g. if a train departs at xx:43 ever hour, will your TT mirror that, or would you go however it fits in with your other services) On that note, do you always follow the real services running, or do you ever create your own fictional services. Thank you so much for the help!

 

[jfollows]

The freight working timetables are separate, for example WK in the case of the Waterloo lines mentioned above.

 

[steamybrian]

As a retired former BR timetable planner here are some things to consider when compiling a timetable.
1. Track layout - is it single line, double line, etc.
2. Signalling- If the signalling sections are 5 minutes which means along one track in the same direction up to 12 trains per hour but to allow some slack maybe 10 trains per hour is capacity.
3. Platform occupation at junction and terminal stations. In other words turn round times at each end. Thus if a line has a frequency of every 10 minutes and the turnround time is 10 minutes you would require 2 platforms.
If the train service is every 20 minutes and the turnround time is 5 minutes then 1 platform is required.
4. On a more complicated layout one has to consider crossing moves. Timetables are checked that timings do not clash at junctions.
5. Timetables are based on projected passenger flows.

Please note these are a few outline thoughts

 

[MythTrain]

The freight working timetables are separate, for example WK in the case of the Waterloo lines mentioned above.

Ah, thank you very much!

As a retired former BR timetable planner here are some things to consider when compiling a timetable.
1. Track layout - is it single line, double line, etc.
2. Signalling- If the signalling sections are 5 minutes which means along one track in the same direction up to 12 trains per hour but to allow some slack maybe 10 trains per hour is capacity.
3. Platform occupation at junction and terminal stations. In other words turn round times at each end. Thus if a line has a frequency of every 10 minutes and the turnround time is 10 minutes you would require 2 platforms.
If the train service is every 20 minutes and the turnround time is 5 minutes then 1 platform is required.
4. On a more complicated layout one has to consider crossing moves. Timetables are checked that timings do clash at junctions.
5. Timetables are based on projected passenger flows.

Please note these are a few outline thoughts

Thank you very much, that's super useful! I've found myself considering headway of local trains ahead of express required for EXD in the Exeter Sim which is useful. I will put this information to good use. Thanks for passing on your knowledge.

Oh, I've just had a final question. IIRC, I don't remember seeing the train class on the WTT, so how would be the best way of working that out?

Please ignore the above - I stand corrected after checking myself.

 

[43055]

Great! Thank you so much - do you think that it will cover all freight, or will I need to find freight/ECS separately. Thanks!


Ah okay cool. Do you use the hourly timetables of the usual TT or create your own from scratch (E.g. if a train departs at xx:43 ever hour, will your TT mirror that, or would you go however it fits in with your other services) On that note, do you always follow the real services running, or do you ever create your own fictional services. Thank you so much for the help!

I have done a mix of real and fictional. One for the Cornwall sim once used the real timetable but with different train types based off my model railway as I run a timetable largely based of Penzance but with a few services missing to suit.

When building this I used real time trains and built it up by:
Cross Country - only 2 trains a day so nice easy start.
GWR London services - 2 hourly for much of the day so could create 1 service and then copy and change platforms, train types etc. after as has a mix of HST & 800's.
GWR Locals - Again the branches can be copied as the St Ives and Falmouth ones generally repeat every 30/60 mins. The mainline 'locals' I did by train type as it changed hour by hour.

 

[MythTrain]

I have done a mix of real and fictional. One for the Cornwall sim once used the real timetable but with different train types based off my model railway as I run a timetable largely based of Penzance but with a few services missing to suit.

When building this I used real time trains and built it up by:
Cross Country - only 2 trains a day so nice easy start.
GWR London services - 2 hourly for much of the day so could create 1 service and then copy and change platforms, train types etc. after as has a mix of HST & 800's.
GWR Locals - Again the branches can be copied as the St Ives and Falmouth ones generally repeat every 30/60 mins. The mainline 'locals' I did by train type as it changed hour by hour.

Oh great thank you!

You mentioned copying services; do you mean that you can get a service to repeat each hour, without inputting it for multiple times, and if so, how would I use that feature. Thanks.

Edit: I started by trying to do a TT for Exeter, and now I'm really tempted by Wembley Main, but do you think that's too ambitious for a first timetable?

 

[43055]

Oh great thank you!

You mentioned copying services; do you mean that you can get a service to repeat each hour, without inputting it for multiple times, and if so, how would I use that feature. Thanks.

Edit: I started by trying to do a TT for Exeter, and now I'm really tempted by Wembley Main, but do you think that's too ambitious for a first timetable?

Sorry for the slow reply.

Yes there is a 'duplicate' button on the right which if you highlight a service you can copy. In the image below I would be copying 1C10 to make a 1C12 1 hour later as the id is on increment by 2 for 1 hour in time and 1 repetition. By changing these I can make whatever frequency and longer durations so most of the day could be done in one go if you wanted.

 

[MythTrain]

Oh wow! Thank you so much! That's super useful